EASA Exam Simulator: Every Theory Paper at Its Official Length
The v1prep exam simulator lets you sit any EASA ATPL, CPL or IR theory paper at its official length and time: the number of questions and the time allowed that EASA sets for each subject, one clock for the whole paper, no answers until you submit, and a pass at 75%. It is the closest thing to the examination room short of booking a sitting, and the tables below are the official figures it uses.
How the simulation works
- Official length. Each paper has the number of questions and the time EASA sets in AMC1 ARA.FCL.300(b) for that licence and subject.
- One clock. The countdown covers the whole paper. When it reaches zero the paper is submitted as it stands, as it would be in the examination room.
- No feedback until the end. Move freely between questions, change your answers and flag any to come back to, using the question grid.
- Marked at 75%. A blank answer scores nothing and there is no penalty for a wrong one, as in the real examinations. The result shows your score, the time you used and every question with its explanation, filtered to wrong, blank or flagged answers.
- It survives interruptions. Leave the page or reload it and the paper is still there, with the clock still running, until the time is up.
- A new paper every time. Questions are drawn at random from the subject's bank, and your best score is kept against each paper.
ATPL(A): 13 papers, 671 questions
| Paper | Subject | Qs | Time | Min/Q |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 010 | Air Law | 44 | 1:00 | 1.4 |
| 021 | Airframe, Systems, Power Plant and Emergency Equipment | 80 | 2:00 | 1.5 |
| 022 | Instrumentation | 60 | 1:30 | 1.5 |
| 031 | Mass and Balance | 25 | 1:15 | 3.0 |
| 032 | Performance | 45 | 2:00 | 2.7 |
| 033 | Flight Planning and Monitoring | 42 | 2:00 | 2.9 |
| 040 | Human Performance and Limitations | 48 | 1:30 | 1.9 |
| 050 | Meteorology | 84 | 2:00 | 1.4 |
| 061 | General Navigation | 55 | 2:15 | 2.5 |
| 062 | Radio Navigation | 66 | 1:30 | 1.4 |
| 070 | Operational Procedures | 42 | 1:15 | 1.8 |
| 081 | Principles of Flight | 46 | 1:30 | 2.0 |
| 090 | Communications | 34 | 1:00 | 1.8 |
| Total | 671 | 20:45 |
More on the ATPL rules, validity and planning in our guide to the EASA ATPL theory exams.
CPL(A): 13 papers, 481 questions
The CPL papers carry the same subject numbers as the ATPL but are shorter and test a reduced set of learning objectives. CPL Air Law, for example, is 33 questions in 45 minutes against 44 in an hour for the ATPL.
| Paper | Subject | Qs | Time | Min/Q |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 010 | Air Law | 33 | 0:45 | 1.4 |
| 021 | Airframe, Systems, Power Plant and Emergency Equipment | 60 | 1:30 | 1.5 |
| 022 | Instrumentation | 40 | 1:00 | 1.5 |
| 031 | Mass and Balance | 21 | 1:00 | 2.9 |
| 032 | Performance | 28 | 1:15 | 2.7 |
| 033 | Flight Planning and Monitoring | 33 | 1:30 | 2.7 |
| 040 | Human Performance and Limitations | 35 | 1:00 | 1.7 |
| 050 | Meteorology | 63 | 1:30 | 1.4 |
| 061 | General Navigation | 45 | 2:00 | 2.7 |
| 062 | Radio Navigation | 22 | 0:30 | 1.4 |
| 070 | Operational Procedures | 30 | 1:00 | 2.0 |
| 081 | Principles of Flight | 37 | 1:15 | 2.0 |
| 090 | Communications | 34 | 1:00 | 1.8 |
| Total | 481 | 15:15 |
More in our guide to the EASA CPL theory exams.
IR(A): 7 papers, 253 questions
The instrument rating papers leave out the subjects that have nothing to do with flying in cloud: there is no General Navigation, Principles of Flight, Performance, Mass and Balance or Operational Procedures paper.
| Paper | Subject | Qs | Time | Min/Q |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 010 | Air Law | 30 | 0:45 | 1.5 |
| 022 | Instrumentation | 20 | 0:30 | 1.5 |
| 033 | Flight Planning and Monitoring | 27 | 1:15 | 2.8 |
| 040 | Human Performance and Limitations | 35 | 1:00 | 1.7 |
| 050 | Meteorology | 63 | 1:30 | 1.4 |
| 062 | Radio Navigation | 44 | 1:00 | 1.4 |
| 090 | Communications | 34 | 1:00 | 1.8 |
| Total | 253 | 7:00 |
More in our guide to the EASA instrument rating theory exams.
Question counts and times: EASA, AMC1 ARA.FCL.300(b), as amended by ED Decision 2020/018/R. Your competent authority runs the examinations and publishes its own notice; a few show small local differences, so check yours before you book.
PPL: your authority's format
EASA does not publish a central question count and time for the PPL papers; each national authority sets its own. The simulator therefore lets you enter your authority's figures, the number of questions and the minutes per paper, and applies them to all nine PPL subjects. Our PPL theory guide explains the rest of the rules, which are the same everywhere.
Where the questions come from
The simulator draws on the v1prep theory banks: more than 7,500 questions across the ATPL, CPL, IR and PPL, each with a worked explanation and a source. The real papers spread their questions across the syllabus topics in fixed proportions; the simulator draws at random from the whole subject, so the balance of a practice paper varies from one attempt to the next. Where a CPL or IR bank is shorter than the paper, it is topped up from the matching bank of the next licence up, and the review shows which bank every question came from.
The simulator is part of the Ground School and Pro plans, alongside the full question banks.
Frequently asked questions
Can I practise the EASA ATPL exams under exam conditions?
Yes. The v1prep simulator sets each ATPL paper at its official length and time from AMC1 ARA.FCL.300(b), for example 84 questions in 2 hours for Meteorology, with one clock, no feedback until you submit and a pass mark of 75%. It also covers the CPL and IR papers, and PPL papers in your own authority's format.
How many questions are in the EASA CPL exams?
The thirteen CPL(A) papers total 481 questions and 15 hours 15 minutes of examination. They range from 21 questions in an hour for Mass and Balance to 63 questions in 1 hour 30 minutes for Meteorology, each passed separately at 75%.
How many questions are in the EASA instrument rating exams?
The seven IR(A) papers total 253 questions and 7 hours: Air Law 30 questions in 45 minutes, Instrumentation 20 in 30 minutes, Flight Planning 27 in 1 hour 15 minutes, Human Performance 35 in 1 hour, Meteorology 63 in 1 hour 30 minutes, Radio Navigation 44 in 1 hour and Communications 34 in 1 hour.
Is there negative marking in the EASA theory exams?
No. A wrong answer scores the same as a blank one, zero, so every question should be answered before time runs out. The simulator marks the same way and counts unanswered questions as blank in its results.
Where do the question counts and times come from?
From EASA's acceptable means of compliance AMC1 ARA.FCL.300(b), as amended by ED Decision 2020/018/R, which sets the number of questions, their distribution across the syllabus and the time allowed for each paper and licence. National authorities run the examinations and publish their own notices, so confirm the figures with yours.