FAA · FIA
Flight Instructor Airplane (FIA) Knowledge Test practice exams
The FAA's Flight Instructor Airplane knowledge test — practice against the Flight Instructor ACS, with every answer explained.
Or read 15 sample questions with answers.
About the FIA exam
The Flight Instructor Airplane (FIA) knowledge test covers the technical knowledge a CFI must teach: regulations and endorsements, aerodynamics, systems, performance, airspace and navigation, weather, flight maneuvers and emergencies.
The test follows the knowledge elements of the Flight Instructor ACS (FAA-S-ACS-25). Fundamentals of Instructing is a separate test. The FAA does not publish per-area percentages, so our domain weights are an estimate.
The real exam
Public information published by FAA. A ExamWize practice exam matches this format — it is not a copy of the exam's contents.
- Format
- 100 multiple-choice questions in 2.5 hours, at an FAA airman knowledge testing center. Minimum age to take the test is 16.
- 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 knowledge test must be followed by the practical test within 24 calendar months (14 CFR 61.39).
Practice by exam topic
ExamWize practice exams draw questions in these same proportions, from a bank of 596 FIA questions. Open a topic for what it covers and free questions with answers.
- 14 CFR, Endorsements and Pilot Qualifications· 106 questions18%
- Human Factors and Risk Management· 59 questions10%
- Principles of Flight· 90 questions15%
- Systems and High-Altitude Operations· 61 questions10%
- Performance and Limitations· 72 questions12%
- Airspace, Navigation and Flight Planning· 71 questions12%
- Weather Information· 48 questions8%
- Teaching Flight Maneuvers· 58 questions10%
- Emergency and Night Operations· 31 questions5%
Who it's for
- Commercial pilots working toward a flight instructor certificate
- CFI candidates preparing alongside the FOI test
- Instructors refreshing endorsement and regulation knowledge
How to prepare
- Know the student pilot rules and every endorsement a CFI gives (61.87, 61.93, 61.31).
- Master aerodynamics: stalls, spins, load factor and left-turning tendencies.
- Learn CFI limitations: 8 hours of instruction in 24 hours and renewal every 24 calendar months.
- Review common student errors for each flight maneuver.
See the free FIA cheat sheet for a one-page domain summary, and the content policy for how these questions are written.
Free FIA practice resources
- 15 free FIA practice questionsSpread across the exam's topics, each with the answer and an explanation for every option.
- Free 10-question diagnosticA quick, scored check of where you stand, with no account needed.
- FIA cheat sheetThe topics and the facts that come up most, on one page.
- FIA study guideHow to plan your preparation.
FIA exam FAQ
- What is the format of the FIA exam?
- 100 multiple-choice questions in 2.5 hours, at an FAA airman knowledge testing center. Minimum age to take the test is 16.
- How much does the FIA exam cost?
- Testing fees are set by the testing center — check current pricing when you schedule.
- How is the FIA exam scored?
- The passing score is 70 percent. Practice scores here use the same 70% pass line.
- How long is the credential valid?
- A passed knowledge test must be followed by the practical test within 24 calendar months (14 CFR 61.39).
- How many FIA practice questions does ExamWize have?
- 596 original practice questions, drawn into full practice exams in the same format and domain proportions as the real FIA. Every option has its own explanation.
- Are these real FIA exam questions?
- No. Every question is original, written from FAA's public content outline — never copied from the real exam or from exam dumps. They match the real exam's format, not its contents.
- Can I try ExamWize for free?
- Yes. The free diagnostic has 10 FIA practice questions with a full explanation for every answer, and no account is needed.