What Does a DME Ask on the A&P Oral?
A DME asks the oral questions that the FAA's Mechanic Test Generator puts on your test planning sheet: one question for each ACS code you missed on your knowledge tests, plus at least four random questions per section. The questions come from the Aviation Mechanic ACS and the FAA handbooks, so they cover the same topics as the written test. The difference is that you answer out loud, with no answer choices and no references.
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Where DME oral questions come from
DME oral questions come from the FAA's Mechanic Test Generator (MTG), not from the examiner's own list. The ACS says the evaluator includes all questions and projects from the MTG on the test planning sheet. The MTG FAQ is blunt about it:
"All questions that are on the planning sheet must be asked. The DME does NOT get to pick and choose what questions to ask any more."
FAA, Mechanic Test Generator FAQs (updated 5/22/2023)
What decides your questions:
- Your ACS codes. Each ACS code you missed on the knowledge test adds one oral question in that section. See how to read your ACS codes.
- Random questions. Each section has at least 4 randomly generated questions, even with a 100 percent written score.
- The ACS knowledge elements. The ACS says the MTG includes oral questions from the knowledge elements of the ACS.
The MTG FAQ also says every test item has an ACS code and comes from the FAA mechanic handbooks or other documents listed in the ACS companion guide. The questions were developed and reviewed by ACS Examination Boards made up of industry representatives and FAA personnel, and the oral questions were made to align with the written test questions. For the full picture of the test, see our A&P oral and practical guide.
What DME questions sound like: FAA sample questions
DME oral questions are short, direct, and tied to one ACS element. The FAA publishes a sample oral and practical test. Here are five of its oral questions, with the FAA's sample answers:
| ACS code | Question | FAA sample answer |
|---|---|---|
| AM.I.F.R7 | Why should no one ever approach a single-rotor helicopter from the rear? | The tail rotor is invisible when operating. |
| AM.I.J.K3 | Two gears with teeth on their outer edges act like what class of lever? | A first class lever. |
| AM.II.D.K1 | To establish conformity of an aircraft product the mechanic must start with what document? | The Type Certificate Data Sheet. |
| AM.II.K.K17 | What is battery capacity measured in? | Amp-hours. |
| AM.III.G.K2 | Name one type of oil filter used on aircraft engines? | Usually one of four types: screen, Cuno, canister, or spin-on. |
Notice two things. First, the sample answers are short; one or two sentences is enough. Second, the first question has an R code, for a risk management element. The ACS says risk management elements are also evaluated in knowledge testing, so they can show up in your oral too.
More practice questions by section
Below are six practice questions from the DMEReady question pool. They are not FAA test questions. Each is written from the FAA handbooks or regulations and tagged with the ACS element it practices. The answers are short summaries; read the reference for the full text.
| Section and ACS | Question | Short answer | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| General, AM.I.F.K3 | How do you ground and bond an aircraft when fueling from a fuel truck? | Ground the aircraft, then the truck, then bond the two together. Ground the nozzle to the aircraft before opening the tank. | FAA-H-8083-30B, pp. 1-26 to 1-28 |
| General, AM.I.A.K14 | What makes a circuit a parallel circuit rather than a series circuit? | The loads are connected across the same voltage source, so the current has more than one path. Each path is a branch. | FAA-H-8083-30B, pp. 12-40 to 12-41 |
| Airframe, AM.II.E.K11 | Before starting to remove a wheel assembly, what must be done to the tire? | Deflate it. Wheel assemblies have exploded while the axle nut was being removed. | FAA-H-8083-31B, ch. 13 |
| Airframe, AM.II.M.K3 | An engine fire detection system keeps giving intermittent alarms. What is the most common cause? | An intermittent short in the detector wiring, such as a loose or frayed wire or a worn sensing element. | FAA-H-8083-31B, pp. 17-18 to 17-19 |
| Powerplant, AM.III.C.K1 | After a 100-hour inspection, what engine check must you make before returning a reciprocating-engine aircraft to service? | Run the engine to check performance per the manufacturer, including power output, magnetos, fuel and oil pressure, and cylinder and oil temperature. | 14 CFR 43.15(c)(2) |
| Powerplant, AM.III.C.K4 | The owner brings you an SB from the engine manufacturer. When is compliance with it required? | Only when an airworthiness directive refers to it or the authorized inspection program requires it. | FAA-H-8083-32B, pp. 10-1 to 10-2 |
For longer lists, see our posts on General, Airframe, and Powerplant oral questions.
