FAA · PAR
Private Pilot Airplane (PAR) Knowledge Test practice exams
The FAA's Private Pilot Airplane knowledge test — practice against the Private Pilot ACS, with every answer explained.
Or read 15 sample questions with answers.
About the PAR exam
The Private Pilot Airplane (PAR) knowledge test covers what a private pilot needs before the checkride: regulations and airworthiness, weather, cross-country planning, airspace, performance and weight and balance, airplane systems, human factors and airport operations.
The test follows the knowledge elements of the Private Pilot ACS (FAA-S-ACS-6C), most of them in Area of Operation I, Preflight Preparation. These practice exams cover each area; 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
- 60 multiple-choice questions in 2.5 hours, at an FAA airman knowledge testing center. Minimum age to take the test is 15.
- 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 597 PAR questions. Open a topic for what it covers and free questions with answers.
- Pilot Qualifications, Airworthiness and Regulations· 100 questions17%
- Weather Information· 100 questions17%
- Cross-Country Planning and Navigation· 79 questions13%
- National Airspace System· 78 questions13%
- Performance, Limitations and Aerodynamics· 80 questions13%
- Operation of Systems· 60 questions10%
- Human Factors· 40 questions7%
- Airport Operations· 60 questions10%
Who it's for
- Student pilots preparing for the private pilot knowledge test
- Flight instructors looking for practice material to assign
- Pilots refreshing their knowledge before a flight review
How to prepare
- Weather is a big part of the test — learn to read METARs, TAFs and winds aloft forecasts, and know fronts, stability and thunderstorm stages.
- Memorize airspace entry requirements and VFR weather minimums for each class.
- Practice weight and balance, time-speed-distance and fuel calculations until they are quick.
- Know the regulations on currency, medical certificates, required documents and inspections.
See the free PAR cheat sheet for a one-page domain summary, and the content policy for how these questions are written.
Free PAR practice resources
- 15 free PAR 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.
- PAR cheat sheetThe topics and the facts that come up most, on one page.
- PAR study guideHow to plan your preparation.
PAR exam FAQ
- What is the format of the PAR exam?
- 60 multiple-choice questions in 2.5 hours, at an FAA airman knowledge testing center. Minimum age to take the test is 15.
- How much does the PAR exam cost?
- Testing fees are set by the testing center — check current pricing when you schedule.
- How is the PAR 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 PAR practice questions does ExamWize have?
- 597 original practice questions, drawn into full practice exams in the same format and domain proportions as the real PAR. Every option has its own explanation.
- Are these real PAR 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 PAR practice questions with a full explanation for every answer, and no account is needed.