FAA Checkride Preparation
FAA Test Pass Rates
FAA Airman Knowledge Test pass rates
Ever been curious about which Airman Knowledge Test is most difficult? We were too, so we parsed the 2022 FAA data provided here.
The following table, sorted by pass rate, shows that the Private Pilot Airplane had both the lowest pass rate and lowest average score.
Interestingly, the very similar Sport Pilot Airplane test had a pass rate of more than 7 points higher, and an average score of 4 points higher.
Several tests often rumored to be challenging (Instrument Rating Airplane, Flight Instructor Airplane) had pass rates approaching 95%. Note that these pass rates and average scores do not differentiate between initial takes and retakes.
| Test | Number | Pass Rate | Average Score |
| Private Pilot Airplane | 39,893 | 89.83% | 82.86% |
| Instrument Rating Helicopter | 618 | 90.61% | 83.83% |
| Private Pilot Glider | 251 | 92.03% | 86.02% |
| Flight Instructor Airplane | 10,152 | 94.07% | 87.34% |
| Private Pilot Helicopter | 1,032 | 94.77% | 85.67% |
| Instrument Rating Airplane | 19,869 | 94.84% | 86.15% |
| Ground Instructor (Advanced) | 1,933 | 95.86% | 87.13% |
| Flight Instructor Helicopter | 502 | 96.22% | 86.98% |
| Sport Pilot Airplane | 388 | 96.91% | 86.56% |
| Commercial Pilot Helicopter | 676 | 97.04% | 87.96% |
| Commercial Pilot Airplane | 14,539 | 97.46% | 88.08% |
| Military Competence Non-Category | 3,300 | 98.12% | 91.18% |
| Fundamentals of Instructing | 10,797 | 98.19% | 90.20% |
| Flight Instructor Instrument Airplane | 9,033 | 98.26% | 90.97% |
| Ground Instructor Instrument | 1,676 | 98.93% | 92.19% |
| Airline Transport Pilot Helicopter (135) | 335 | 99.10% | 92.80% |
| Flight Instructor Instrument Helicopter | 381 | 99.21% | 90.51% |
| Airline Transport Pilot Multiengine Airplane | 10,318 | 99.82% | 95.08% |
| Military Competence Instructor | 1,216 | 99.84% | 95.30% |
FAA Practical Test pass rates
This has moved to its own page: FAA Practical Test pass rates.
Interested in why people fail practical tests? Here is a list of Common Deficiencies we see in mock oral exams for applicants preparing for their practicals.