One of the first steps in obtaining a private pilot license is passing the private pilot written exam. It is sometimes recommended to complete your written test before taking flying lessons, although it is not required. The private pilot written exam covers everything from airspace to Federal Aviation Regulations to VOR’s (and a lot in between!). The main regulations that private, sport, and recreational pilots need to know are found in FAR Part 61 and 91. We have a helpful study guide for pilots to navigate the somewhat complex Part 61 regulations. Other topics on the private pilot written exam include the fundamental theory of flight, flight maneuvers, national airspace regulations, aircraft performance data, weather, and flight planning to name a few.
I took the private pilot written exam a few years back and scored a 97% only missing two questions.
This article will show readers how to achieve a high score on the private pilot written exam. The passing grade for the private pilot written exam is only 70% but the test taker’s goal should be to not only pass but also to really understand the material and achieve a high score. After listening to some designated pilot’s examiners, they said that your private pilot written exam scores do come up on the private pilot check ride and the examiner may ask some questions on the sections you got wrong. Don’t sweat the private pilot written test too much though. The ultimate goal for any student pilot should be to pass the private pilot check ride and demonstrate that they are a safe and competent pilot.
Here are the steps to ensure you get at least a 90% on your private pilot written test:
Find a Good Ground School
Enroll in a private pilot ground school. If you are training under a FAA Part 61 school, then you can enroll in a home self-study course. I took Sporty’s Learn to Fly Private Pilot course but there are several other options as well such as Kings, Sheppard’s, ASA and Pilot Institute.
Take Lots of Practice Quizzes
Watch the videos (most private pilot test prep courses have these) and do the practice exams following each tutorial. The video instruction is a useful supplement to textbook reading and allows the student to learn aviation concepts in conjunction with flying lessons. The more questions you see and practice, the better you are likely to do on exam day. Remember to break up your study sessions in manageable blocks so you retain more of what you learn.
Get Very Familiar with the PHAK and FAR/AIM
Probably your two best resources while in flight school to gain the necessary ground knowledge will be the Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge (PHAK) and the FAR/AIM. You can download the PHAK from the FAA’s website for free and get a copy of the FAR/AIM from Aviation Supplies and Academics (ASA) on their website or through Amazon. Get to know these books well and bookmark and highlight all the regulations you need to know.
Start Taking Full Mock Exams Early
Start taking practice exams 2 – 3 weeks before you are ready to schedule your FAA written test. Take at least two tests in which you score at least 85%, then schedule your FAA private pilot written test. I was able to get a 98% and a 95% on the two private pilot practice tests I took. Take the average score of your two simulated mock exams, and that is the score you’re likely to get on the real test (plus or minus a few points!). You can take our private pilot practice test to make sure you are ready for exam day!
Try to Memorize the Factual Knowledge with Flashcards
There are certain sections of the private pilot curriculum that just need to be memorized because they are factual questions and you either know it or you don’t. For instance, you will either remember what the VFR weather minimums for Class D airspace are or you won’t. Other topics such as aerodynamics, proper flight planning and mastering flight maneuvers are more conceptual topics that will take time to truly understand and master. Try to memorize as many factual questions as you can or at least know where to find them in the PHAK and FAR/AIM by bookmarking and making tabs in the books. You will need to memorize some of the regulations pertaining to topics such as Part 61/91 regulations, airspace classes, VFR weather minimums but also don’t worry if you can remember everything off the top of your head. Get to know the PHAK and FAR/AIM books well so you can look things up quickly.
Review Your Weak Spots and Really Try to Understand the Concepts
Review the questions you missed on the practice exams and focus the last week or so before your private pilot test on practicing the questions you got wrong on your practice exams. Spend some extra time on topics such as Airspace, VFR weather minimums, how to read airport signs and markings, V-Speeds (the color-coded green and white airspeed indicator) and how to read a VFR sectional chart. Also know how to use an E6B calculator and the different classes of medicals. You may be asked some questions about VOR’s and how to calculate time en route for flight planning and navigation. Also know how to calculate weight and balance as well as using aircraft performance charts.
Schedule your Private Pilot Written Test
To schedule your private pilot written exam, go to faa.psiexams.com. If you are scheduling your private pilot written exam, make sure you select the Private Pilot Airplane (PAR) test.
Per the FAA Training Testing matrix:
“An airman applicant may present one or more of the following acceptable forms of authorization:
- Certificate of graduation issued by an FAA certificated pilot school. (14 CFR § 61.71(a))
- Written statement or logbook endorsement from an authorized ground or flight instructor certifying that
the applicant completed an applicable ground training or home study course and is prepared for the
knowledge test.”
Last but not least, try not to cram too much the night before your test. Just get a good night’s sleep and a good breakfast before your test. Good luck!