About the Maritime & Aviation tests
~8 min read · Updated April 2026
Whether you're chasing a Private Pilot Licence, building hours toward an Airline Transport Pilot Licence, or sitting your RYA Day Skipper before chartering a yacht in the Solent, you'll need to pass a series of theory exams set by the CAA, EASA or RYA. The papers are short but technical — a single misread weather chart or misapplied rule of the road can be the difference between a pass and another exam fee.
Our free aviation and maritime mocks mirror the official UK CAA / EASA syllabuses for PPL and ATPL theory and the standard RYA Day Skipper exam format. UK English, UK weather, UK airspace and UK COLREGS interpretations throughout.
What the tests actually involve
PPL Air Law is a 16-question, 35-minute multiple-choice paper with a 75% pass mark. PPL Meteorology is a 20-question, 50-minute paper at the same pass mark. Both are computer-based and sat at an approved training organisation.
ATPL theory comprises 14 papers ranging from 25 to 80 questions each, all at a 75% pass mark, sat at a CAA-approved centre.
RYA Day Skipper Theory ends with a multi-part shore-based exam: chartwork, tidal calculations, COLREGS, buoyage, weather and passage planning, marked by the principal of the recognised RYA training centre.
What's covered
PPL Air Law: airspace classifications (A through G), VFR minima, the Rules of the Air Regulations 2015, ICAO Annex 2, licence privileges and limitations, and the duties of the pilot in command.
PPL Meteorology: METARs, TAFs, surface analysis charts, cloud types, fog formation, icing, thunderstorms and the standard atmosphere.
ATPL covers the same territory in much greater depth, plus advanced navigation, flight planning, mass and balance, performance and human factors.
RYA Day Skipper covers chartwork (course to steer, EP, fix, ground track), tidal heights and streams, COLREGS (rules 5 to 19 in detail), the IALA-A buoyage system used in UK waters, basic weather forecasting and passage planning.
How to study and pass first time
For PPL Air Law, memorise the cloud-base and visibility VFR minima for each airspace class — these are the single most-tested topic.
For PPL Meteorology, learn METAR and TAF abbreviations cold (BKN, OVC, CAVOK, BECMG, TEMPO, PROB30/40).
For RYA Day Skipper, drill chartwork plotting under a timer. Most candidates' theoretical knowledge is solid; their plotting is too slow.
Always work in true / magnetic / compass conversions in the same direction (TVMDC — True, Variation, Magnetic, Deviation, Compass) and add Easterly variation when going from True to Magnetic, subtract Westerly.
Common mistakes to avoid
On Air Law, confusing Class D and Class E airspace VFR minima. Class D requires clearance to enter; Class E does not for VFR.
On Meteorology, misreading a METAR temperature/dewpoint spread and missing fog risk. A spread of 2°C or less should set off alarm bells.
On RYA Day Skipper COLREGS, defaulting to 'starboard tack has right of way' for power-driven vessels. The rule is 'vessel on the other's starboard side gives way' — not the same thing.
Why active practice testing works
Aviation and maritime exams are heavily procedural. The questions reward exact recall of named rules, abbreviations and numerical thresholds — exactly the content that retrieval practice locks in faster than re-reading textbooks.
PPL re-sit fees are around £35 per paper, ATPL re-sits run to £80 each, and missing an RYA Day Skipper sitting can mean an extra week's tuition fee. Free practice protects all of those.
Ready to start?
Take the PPL Air Law, Take the PPL Meteorology, Take the RYA Day Skipper Theory.