Prepare for the "why" behind each answer
Our advice: know the reason behind every answer, not only the answer. The written test lets you pick from choices. The oral is a live conversation with an examiner, and you should be ready to explain yourself if asked. Look at the FAA's own sample: the helicopter question is a "why" question, and its answer is a reason.
A simple way to practice is to take each answer one or two steps further:
- What: "Deflate the tire before removing the wheel."
- Why: "Because wheel assemblies have exploded while the axle nut was being removed."
- What if: "What if the SB is referenced in an AD?" Then compliance is required.
We are not claiming every DME asks follow-ups or how often. It is a way to test whether you understand a topic or only memorized a line. If you can explain the why in your own words, a short follow-up will not throw you.
Questions during the practical are different
The DME also asks questions during the practical, but there you may use references. The MTG FAQ says that during each project, at a safe and appropriate time, the DME must ask 2 practical questions relevant to the project. The ACS says these cover knowledge and risk management elements tied to the project, and that you may use reference material to answer them.
In the FAA sample, a Powerplant project asks for the required torque for installing a fuel control unit on the assigned aircraft. The sample answer: as per the manufacturer's maintenance manual. The ACS says applicants demonstrate the ability to locate and apply the required reference materials. If you answer a practical question incorrectly, the whole project fails, so take the time to look it up. Read what to expect on exam day for how projects run.
How to prepare for DME questions
- Start with your codes. List the ACS codes from your AKTRs. Each one is a question you will get.
- Read the ACS element, then the handbook. FAA-S-ACS-1 tells you the topic; the FAA-H-8083 handbooks give you the answer.
- Study every subject. The ACS says you may not know ahead of time which selections are on your test, and at least 4 questions per section are random.
- Answer out loud, without notes. That is how the oral works. Short and clear beats long and unsure.
- Add the why. For each answer, practice one reason and one "what if."
For a full study plan, see how to pass the A&P oral.
Practice with an examiner that asks the next question
Reading a question list is not the same as answering one out loud. DMEReady is an AI voice examiner: it asks oral questions built from FAA sources, then follows up like a DME would. After each session you get a report of what you covered, what you missed, what a complete answer covers, and where to read in the FAA handbooks. Your first drill is free, with no sign-up.
Start your free drillFrequently asked questions
Does the DME pick my oral questions?
No. The questions come from the FAA's Mechanic Test Generator. All questions on the planning sheet must be asked, and the DME does not get to pick and choose.
Are the oral questions the same as the written test questions?
They cover the same ACS topics, and the FAA says the oral questions were made to align with the written test questions. You answer out loud, from memory, with no answer choices.
Do I have to answer word for word like the handbook?
The FAA documents do not require exact handbook wording. The ACS says information in parentheses in an answer is clarifying, and you are not expected to recite all of it.
Will the DME ask about risk management (R) codes?
It can happen. The FAA sample oral includes one R-coded question, AM.I.F.R7, about approaching a single-rotor helicopter from the rear.
How many questions will the DME ask me?
At least 4 per section, plus one for each ACS code you missed. The maximum is 22 for General, 34 for Airframe, and 34 for Powerplant.
Oral coming up soon? Try the full thing free for 30 days
We are running a small pilot before launch. If your oral and practical is in the next few weeks, you get every section of the voice mock oral free for 30 days, no card. In return, tell us honestly what helped and what didn’t.
Start the free pilotLimited spots. The pilot closes on November 30.
Passed a written? Get your oral study plan by email
Paste the ACS codes on your Airman Knowledge Test Report (AKTR). We’ll email you a study plan now, then two short tasks built from your codes: one on day 3, one on day 7. That’s all.
Sources
- FAA, FAA-S-ACS-1, Aviation Mechanic General, Airframe, and Powerplant Airman Certification Standards, Appendix 1.
- FAA, Mechanic Test Generator FAQs (updated 5/22/2023).
- FAA, Sample Test, Oral and Practical, Sections I, II, and III and sample projects.
- FAA, Aircraft Handbooks & Manuals: FAA-H-8083-30B (General), FAA-H-8083-31B (Airframe), FAA-H-8083-32B (Powerplant).
- eCFR, 14 CFR 43.15, Additional performance rules for inspections.
About this guide: drafted with AI from the FAA sources listed on this page and checked claim by claim against them. Not reviewed by an A&P mechanic or DME. How we make our guides
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