The 9 PPL(A) exam subjects — what you need to know

2026-05-15

The PPL(A) theory exam is split into 9 subjects. Here's a quick overview of what each one covers.

The subject list

• Air Law — regulations, airspace, licensing.
• Human Performance & Limitations — pilot physiology and psychology.
• Meteorology — weather and aviation reports.
• Communications — phraseology and radio correspondence.
• Principles of Flight — aerodynamics and the forces on an aircraft.
• Operational Procedures — conducting flights and handling emergencies.
• Flight Performance & Planning — mass, balance, fuel, route.
• Aircraft General Knowledge — airframe, engine, instruments.
• Navigation — conducting a flight and reading the chart.

We cover each subject in more depth on the subject pages, and you'll find questions for every one of them in the Pilot Test Zone app.