A2 Theory Test: 30 questions, 60 minutes, 23 correct answers to pass

The worst part about the exam is not the test itself. It's not knowing what to expect. The uncertainty about what it looks like, what questions you will be asked, how much time you have, and what is required to pass.

After reading this article, the uncertainty will be gone. You will know exactly what happens and how the exam works, from the moment you arrive at the traffic station until you receive your result.

The hard facts: 30/60/23

Let’s start with the numbers you need to know:

30 questions - All are multiple-choice questions with only one correct answer. You will get 4 answer options per question, and only one is correct.

60 minutes - That gives you two minutes per question on average. It may not sound like much, but in practice, it is plenty of time. Most people use between 30-45 minutes in total.

23 correct answers to pass - You can miss 7 questions and still pass. 

Minute by minute on exam day

When you arrive at the traffic station, you must bring valid identification. You do not need a drone, no theory book, no equipment. Everything is done on a computer or tablet provided by the traffic station.

After you have shown your ID and paid the exam fee, you will be shown to a work station. Here you will receive login information for the exam system and a bit of information about the rules that apply during the test. The login process typically takes 1-2 minutes.

When you are ready, click "start" - and then the 60 minutes you have available begins. 

What you actually see on the screen

Each question is clearly presented on the screen. You will see a question text, and below it, you will have 4 answer options. There is only one correct answer.

The flag function: Your best friend during the exam

As you go through the test, you can "flag" questions - mark them so you can easily find them again before you submit. This is invaluable if you encounter questions that you find difficult to answer.

The strategy: If you notice that a question is going to take a long time to think about, flag it and move on. Answer all the questions you are sure of first. Once you have these "easy" points in the bag, you go back to the “flagged” questions and use the remaining time on them.

This gives you two advantages:

1. You secure points on what you know - nothing is worse than spending several minutes on a difficult question only to run out of time on three easy ones.

2. You feel more at ease when thinking about the difficult ones - you know that you already have many correct answers in the bag.

When you finish the exam and click "submit," you receive the result immediately.

The biggest pitfall: The wording

It is not the difficult questions that fail the most candidates. It is the simple questions that are phrased “difficult”. After speaking with and reading what other candidates say, one thing stands out: "I knew the answer, but misunderstood the question."

The wording of the exam can be different from what you are used to from various practice apps. And the difference is often just one small word - but that little word flips the entire question upside down.

When "NOT" flips everything upside down

The most common problem is questions that contain negations - that is, words like "not", "never", or "except" that turn the meaning in the sentence to the opposite: "When can you NOT fly?", "Which of these is NOT allowed?", "Under what conditions should you NEVER take off?"

Your brain is used to answering what you CAN do. When you practice, you usually learn what is allowed: "You can fly in the A2 category...". But on the exam, the question suddenly becomes: "When can you NOT fly in the A2 category?" - same topic, but the little word "not" flips the whole question upside down. And then it's easy to pick the wrong option - even if you actually know the answer.

Question: "Who does not need to register as a drone operator?"

A) A hobby photographer flying a Dji Mavic 3 drone in their spare time

B) A 10-year-old child flying a simple toy drone without a camera (150g)

C) A videographer using a drone for wedding filming

D) A person flying a racing drone (300g) on an FPV course

Correct answer: B

Why this tricks you:

If you read quickly and your brain registers "Who needs to register as a drone operator?", you think: "Everyone flying seriously must register!"

You see option A (Mavic 3 - hobby), C (commercial use), D (racing) - and think "Yes! They all must register" and choose, for example, A.

But the question is actually asking about who does NOT need to register. The only one who is exempt is the child with the toy drone without a camera under 250g - option B.

This is a knowledge question you probably can answer - but the negation "NOT" makes you choose the wrong option.

Double negations: The extra twist

Sometimes it says "NOT" in both the question and the answer options. In that case, you must read extra carefully.

Example:

Question: "Which statement is NOT correct?"

A) You must not fly closer than 150 meters from people
B) You must not fly higher than 120 meters without permission
C) You must not have an operator number for toy drones under 250g without a camera
D) You must not fly over airports without approval

Correct answer: C

Why this is confusing:

Three of the statements (A, B, D) are correct rules - they are things you actually must not do.

But option C is incorrect. You MUST actually have an operator number even for drones under 250g (if they have cameras/sensors).

So when the question asks "which statement is NOT correct", the answer is C - because it is the only statement that is wrong.

In stress, you think: "They all say 'you must not' - so all four are prohibited? But the question asks about what is NOT correct... so is it a prohibition that does not exist? Or a prohibition that does not apply?"

The solution: Read each statement as a separate sentence. Ask yourself: "Is this true?" If the answer is no - THAT is the statement that is not correct.

How to avoid wording traps

Read each question you find difficult twice slowly. The first time: What are they asking? The second time: What are they REALLY asking? Pay special attention to words like "not", "never", "except", "apart from".

Mental underline negations. If you see a "not" in the question, give yourself five extra seconds to ensure you understand what is really being asked.

Check if the question and answers say the same. If both the question and answer options contain negations, rewrite it in your mind into positive statements first. Then the logic becomes clearer.

Practice the exact wording. There is a reason candidates report that the exam is "different from the practice app". Find practice material that uses realistic exam language with negations, double negations, and some tricky phrasings. The more you train specifically on this, the less it will surprise you on exam day.

Practical tips for the test itself

Now that you know what to expect, let’s talk a bit about strategy. Here's how to maximize your success on exam day:

Start with the easy ones. When you open the exam, quickly go through all 30 questions. Answer the ones you immediately know the answer to first. This builds confidence and ensures you do not miss easy points because you run out of time.

Flag the uncertain ones. The system lets you flag questions you are unsure of. Use this feature. When you have answered all you are confident about, you will have both the energy and time to think thoroughly about the difficult ones.

Always read the question twice if you are uncertain about what it is really asking. The most common mistake on the exam is to read and act too quickly. 

Use the last 10 minutes for review. When the clock shows 10 minutes left, go back to all flagged questions. Read them again with fresh eyes. Check that you have actually answered all 30 questions.

You are more prepared than you think

Here is the real truth about the requirement, 23 correct out of 30 is generous. This means you can miss nearly a quarter of the questions and still pass. Even people who think they "missed a lot" when they leave the exam often pass by a good margin.

This is not a test designed to trip you up. It is a test designed to ensure that you know the basics of safe and legal drone flying. If you have practiced, read through the regulations, and understand the principles, you will succeed.

Now you know exactly what to expect. 30 questions. 60 minutes. 23 correct. No surprises.

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Do you need a more complete guide? Read "Complete guide: How to pass the A2 drone exam the first time (2025)" for a walkthrough of the entire process from start to finished certificate.

Wondering if the A2 drone license takes a long time? Check out “From 'too much hassle' to A2-certified drone pilot in 2 weeks” for a quick introduction on how to use the least amount of time while still retaining knowledge after obtaining A2 certification.