PPL Exam Topics: Complete Guide to CASA Private Pilot Theory (2026)

The Private Pilot Licence (PPL) theory exams are more demanding than the RPL — instead of one 37-question test, you must pass 7 separate CASA written examinations, each covering a specific subject in depth. This guide breaks down every PPL exam topic so you know exactly what to study.

Overview: the 7 PPL theory exams

Subject	Questions	Pass mark	Time limit
Air Law (ALAW)	20	70% (14/20)	35 min
Human Performance (HPL)	20	70%	35 min
Meteorology (MET)	20	70%	35 min
Navigation (NAV)	20	70%	35 min
Aerodynamics (AERO)	20	70%	35 min
Aircraft General Knowledge (AGK)	20	70%	35 min
Performance and Flight Planning (PFP)	20	70%	35 min

Each exam is sat separately at an approved CASA testing centre. You can sit them in any order, and many students book 2–3 per day. All 7 must be passed before your PPL flight test.

1. Air Law (ALAW)

Air Law is the most regulation-heavy PPL subject. Questions are highly specific about distances, altitudes, and rule numbers.

Key topics

• Airspace classifications — Classes A, C, D, E, and G: entry requirements, communication requirements, speed limits
• Rules of the air — right-of-way rules, overtaking, converging aircraft, head-on situations
• Altitude and level selection — ICAO cruise levels, VFR cruising levels
• Aerodrome procedures — circuit direction, CTAF procedures, non-controlled vs controlled aerodromes
• Search and rescue — SARTIME, SARWATCH, ELT requirements, MAYDAY/PAN calls
• Licensing requirements — PPL privileges, currency requirements, BFR, medical validity
• NOTAMs and AIP — interpreting NOTAMs, AIP En Route supplements

Study tip: Use the AIP Australia as your primary reference. Air Law questions often quote specific CASR Part numbers — know which Part covers which area.

2. Human Performance and Limitations (HPL)

HPL covers the physiology and psychology of flight. Questions are scenario-based — identify what is happening to a pilot and the correct response.

Key topics

• Hypoxia — types (histotoxic, hypoxic, anaemic, stagnant), symptoms, time of useful consciousness
• Hyperventilation — causes, symptoms, how it mimics hypoxia, treatment
• Spatial disorientation — leans, graveyard spiral, somatogravic illusion
• Visual illusions — runway slope illusions, approach illusions, night illusions
• Fatigue and circadian rhythm — acute vs cumulative fatigue, jet lag effects, WOCL
• Medication and substances — drugs prohibited from flight, alcohol limits
• Decision making — DECIDE model, hazardous attitudes (five types), IMSAFE checklist

Study tip: Learn symptoms first, cause second. HPL questions describe a symptom profile and ask you to identify the condition or correct pilot action.

3. Meteorology (MET)

Meteorology has the highest PPL fail rate. It requires understanding how weather systems form, move, and interact — plus interpreting weather reports.

Key topics

• Atmosphere structure — troposphere, tropopause, ISA values, temperature lapse rates
• Pressure systems — high/low pressure, troughs, ridges, col; wind flow in Southern Hemisphere
• Frontal weather — cold front, warm front, occluded front: structure, cloud sequences, associated weather
• Clouds — CB, TCU, lenticular, rotor cloud; icing risk
• Thunderstorms — development stages, hazards (windshear, hail, lightning, microburst), avoidance
• Icing — types (clear, rime, mixed), conditions for formation, carburetor icing
• Weather reports — decoding METAR, TAF, SIGMET, AIRMET, SPECI, Area Forecasts

Study tip: Practise decoding METARs and TAFs until automatic. At least 4–5 MET questions involve reading weather reports.

4. Navigation (NAV)

Navigation requires calculation skills. You will need an E6B flight computer to solve problems under exam time pressure.

