De-Stressing the Test

One of the first major hurdles every pilot applicant must clear is the FAA Knowledge Test. Since you’re reading the Gold Seal Ground School Blog, you already know where and how to study for that test. Well done. You’re off to a great start.

Private Pilot Applicants will be presented with sixty questions on their Knowledge Test. At least there are sixty questions that really count. There are actually sixty-five questions. Five of them are euphemistically referred to as, validation questions. They don’t count for or against your final score. But you won’t know which five questions they are. So, treat every question as if it is a legitimate test question. Because it just might be.

Instrument Rating applicants will also see sixty questions on their Knowledge Test.

Commercial Pilot applicants will be presented with one hundred questions.

70% is the magic number – but it is not a desirable score

Regardless of which Knowledge Test you’re planning on taking, you are likely to become very focused on the magic number of 70%. 

It’s the lowest possible passing score. But it’s also an almost-failing score. That should mean something to you.

When someone tells you that anything over 70% is wasted effort, ask them which 30% of aviation knowledge is unnecessary?

Learn as much as you can and shoot for the best score possible. It doesn’t have to be a 98%. But whatever it is, make sure it’s your best.

Shortcut to Learning

There is a widely held misunderstanding amongst new flight students that memorization of test questions and answers is the fast, easy path to success. But there’s a big flaw in that logic, and it frequently gets overlooked.

Yes, rote memorization is a fundamental part of the learning process.  Even the FAA says so. Consider regulations. Learning them requires a lot of memorization.

But memorizing test questions and answers is a TOTALLY different issue. That is NOT what the FAA is referring to when they tell you that memorization is part of the learning process.

The purpose of learning is to acquire knowledge. The test simply exists to confirm that learning occurred.  Memorizing test questions produces a false measurement of how well you have learned the material. It’s a shortcut, and not a good one.

The Knowledge Test Report (KTR)

The results printed on your Knowledge Test Report will have a direct bearing on how the remainder of your FAA testing goes. Specifically, in terms of the oral exam you will participate in as part of your practical test.

The answers you missed

Along with the Knowledge Test score, each report includes a coded list of topics in which the applicant selected an incorrect response.

Logic dictates the more questions an applicant misses, the longer that list of coded topics will be. These are printed out as ACS codes. This is true for all Knowledge Tests based on the ACS (Aeronautical Certification Standard).

Examples:

ACS Code “PA.I.G.K1a” indicates you missed a question on the topic of primary flight controls.

ACS Code “PA.II. B.K1” clarifies that you incorrectly answered a question about passenger briefing requirements.

ACS Code “PA.IV.M.K3” shows that you selected a less than correct answer to a question about wind correction technique during a forward slip.

Finding and identifying these codes is not hard. They’re clearly printed on your Knowledge Test Report. They’re also very conveniently listed in the Aeronautical Certification Standards booklet, on the left side of the page, right next to the description of the item they indicate.

With this in mind, it isn’t hard to see that studying well and making a serious effort to understand the material is likely to result in a higher Knowledge Test score. That in turn will pay dividends when you sit for the oral portion of your practical test. Fewer incorrect answers can translate to a less invasive oral exam.

The Good News

The FAA is literally telling you exactly which areas you need to brush up on. Your flight instructor is required to review these specific areas with you before providing the necessary endorsement prior to scheduling our practical test.

This is a gift. Knowing which topics are giving you trouble and having a requirement for the CFI to review these areas with you, allows each of you to focus on specific areas of weakness to improve our understanding of the material that we will be tested on. That’s true for the knowledge test, the oral exam, the flight test, and the various unanticipated challenges you may face in flight in the future.

Knowing more is always better than knowing less. Coming away from the Knowledge Test with a score in the mid to high 90s is understandably preferable to just squeaking over the finish line with a score in the low 70s.

The Knowledge Test is directly connected to the oral exam

Designated Pilot Examiners (DPEs) also have rules to comply with. One you might find interesting is that DPEs are required to include questions in your oral exam that explore the very same areas of inquiry you answered incorrectly on your Knowledge Test. Those exact same topics you and your CFI reviewed after receiving your Knowledge Test report.

Those who take the time and make the effort to improve on those areas missed are much more likely to be able to confidently provide answers to the questions they’re asked. This is what differentiates applicants with actual understanding from those who merely memorized a series of answers without context or nuance.

The DPE perspective

You don’t have to take our word for this, either. We reached out to a variety of DPEs from around the United States to get their perspective. We then distilled their process down to its essence for you to enjoy and benefit from.

Their input boils down to this critical statement: “Most of my orals for Private, Instrument, and Commercial run about 1:45 to 2:00hr in length.  If they go much longer it is because the applicant isn't well prepared.”  

Being unprepared, could be considered as code for memorizing instead of actually understanding the material.

Epilogue

Achieving success on the Knowledge Test is your short-term goal. And it’s a good one. Your best bet will always be to use your study time to make the most of the resources available to you. Scoring well on the Knowledge Test is a byproduct of studying with intent. The more you understand with clarity, the better your score is likely to be. That higher score is a prime indicator of your ability to not just respond to questions on the topic, but to put that knowledge to work in the aircraft.

A Designated Pilot Examiner can determine that depth of knowledge or lack of knowledge fairly quickly based on your verbal answers to their questions. So, study well. That Knowledge Test score is far more important than most new applicants realize.

Congratulations. You’re on your way.

About the Author

Jamie Beckett came to aviation as a second career after taking a handful of flight lessons on a whim. He’s made general aviation his focus for more than 30 years serving as an instructor pilot, restoring WWII aircraft, writing for a variety of aviation publications, and flying just for the joy of it. Visit Jamie's channel at www.youtube.com/@MadPropsAero

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