The Airline Transport Pilot Multiengine (ATM) knowledge test covers what an airline captain must know: regulations, weather, high-altitude aerodynamics, air carrier operations, human factors, transport-category systems and performance, instrument procedures and engine-out operations.
Exam format at a glance
| Format | 125 multiple-choice questions in 4.0 hours, at an FAA airman knowledge testing center. Minimum age to take the test is 18. |
| Cost | Testing fees are set by the testing center — check current pricing when you schedule. |
| Scoring | The passing score is 70 percent. Practice scores here use the same 70% pass line. |
| Validity | A passed ATP knowledge test taken after the ATP CTP is valid for 60 calendar months (14 CFR 61.39). |
Who this exam is for
- Commercial pilots working toward an ATP or restricted ATP certificate
- ATP CTP graduates preparing for the knowledge test
- First officers preparing for airline upgrade
How to actually study for it
- Know flight and duty limits under Part 117 and the Part 121 dispatch, fuel and alternate rules.
- Master high-altitude aerodynamics: Mach effects, coffin corner, swept wings and Dutch roll.
- Learn multiengine engine-out concepts: VMC, V1, accelerate-stop and climb gradients.
- Practice weather products and hazards: icing, wind shear, thunderstorms and turbulence.
Where to go next
Start with the free 10-question diagnostic to see where you actually stand, or go straight to the one-page ATP cheat sheet. The full ATP practice exam covers every domain at the real exam's weighting, with every answer explained.