How Do Your FAA Written Test Scores Stack Up in 2026?

The FAA has released its 2025 knowledge test statistics, offering a fresh look at how pilot applicants are performing nationwide.

2025 Knowledge Test Averages

The FAA has released 2025 written test statistics.

Commercial Pilot (Airplane): 91%
A total of 20,530 tests were taken in 2025, with an impressive 99% first-time pass rate.
That’s an increase in volume compared to 2024, with the average score remaining stead at 91%.

Instrument Rating (Airplane): 86%
Nearly 27,143 instrument tests were administered in 2025, with a 94% first-time pass rate.
Testing volume continues to grow, and the average score also remained steady at 86%.

Private Pilot (Airplane): 82%
A total of 44,657 Private tests were taken in 2025, with a 90% first-time pass rate.
That represents a slight dip in both volume and performance compared to 2024, when the average score was 83% and the pass rate topped 92%.

Frequently Missed Topics

The FAA’s “Frequently Missed Knowledge Test ACS Codes” report continues to shine a light on areas that challenge applicants.

Recent reports highlight these written test ACS codes:

CA.VII.E.K2 (Commercial Airplane)
This code relates to the spin awareness task, specifically understanding what causes a spin and how to identify the entry, incipient, and developed phases of a spin.

PA.IX.A.K3 (Private Airplane)
This code falls under Emergency Operations, specifically airspeed and airspeed limitations. Knowing critical speeds—best glide, maneuvering speed, and limitations tied to aircraft configuration—is essential for safe decision-making during abnormal or emergency situations.

While the codes themselves may look cryptic, they map directly to specific elements in the Airman Certification Standards (ACS).

Turn Your Test Report Into a Study Plan

If you’ve already taken a knowledge test, don’t overlook the value of your Airman Knowledge Test Report. Every missed question is tied to an ACS code—but decoding those codes manually can be frustrating.

That’s why Sporty’s offers a free Knowledge Test ACS Code Analysis Tool.

Simply upload a photo of your FAA written test report inside the Test Prep module, and our Aviation Intelligence℠ tool will instantly extract your missed ACS codes and translate them into clear subject areas. Instead of flipping through ACS documents, you’ll get a focused breakdown of exactly what to review.

And you don’t even need to be enrolled in a paid course—just create a free Sporty’s account to access it.

FAA Testing Updates: What’s Changing

Although the FAA does not release active test questions, updates about new content, discontinued material, and terminology changes are published in the Airman Testing Community Advisory.

One notable modernization effort is the Graphics Conversion Project. In collaboration with PSI Services, the FAA is embedding figures directly into test questions rather than relying solely on separate testing supplements.

Currently, Commercial, Private, and Unmanned Aircraft exams include questions with embedded graphics. Sport Pilot exams began incorporating embedded figures in early 2025. Applicants will continue to receive a test supplement during the transition period.

The FAA also encourages applicants to review the Candidate Information Bulletins (CIBs) for their specific exam. These bulletins outline registration procedures, authorization requirements, and test content specifications. CIBs are available for exams including Private Pilot (PAR), Instrument Rating (IRA), Commercial Pilot (CAX), and others.

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Eric Radtke

It was his first airplane trip at age seven that made Eric decide to become a pilot. "While boarding the airplane, a flight attendant noticed my interest in the flight deck and urged me to go talk to the pilot. I give a lot of credit to that pilot for my career choice." Eric earned a bachelor’s degree in finance and went on to an airline career. He learned to fly at Sporty’s as part of the University of Cincinnati’s Professional Pilot Program, an initiative he later directed.Eric now manages Sporty’s media network including FlightTrainingCentral.com. In addition, Eric serves as a Captain in a Cincinnati-based corporate flight department.

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