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United Kingdom · Theory exams

PPL training books, online courses and the CAA syllabus

Start with the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) learning objectives: one document per paper for the private pilot licence for aeroplanes, PPL(A), listing everything that paper can test. PPL training books and online courses then teach that syllabus. Pooleys publishes the Air Pilot’s Manual series, and online ground schools such as Bristol Groundschool and Easy PPL Ground School sell courses with question banks. Your flight school runs its own theory training too, and it has to recommend you before you can sit the exams.

  • 9CAA learning objective documents for PPL(A)
  • 50%Score above which results list weak topics
  • CAP2090CAA document series holding the syllabus
See the CAA syllabus

Updated November 2026 · Written from official sources, listed at the bottom of this page

Books, courses and official material

OptionPriceFree to useLinks
Official
CAA learning objectives for the PPL e-ExamsThe UK Civil Aviation Authority’s syllabus for each PPL paper, as PDFs (the CAP2090 series)One document per paper, listing every learning objective the exam can test. The reference numbers match the ones printed on your results slip if you score more than 50%, so you can see what to revise. Separate documents cover the bridging exams from the national private pilot licence (NPPL) to the PPL(A).
No charge to download from caa.co.ukDownloadable from the CAA’s general aviation (GA) e-Exams page
CAA: GA theoretical knowledge e-Exams ↗
CAA lists of PPL training organisationsThe CAA’s lists of declared training organisations (DTOs) and approved training organisations (ATOs) that teach the PPL, by UK regionEach entry gives the school’s address and the courses it offers. Schools marked TK (theoretical knowledge) teach the theory only, with no flight training. The CAA says being on the list isn’t a recommendation, and it doesn’t include prices.
Training prices are set by each schoolThe lists are on caa.co.uk
CAA: PPL flying schools and organisations ↗
Books
Pooleys: Air Pilot’s Manual and Q&A booksPPL manuals by subject, plus question and answer books for the 9 PPL(A) papersPooleys calls the manual set the UK CAA and European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) edition. It says the Q&A books, updated for 2022/2023, reflect the style of the exam questions without copying any real paper, and are best used after you’ve studied. Single Q&A books for each subject are £8.95 on its Q&A books page.
£135 for Air Pilot’s Manual volumes 1 to 4, 6 and 7 for PPL(A); £69.95 for Q&A Examination Preparation Books 1-9 for PPL(A); £25 each for single volumes 1 to 4Pooleys offers a free PPL e-Exam learning objectives guide that cross-references the manuals
Pooleys: Air Pilot’s Manual volumes for PPL(A) ↗Pooleys: Q&A Examination Preparation Books 1-9 for PPL(A) ↗Pooleys: Question and answer books ↗Pooleys: Air Pilot’s Manuals ↗
Online courses
Bristol Groundschool PPL(A) CourseComputer-based PPL theory course with subject videos and a question bank, in a UK CAA versionThe course includes 12 months of the BGS Question Bank. There’s no classroom teaching, and the exam fees aren’t included: Bristol Groundschool says the 9 exams are sat with your flight training provider. Pick the UK CAA version, not the EASA one.
£276 for the course; PPL question bank on its own from £13 for 30 days to £75 for a yearNo
Bristol Groundschool: PPL(A) Course ↗Bristol Groundschool: BGS Question Bank ↗
Easy PPL Ground SchoolOnline PPL theory courses with tests and exams in the CAA formatStarter kits last for the time you have to pass all the theory exams. Single-subject courses give one month of access, either the full course with instructor support or the question bank only. It also sells courses for the Flight Radiotelephony Operator’s Licence (FRTOL) and the NPPL to PPL bridging exams.
PPL(A) starter kits from £194.99 to £699.99; single subjects from £15.49 for a month (£13.99 for tests and exams only)3 days of its Air Law course
Easy PPL Ground School: Private pilot courses ↗Easy PPL Ground School: Free Air Law course ↗

Prices and ratings checked November 2026.

The official PPL syllabus

The CAA publishes a learning objectives document for each PPL(A) paper, in its CAP2090 series:

  • 010 Air law (CAP2090J)
  • 020 Aircraft general knowledge (CAP2090A)
  • 030 Flight performance and planning (CAP2090B)
  • 040 Human performance (CAP2090C)
  • 050 Meteorology (CAP2090D)
  • 060 Navigation (CAP2090E)
  • 070 Operational procedures (CAP2090F)
  • 081 Principles of flight, aeroplane (CAP2090G)
  • 090 Communications (CAP2090I)

If you score more than 50% on a paper, your results slip, called a knowledge deficiency report, gives the learning objective reference for each question you got wrong. Look those references up in the document for that paper to see exactly what to revise.

CAA: GA theoretical knowledge e-Exams and learning objectives ↗

Which PPL training books should you choose?

A manual teaches the subject, and a question book tests it. Pooleys, for one, advises using its Q&A books after you’ve studied, to find weak areas.

Check three things before you buy. Is it written for the UK CAA exams rather than another country’s? What’s the edition date? And does it link to the CAA learning objectives, so you can match a weak reference on your results slip to a chapter? Where a provider says so, its row on this page notes the version, the edition or a learning objectives cross-reference.

Online ground school and question banks

Online courses suit you if you can’t get to classroom sessions at your school. They come as full courses with videos and notes, or as a question bank on its own. Bristol Groundschool and Easy PPL Ground School both sell both kinds, with access by the month or the year.

Whatever you use, the approved training organisation (ATO) or declared training organisation (DTO) responsible for your training has to be satisfied you’ve finished its theory course before it recommends you. Ask your school which materials it accepts before you pay for your own.

A study plan for the 9 papers

  1. Download the learning objectives for each paper you’re about to study.
  2. Read the matching chapters in your manual, then do your school’s theory lessons for that subject.
  3. Practise with questions on that subject, aiming above the 75% pass mark.
  4. Check your school has recommended you, then have it book the paper.
  5. After the paper, look up any learning objective references on your results slip and revise them before your following paper.
  6. Keep an eye on the dates: all 9 passed within 18 months, counted from the end of the month of your first attempt.
The UK PPL theory exam rules →PPL flight training and finding a school →What the PPL costs →
Sources: UK Civil Aviation Authority · Pooleys Flight Equipment · Bristol Groundschool and 4 more. Checked November 2026.

Rules and fees can change, so check the official site before your test.

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