Key topics

• Maps and charts — VNC, VTC, ERC-L charts; scale, magnetic variation, isogonals
• Triangle of velocities — track, heading, wind correction angle, groundspeed
• Time and distance — ETA calculations, fuel consumption at different groundspeeds
• Compass errors — deviation, variation, DVMTC/TVMDC mnemonic, turning errors (ANDS, NTE)
• Altimetry — QNH, QFE, QNE; transition altitude; pressure altitude vs true altitude
• Dead reckoning — 1-in-60 rule, drift calculations, ETA revision

Study tip: Practise until wind correction and fuel calculations take under 90 seconds each. Do 30+ calculation problems before your exam.

5. Aerodynamics (AERO)

PPL aerodynamics covers stability, propeller effects, and high-lift devices in more depth than the RPL.

Key topics

• Lift and drag — coefficient of lift/drag, induced vs parasite drag, total drag curve
• Stall — stall angle of attack (constant regardless of speed/weight), load factor effect on stall speed
• Stability — longitudinal, lateral, and directional stability; static vs dynamic; Dutch roll
• Propeller effects — torque, slipstream effect, P-factor, gyroscopic precession
• Load factor — g-loading in turns, manoeuvring speed V_A, effect on stall speed
• High-lift devices — flap types (plain, split, Fowler, slotted), effect on lift/drag/stall speed
• Asymmetric flight — VMC, V_MCA, critical engine, drag yaw

Study tip: Draw diagrams — aerodynamics is visual. Sketch lift/drag curves and propeller effect vectors to make concepts stick.

6. Aircraft General Knowledge (AGK)

AGK covers aircraft systems in more depth than the RPL engine topic.

Key topics

• Piston engines — four-stroke cycle, valve timing, magnetos, carburettor vs fuel injection, mixture control
• Engine systems — cooling, oil system (wet/dry sump), fuel system
• Carburettor icing — conditions, symptoms, use of carburettor heat
• Electrical system — alternator vs generator, battery, bus bar, circuit breakers
• Flight instruments — pitot-static (ASI, altimeter, VSI), gyroscopic (AI, HI, TC), errors and limitations
• Fuel types — AVGAS grades (100LL), colour coding, contamination detection
• Airworthiness — CASA maintenance schedules, AD compliance, MEL, pilot maintenance items

Study tip: Study a real POH/AFM alongside AGK notes. Understanding how systems work in a Cessna 172 or Piper Warrior makes abstract questions concrete.

7. Performance and Flight Planning (PFP)

PFP is heavily calculation-based — reading performance charts and planning a flight from takeoff to landing.

Key topics

• Takeoff and landing performance — effect of weight, temperature, density altitude, wind, runway slope
• Weight and balance — CG calculation, loading envelope, effect of fuel burn on CG
• Fuel planning — en route fuel, reserves (fixed, variable), alternate fuel, contingency
• Density altitude — calculation, effect on all performance parameters
• Performance charts — reading CASA-style charts accurately (most tested PFP skill)
• ERSA and flight plan — interpreting ERSA entries, filing SARTIME, selecting alternates

Study tip: Performance charts are always in the PFP exam. Practise with interactive performance chart tools that use the same chart format as CASA exams.

What order should you sit the PPL exams?

There is no required order, but most students find this sequence works well:

1. HPL first — straightforward content, builds confidence
2. AERO and AGK together — overlapping systems knowledge reinforces both
3. ALAW — heavy but self-contained
4. NAV and PFP together — both calculation-heavy, practise E6B for both simultaneously
5. MET last — the hardest subject, save it for peak study momentum

Many students sit 2–3 exams on the same day. At just 35 minutes each, exams can be booked back-to-back at your testing centre.

Practice questions for every PPL subject

The best preparation is practice questions under exam conditions. Look for question banks that offer 1,000+ questions across all RPL and PPL subjects, timed to CASA format. Aim to complete at least one full timed practice test per subject before sitting the real exam.

Related Resources

• PPL Theory Exams Guide
• PPL Study Plan
• PPL Navigation Exam Guide