What is an FAA written test?
An FAA written — officially an airman knowledge test — is the multiple-choice computer exam you must pass to earn an FAA certificate or rating. It is taken at a PSI testing center, has three answer choices per question, and the passing score is 70%. The content of each test is set by its Airman Certification Standards (ACS).
FAA written tests at a glance
We cover all five FAA writtens. Here is each test's official question count, time limit and passing score:
| Exam | FAA code | Questions | Time | Pass score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part 107 — Remote Pilot (Drone) | UAG | 60 | 120 min | 70% |
| Private Pilot — Airplane (PAR) | PAR | 60 | 150 min | 70% |
| Instrument Rating — Airplane (IRA) | IRA | 60 | 150 min | 70% |
| Commercial Pilot — Airplane (CAX) | CAX | 100 | 180 min | 70% |
| Fundamentals of Instructing (FOI) | FOI | 50 | 120 min | 70% |
The Part 107 path (drone pilots)
For commercial drone operators the written is the whole exam — there's no checkride. Pass the 60-question test, complete FAA registration, and you're a certificated remote pilot. That's why focused written prep matters so much here.
Where do I take the real test?
Official FAA knowledge tests are administered at PSI test centers across the US (faa.gov has the details). PilotWrittenPrep is a prep app that gets you ready — it's not the official test, but it mirrors the content, format and pass rules.