Definition
Assessment instruments in which the learner responds to questions in writing, typically using selected-response items (such as multiple-choice, true/false, or matching) or supply-type items (such as fill-in-the-blank or short essay) to demonstrate knowledge of aeronautical subject matter.
Plain English
Tests where the student answers questions on paper or on a screen — usually multiple-choice — to show what they know.
Context Anchor
You will see this term in flight training, ground school, instructor evaluations, and FAA knowledge testing.
Derivation
Written comes from write, meaning to put words or symbols down so they can be read. Test comes from the idea of a trial or proof. Together, written tests means proving understanding by giving answers that can be read and reviewed, rather than only spoken or demonstrated in the airplane.
Why Pilots Care
Passing the written test is required before a student can schedule the practical test, and poor performance signals gaps that must be addressed to avoid training delays or safety issues.
Intuition Check
Do not assume written tests means only the official FAA knowledge exam. In this instructor context, it can also mean quizzes, lesson tests, or other written checks used during training.
Example Sentence 1
Before scheduling the checkride, the student had to pass the FAA written test with a score of at least 70 percent.
Example Sentence 2
A score of at least seventy percent on the written tests is needed to move forward in the private pilot training program.