Preparing for Your USPA A-License Exams: Written, Oral & Practical

Congratulations on reaching this pivotal stage of your skydiving journey! Passing the USPA A-License written, oral, and practical exams is your final hurdle to becoming a safe, proficient, and licensed skydiver. These exams are designed to ensure you possess the comprehensive knowledge and skills to safely jump with all other licensed skydivers, even those with limited experience. This page provides a robust guide to help you prepare confidently for all three assessments, ensuring you truly understand the "why" behind every critical procedure.

What to Expect from Your A-License Exams

You will face three distinct components designed to ensure your thorough understanding and practical skills in skydiving:

The Written Exam

  • Format: This is a multiple-choice written exam, taken online.

  • Access: It is a closed-book exam, meaning you cannot use your SIM or notes during the test.

  • Questions: It consists of 40 questions.

  • Passing Score: You must score 75% correct or higher to pass.

  • Content: Questions cover the comprehensive academic material from your Categories A through H (or equivalent) progression, including regulations, emergency procedures, equipment, weather, and more.

The Oral Exam

  • Format: This is an instructor-led discussion, designed to assess your understanding and ability to articulate concepts. Your instructor will be looking for your comprehension of all topics taught, primarily from a safety perspective. If you seem unsure about a topic, your instructor may "dig deeper" to clarify any misunderstandings.

  • Questions: You will be asked at least 20 questions.

  • Primary Focus: While your instructor can ask questions on any topic within the A-License curriculum, the oral exam is specifically designed to focus on your ability to explain the "why" and "how" behind procedures and equipment, especially for the following critical areas:

    • Cloud-clearance and visibility requirements

    • Equipment operation and maintenance (including how the RSL and AAD work)

    • Wing loading and its effects

    • Closing loop

    • Touch fastener (aka Velcro) and tuck flaps

    • Packing and authorization to pack

    • Canopy flight

    • Traffic patterns and collision avoidance

    • Braked turns and obstacle avoidance

    • Low-turn avoidance and recovery

    • Downwind landing procedures

    • Obstacle landing emergency and recovery procedures

    • Aircraft procedures

    • During jump run and exit to observe balance limits

    • Distance between groups to maintain separation

    • Aircraft-emergency procedures

    • Group breakoff recommendations

    • Parachute-emergency procedures

    • Deployment malfunctions

    • Cutaway decide-and-act altitude

    • Two-canopies-deployed scenarios

    • Accountability for FAR compliance

  • Passing Score: You must achieve 100% correct on the oral exam. Your instructor will review any incorrect responses with you to ensure full understanding before you pass.

The Practical Exam

  • Format: This exam involves demonstrating your practical skills and decision-making abilities during a jump with an instructor.

  • Evaluated Skills: Your instructor will assess your proficiency in the following areas:

    • Spotting & Aircraft Guidance: Choosing the spot and selecting and guiding the pilot to the correct exit and opening point in routine conditions, including incorporating freefall drift.

    • Pre-Jump Checks: Performing thorough pre-jump equipment checks for yourself and other jumpers.

    • Group Breakoff Planning: Planning an effective group breakoff.

    • Freefall Maneuvers: Performing a right 360-degree turn, left 360-degree turn, and a back loop (back loop to be completed within 60 degrees of the original heading).

    • Docking: Docking from 20 feet (evaluator flies into position).

    • Breakoff & Tracking: Breakoff altitude recognition and tracking for a minimum of 100 feet.

    • Deployment Awareness: Signaling before deployment and maintaining overall awareness during and after deployment.

    • Landing Pattern: Planning and flying a logical landing pattern that promotes a smooth traffic flow and avoids other jumpers.

    • Equipment Handling: Packing and preparing equipment for the next jump.

Essential Study Resources

Since the written exam is closed-book, memorization and deep recall are key. For the oral exam, focus on understanding the "why" and "how" so you can explain concepts clearly, especially for the common challenge areas. The practical exam requires you to demonstrate your skills, so consistent practice and intentional jumping are paramount.

  • The USPA Skydiver's Information Manual (SIM): [Link to latest USPA SIM online or download]

    • For the Written: This is your primary study text. Read it thoroughly, highlight key points, and make flashcards.

    • For the Oral: Beyond memorizing facts, understand the underlying principles and the safety rationale for procedures and gear function. Be ready to explain why your gear works, why certain flight rules exist, or why a specific procedure is followed.

  • Your Category Pages & Quizzes: Review all the academic material from your Categories A through H.

    • [Link to Category A Page]

    • [Link to Category B Page]

    • [Link to Category C Page]

    • [Link to Category D Page]

    • [Link to Category E Page]

    • [Link to Category G Page]

    • [Link to Category H Page]

    • Crucial for the Oral: Your instructors will heavily base oral exam questions on the material covered in these quizzes, particularly the specific topics listed above. Master them not just by knowing the answer, but by understanding the underlying concepts.

    • Relevant for the Practical: These pages reinforce the knowledge behind the skills you'll be demonstrating in the air.

