4.1 Theoretical element examination standard

After the theoretical portion of the aircraft type training has been completed, a written examination shall be performed, which shall comply with the following:

(a)Format of the examination is of the multi-choice type. Each multi-choice question shall have 3 alternative answers of which only one shall be the correct answer. The total time is based on the total number of questions and the time for answering is based upon a nominal average of 90 seconds per question.

(b)The incorrect alternatives shall seem equally plausible to anyone ignorant of the subject. All the alternatives shall be clearly related to the question and of similar vocabulary, grammatical construction and length.

(c)In numerical questions, the incorrect answers shall correspond to procedural errors such as the use of incorrect sense (+ versus -) or incorrect measurement units. They shall not be mere random numbers.

(d)The level of examination for each chapter shall be the one defined in point 2 ‘Aircraft type training levels’. However, the use of a limited number of questions at a lower level is acceptable.

(e)The examination shall be of the closed book type. No reference material is permitted. An exception will be made for the case of examining a B1 or B2 candidate's ability to interpret technical documents.

(f)The number of questions shall be at least one question per hour of training. The number of questions for each chapter and level shall be proportionate to: the effective training hours spent on teaching at that chapter and level; or in case of student-centred methods, the anticipated average time to complete the training; and the learning objectives as given by the training needs analysis. The competent authority shall assess the number and the level of the questions when approving the course.

(g)The minimum examination pass mark is 75 %. When the type training examination is split in several examinations, each examination shall be passed with at least a 75 % mark. In order to be possible to achieve exactly a 75 % pass mark, the number of questions in the examination shall be a multiple of 4.

(h)Penalty marking (negative points for failed questions) is not to be used.

(i)End of module phase examinations cannot be used as part of the final examination unless they contain the correct number and level of questions required.

(j)Whilst it is accepted that the subject matter of the questions may be the same, the questions used as part of the MBT learning programme shall not be used in course or phase examinations.