The Private Pilot Written Test: What to Expect and How to Pass
Sixty questions, 70% to pass, and a two-year clock that starts the day you pass. Here is how the knowledge test works.
Last updated June 6, 2026 · by Sami, an FAA-certificated private pilot
The private pilot knowledge test — the “written” — is one of the few parts of training with a hard, objective answer: 60 questions, 70% to pass. It is very beatable with the right prep, and passing it is a real milestone. Here is exactly what to expect and how to clear it.
What the test is
Officially it is the FAA Private Pilot Airplane (PAR) knowledge test. It is computer-based, multiple choice, and taken at a PSI testing center (the FAA’s testing contractor). The 60 questions are pulled from a large FAA question bank, so no two tests are identical — which is why understanding the material beats memorizing answers.
What you need before you can take it
You need an endorsement to sit the test. That comes either from your instructor after ground training or home study, or from finishing an approved ground-school course (most online courses issue the endorsement when you complete them). Bring a valid government photo ID. The endorsement requirement lives in 14 CFR §61.35; see the endorsements guide for how this fits with the others.
What it covers
The knowledge areas come from §61.105 and are laid out in the Airman Certification Standards (ACS):
- Federal aviation regulations and the National Airspace System
- Weather: theory, reports, forecasts, and weather services
- Navigation — pilotage, dead reckoning, and using charts
- Aircraft systems, performance, and weight and balance
- Aeromedical factors and aeronautical decision-making (ADM)
- Radio communication procedures
Scoring and the score report
Score 70% or higher and you pass. Either way you get a score report listing the ACS codes for any questions you missed. Keep it — you present it at your checkride, and your examiner will revisit those weak areas during the oral. A high written score with a clean report makes the oral noticeably smoother.
The 24-month clock
How to prepare
| Step | What it looks like |
|---|---|
| Pick a ground school | An online course (video or written) or in-person ground school |
| Study to the ACS | Work through every §61.105 knowledge area, not just the easy ones |
| Drill practice tests | Take full practice exams until you are consistently scoring 80%+ |
| Get your endorsement | From your CFI or your completed course, then schedule at a PSI center |
Once you are reliably above 80% on practice tests, you are ready. Do not chase a perfect score — get the endorsement, book the test, and move on to flying. When the written is behind you, the next thing to line up is checkride readiness.
Frequently asked questions
How many questions are on the private pilot written test, and what is passing?
The FAA private pilot airplane knowledge test has 60 multiple-choice questions drawn from a large FAA question bank, and you need 70% to pass. You get about two hours, which is plenty of time for most people.
Do I need an endorsement to take the written test?
Yes. Before you sit the test you need an endorsement showing you are prepared — either from your instructor after ground training or home study, or from completing an approved ground-school course. You also bring a government photo ID.
How long is my passing result good for?
A passing knowledge-test result is valid for 24 calendar months. You have to complete your practical test (the checkride) within that window, or the written result expires and you take it again. Time it so you are not racing the clock at the end.
Can I take the written before I start flying?
Yes, and many students do. Knocking out the knowledge test early — even before or alongside your first lessons — gets the studying out of the way and starts the 24-month clock at a point that still leaves plenty of runway to finish.
Stop guessing what’s left before your checkride
Waypoint auto-computes every §61.109 requirement from the flights you log — free through your Private Pilot certificate.