The FAA Written Exam — Pass It Early, Pass It Once
Every pilot certificate requires passing an FAA knowledge test before your checkride. Here's what's on the private and commercial writtens, what they cost, and the study plan our Van Nuys students use to score in the 90s.
Private and commercial writtens at a glance
Private Pilot (PAR): 60 questions, 2.5 hours
Multiple choice, 70% to pass, about $175 at PSI testing centers around Los Angeles, valid for 24 calendar months. You need an instructor endorsement, a government ID and your FAA Tracking Number from IACRA.
Commercial (CAX): 100 questions, 3 hours
Same passing score and validity. Deeper on regulations, performance and advanced aerodynamics — schedule it while building commercial hours.
What's covered
Regulations, airspace and sectional charts (heavily tested), weather and METARs/TAFs, aircraft performance and weight & balance, navigation and flight planning, aerodynamics and systems, and human factors like hypoxia and decision-making.
Why your score matters beyond passing
Your examiner sees which topics you missed, and probes exactly those areas in the checkride oral. We re-teach every missed topic rather than move on — first-time passes with high scores make easier checkrides.
A 3–6 week study plan that works
Complete ground school first — concepts before question banks. Memorizing answers without understanding is how people pass the written and then fail the oral exam months later. Once the concepts are in place, drill a question bank daily: twenty to thirty minutes every day beats weekend cramming, every time.
Take three full timed practice tests, and sit the real exam once you score 85 percent or better consistently. Then review your weak areas with your instructor — your CFI must endorse you to take the test anyway, and our instructors close every gap before it can resurface on checkride day.
One strategic tip worth real money: pass the written early in your training, ideally around first solo. Students who finish the written early consistently complete their certificate in fewer total flight hours — which at aircraft rental rates is a saving measured in thousands.
FAA written exam questions
With proper ground school and three to six weeks of question-bank practice, most of our students score in the 90s. Walking in unprepared is the only way it's hard.
You review the missed areas, get a new instructor endorsement, and retest. But a failure stays on your airman record and your checkride examiner will probe those topics — so we prepare you to pass the first time.
Yes, with a ground instructor endorsement or an accepted online course completion. Knocking it out early is a great strategy — it needs no medical and no aircraft time.
Sporty's, King Schools or Sheppard Air all work — what matters is daily reps and reviewing explanations for every miss, not which app you choose.
PSI testing centers around LA administer all FAA knowledge tests. Bring your endorsement, government ID and FTN number; results are instant.
Ground school makes the written easy
Our ground instruction is built into every training package, with one-on-one sessions available any time. Start now — no medical, no aircraft, no excuses. Call (818) 290-8249.