How I Passed My ATPL Exams: Study Strategies, Time Blocking, and 80,000 Practice Questions

If You’re Struggling with ATPL Ground School - You’re Not Alone

The 14 ATPL theory exams are a brutal test of focus, discipline, and mental stamina. From Mass & Balance to Air Law and General Navigation, the workload is intense, the pass mark is 75%, and the pace of ground school leaves very little breathing room.

In my first few months, I did what most cadets do: I tried to learn everything by revising from textbooks. I quickly realised that wouldn’t cut it.

What changed my game was this: I stopped focusing on memorising content and started focusing on question banks. Over the course of my training, I answered over 80,000 practice questions - and that’s what got me through.

Understand What the ATPL Exams Are Really Testing

The CAA ATPL exams don’t just test knowledge - they test speed, pattern recognition, and exam technique. You’re often given 40–90 questions in under 2 hours, many with numerical or technical detail.

Most exams fall into these categories:

Knowledge-based (e.g. Air Law, Human Performance)

Calculation-heavy (e.g. General Navigation, Flight Planning, Mass & Balance)

Conceptual/logical (e.g. Meteorology, Principles of Flight)

Each type needs a different strategy. And most importantly: you don’t need 100% to pass - just 75%. Of course the higher the mark, the better but, remember they're multiple choice questions so if you guess you're already 25% there!!

The Power of Practice Questions

Websites like Bristol Groundschool and ATPL Question Bank providers (e.g. BGS Online, Aviation Exam, ATPLQ) are essential.

Doing tens of thousands of questions is not overkill, it’s the best way to:

- Spot patterns in how questions are phrased

- Build speed and confidence

- Reinforce knowledge through active recall (far more effective than passive reading)

"You don’t need to know everything. You need to know how to pass the exam."

That quote stuck with me. And it’s true.

Coffee Helps Cognitive Performance

At Jet Bean Coffee, we’re all about supporting people who work under pressure, including pilots-in-training. Did you know?
Studies show caffeine can improve attention, alertness, reaction time, and even short-term memory - all critical when grinding through long revision blocks or back-to-back exams.

Check out our Jumbo Jet Espresso - roasted strong, smooth, and perfect for staying sharp at 0500 hours.

Use Time Blocking and Micro Goals

Borrowing from Brad Dias’ approach, I highly recommend structuring your revision with:

Time blocking: Assign specific hours to each subject or question bank session.

Subject rotation: Avoid burning out on one topic. Alternate between calculation heavy and theory based subjects.

Micro-goals: e.g. “Complete 200 Gen Nav questions and revise 2 ATPL subjects today.”

Apps like Notion, Google Calendar, or even a paper planner can make this simple and visual.

Cheat Code: Watch & Summarise

For theory heavy subjects like Meteorology and Air Law:

Use BGS Video Tutorials or YouTube breakdowns

After watching, write a 5-bullet-point summary

Try explaining it out loud (if you can teach it, you know it)

And then? Back to the question bank.

Need a Reset Mid-Session? Take a Coffee Break

Scientific research shows taking short breaks during long study sessions increases retention. A cup of high-quality coffee helps stimulate the nervous system, improving focus, endurance, and motivation.

Try our Concorde Cappuccino Roast - designed to power study marathons and final approaches alike.

My Final ATPL Exam Strategy

In the final few weeks before each sitting:

Stop reading books

Do 400–500 practice questions per day

Mark tough ones, then review them that night

Sleep 7–8 hours every night (prioritise it over studying)

Simulate real exam conditions weekly

Use progress tracking in question banks to target your weakest topics

This process helped me clear all 14 exams on the first attempt with a 90%+ average.

Final Thoughts - You’re Not Failing, You’re Learning

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, remember: that’s normal. These exams are designed to test you - not just your knowledge, but your resilience.

You’re not alone. Thousands of us have been there. And with the right tools, strategy, and yes, plenty of coffee - you can get through it.

You’ve got this.

Nathan Raab
Airline Pilot | Better Coffee Advocate | Jet Bean Founder