  • Ground School Notes: Revisit any notes you took during ground school sessions or pre-jump briefings.

  • Instructor Q&A: Don't hesitate to ask your instructors for clarification on any topic before your exam. Proactive questions can help clear up misunderstandings!

Key Study Areas (For All Exams)

The A-License exams assess a broad range of skydiving knowledge and skills. While the oral exam has specific focus areas, understanding all of these is vital for the written and overall proficiency. The practical exam requires you to demonstrate many of these skills.

  • Spotting & Jump Run Decisions: Understanding how to incorporate freefall drift when selecting a spot, determining exit order, and selecting/guiding the pilot to the correct exit and opening point.

  • Safety & Regulatory: Cloud-clearance and visibility requirements, accountability for FAR compliance, BSRs, and general dropzone rules.

  • Equipment Mastery: Equipment operation and maintenance (especially how the RSL and the AAD work), closing loop, touch fastener (aka Velcro) and tuck flaps, packing and authorization to pack, and pre-jump checks.

  • Canopy Flight & Control: Wing loading and its effects, canopy flight, traffic patterns and collision avoidance, braked turns and obstacle avoidance, low-turn avoidance and recovery, downwind landing procedures, obstacle landing emergency and recovery procedures.

  • Emergency Procedures: Deployment malfunctions, cutaway decide-and-act altitude, two-canopies-deployed scenarios, and procedures for out-of-airstrip landings.

  • Aircraft Procedures: Aircraft procedures during jump run and exit to observe balance limits, distance between groups to maintain separation, and aircraft-emergency procedures.

  • Freefall Skills: Basic body position, turns, back loops, docking, breakoff altitude recognition, tracking, group breakoff recommendations, deployment signal and awareness.

  • Post-Jump: Planning logical landing patterns, packing and preparing equipment for the next jump.

  • Weather: Basic meteorology relevant to skydiving.

  • Skydiving Etiquette & Safety Culture: Importance of continuous learning and safety awareness.

Practice & Self-Assessment

Active practice is essential, especially with a closed-book written exam, a 100% oral requirement, and a practical exam.

  • For the Written Exam:

    • Take Our Mock A-License Exam: Put your knowledge to the ultimate test with a comprehensive practice exam that simulates the actual 40-question, closed-book test.

      • [Link to Mock A-License Exam/Practice Quiz]

    • Practice Without Notes: Once you've studied, try answering questions without looking at your SIM or notes to simulate the real exam conditions.

    • Flashcards: Create flashcards for key terms, definitions, BSRs, FARs, and procedures.

    • Timed Practice: Practice taking quizzes under timed conditions to get used to the pace.

  • For the Oral Exam:

    • Master Your Category Quizzes: Don't just pick the right answer; be able to explain why it's correct and elaborate on the concept, especially for the specific oral exam topics.

    • "Teach It" Back: Explain the specific oral exam topics (listed above) aloud to yourself, your dog, or a study partner. Can you clearly articulate why your RSL works, how to determine an exit order, or why certain cloud clearances exist?

    • Role-Playing: Ask a study buddy to quiz you, mimicking an instructor asking open-ended questions and asking for explanations. Focus on the core oral exam topics provided.

  • For the Practical Exam:

    • Visualize: Mentally rehearse each component of the practical exam. Imagine yourself performing each skill perfectly, paying attention to the specific requirements.

    • Jump with Intent: Every jump leading up to your practical exam should be treated as practice. Focus on executing each skill precisely and making conscious decisions about spotting, exit, and group separation.

    • Seek Instructor Feedback: After every jump, ask your instructors for specific feedback on each skill you'll be evaluated on.

    • Practice Emergency Procedures: Regularly practice emergency procedures (e.g., malfunction drills, cutaway) until they become muscle memory.

    • Film Your Jumps (If Possible): Reviewing video of your jumps can help you identify areas for improvement in your freefall skills and overall awareness.

Tips for Exam Success

  • Understand the "Why": This is paramount for the oral exam. Don't just memorize; understand the principles and safety implications behind every procedure and piece of gear.

  • Read Questions Carefully: For both written and oral exams, pay close attention to every word in the question to ensure you understand what's being asked.

  • Ask for Clarification (Oral): If you don't understand an oral question, ask your instructor to rephrase it. It's better to clarify than to guess incorrectly.

  • It's Okay to Say "I'll Find It" (Oral): For the oral exam, if you genuinely don't know an answer, it's acceptable to state that you don't know it offhand but you know exactly where to find the information in the SIM (e.g., "I'm not sure, but I know that's covered in SIM Chapter X, Section Y"). This demonstrates good judgment and resourcefulness.

  • Study Groups: Collaborating with other students can help solidify understanding and expose you to different perspectives, particularly for explaining concepts.

  • Get Rest: Ensure you're well-rested before you sit for any exam.

  • Stay Calm: Take a deep breath. You've been preparing diligently for this!

Ready to Schedule Your Exams?

When you feel confident and ready to demonstrate your knowledge and skills, it's time to schedule your A-License written, oral, and practical exams!