What You Need to Know About the FAA Airman Knowledge Exam

The Airman Knowledge Exam—often called “the written test”—is the FAA’s first major checkpoint on your path to a Private Pilot’s License (PPL) or any advanced rating. Below is a deep dive into how the test works, recent pass-rate data, what a “70 percent” really means, and proven study tactics that help pilots at flight schools and aero clubs like Fly Compton walk into the testing center with confidence.

Fast Facts (Private Pilot Airplane – PAR code)

Questions	Time Limit	Passing Score	Retest Wait	Validity of Pass
60 multiple-choice	2 hr 30 min	70 %  (42 correct)	14 days with failed test report	24 months to complete the check-ride

Source: FAA Airman Knowledge Testing Matrix Federal Aviation Administration

A 70 percent is a pass, but shooting for mid-80s on practice tests gives you margin for test-day nerves.

What Does the Test Cover?

The questions are pulled from the Airman Certification Standards (ACS) for Private Pilot Airplane. Expect at least a few items from each of the following areas:

• Aerodynamics & Aircraft Systems (lift/drag charts, magnetos, pitot-static malfunctions)

  
  

• Flight Instruments & Performance (V-speeds, weight-and-balance graphs, takeoff and landing distances)

  
  

• Airport & Airspace Operations (runway signage, airspace entry requirements, special-use airspace)

  
  

• FAA Regulations & Procedures (14 CFR Part 61/91)

  
  

• Weather Theory & Services (METARs, TAFs, charts)

  
  

• Navigation & Flight Planning (sectionals, use of flight computers, time-distance-fuel to climb)

  
  

• Human Factors & Risk Management (IMSAFE checklist, ADM)

  
  

Tip: The Airman Computer Testing Supplement—the same booklet you’ll get in the testing room—contains every figure, chart, and legend used in the exam. Tab it and practice with it early.

National Pass-Rate Snapshot

Calendar Year	Number Tested	Pass Rate	Average Score
2024	46,132	91.9 %	82.9 % Federal Aviation Administration
2022	39,893	89.8 %	82.9 % Federal Aviation Administration

What the numbers tell us: Even though only 70 % is required, nine out of ten first-time test-takers succeed, and the typical score hovers in the low-80s. With disciplined prep, the exam is very passable.

Signing Up & Eligibility

1. Be at least 15 years old for the Private Pilot written exam (14 for glider/balloon).Federal Aviation Administration

   
   

2. Get authorization—the first attempt must be backed by one of these:

   • Endorsement from an FAA-certified ground or flight instructor,

   • Graduation certificate from an FAA-approved ground-school course, or

   • Your FAA student-pilot certificate is endorsed for the knowledge test. Federal Aviation Administration

     
     

3. Schedule online with PSI (formerly LaserGrade/CATS). Expect a fee of around $175.

   
   

4. Choose a convenient test center—most major airports or community colleges host them.

What to Bring on Test Day

• Government photo ID (name matches endorsement)

  
  

• Printed instructor endorsement or ground-school graduation certificate.

  
  

• Allowed aids per AC 60-11C: E6-B or electronic flight computer, plotter, straight-edge, non-programmable calculator. Federal Aviation Administration

  
  

• The test center supplies scratch paper and the Computer Testing Supplement; leave reference books, smartphones, and smartwatches outside.

  
  

Arrive 30 minutes early—there’s a sign-in, ID check, locker assignment, and briefing on rules before the clock starts.

Six Proven Tips for a First-Try Pass

Tip	Why It Works
1. Study the ACS, not random question banks.	Modern FAA questions are written straight from ACS tasks, so your study plan should mirror those codes.
2. Use timed practice exams and aim for ≥ 85 %.	Replicates test pressure and builds a performance buffer above the 70 % threshold.
3. Drill the figures.	Nearly a third of real questions reference the Testing Supplement’s charts, weight-and-balance graphs, or sectionals.
4. Track Learning Statement Codes (or ACS codes) after each practice.	They pinpoint weak areas so you spend study time surgically, not randomly.
5. Block study into 90-120 minute sessions.	Research on retention shows sharp drop-offs after two hours; short, focused bursts beat marathon crams.
6. Debrief with mentors or instructors.	Explaining a missed concept aloud cements it far faster than silently rereading an answer key

Why Community Support Matters

Whether you train at a big academy or inside a close-knit aero club, surrounding yourself with pilots who have just taken the test is invaluable. They can share fresh study resources, hold timed-quiz nights, loan E6-Bs or plotters, and keep motivation high when FAR-AIM pages start to blur. Clubs like Fly Compton even pair new students with “knowledge-exam buddies” who review practice-test misses line-by-line, turning a solitary study grind into a collaborative win.

Final Checklist

1. Endorsement printed?

2. Calculator & plotter packed?

3. Testing Supplement tabs in place?

4. Practice tests at or above 85 %?

5. Arrive early, breathe, pace yourself—one question every 2.5 minutes.

The Airman Knowledge Exam is less a hurdle and more a structured review of what a safe pilot needs to know. Master the ACS topics, leverage the community around you, and you’ll join the 90-plus percent who nail it on the first try—ready to tackle the check-ride and chase the horizon. Happy studying, and see you in the skies!

Citations

1. FAA Airman Knowledge Testing Matrix – exam format and 70 % pass benchmark. Federal Aviation Administration

2. FAA 2024 Airman Knowledge Test Annual Statistics – pass-rate data (Private Pilot Airplane). Federal Aviation Administration

3. MockCheckride.com summary of 2022 FAA pass-rate report – additional historical stats. MockCheckride

4. FAA Airman Testing Questions & Answers – age and endorsement requirements. Federal Aviation Administration

5. Advisory Circular 60-11C – permitted test aids and materials. Federal Aviation Administration