Definition
An FAA-administered written examination, taken at an approved testing center, that assesses an applicant's understanding of the aeronautical knowledge areas required for a specific pilot certificate or rating. A passing score is one of the prerequisites for taking the practical test.
Plain English
The official written exam a student must pass before they can take the in-person flight test for a pilot certificate. It checks what they know about flying — rules, weather, aircraft systems, navigation, and so on — through multiple-choice questions.
Context Anchor
You will see this term when preparing for a pilot certificate or rating, especially when your instructor is deciding whether you are ready to be recommended for the final FAA check.
Why Pilots Care
A passing score on the knowledge test is required before an applicant can schedule the practical test for any certificate or rating.
Intuition Check
A knowledge test is not just any quiz or practice test. In this FAA context, it means the official FAA exam tied to a certificate, rating, or authorization.
Example Sentence 1
Before scheduling her checkride, Sarah had to pass the private pilot knowledge test at an FAA-approved testing center.
Example Sentence 2
A score of at least 70 percent on the knowledge test is needed to qualify for the practical test.