100+ Free FAA Commercial Pilot Practice Questions
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Key Facts: FAA Commercial Pilot Exam
100
Exam Questions
Multiple choice (CAX)
70%
Passing Score
70 of 100 correct
$175
Exam Fee
PSI testing centers
99.17%
Pass Rate
2025 FAA statistics
2.5 hrs
Time Allotted
FAA Testing Matrix
24 months
Results Validity
Toward practical test
The FAA Commercial Pilot (CAX) exam has 100 multiple-choice questions covering 11 ACS areas of operation. Major content areas include Preflight Preparation (25%), Takeoffs/Landings/Go-Arounds (10%), Navigation (10%), and Emergency Operations (10%). You need 70% (70 correct) to pass. The $175 exam is administered at PSI testing centers. Knowledge test results are valid for 24 calendar months toward your practical test. The current ACS standard is FAA-S-ACS-7B, effective May 2024.
About the FAA Commercial Pilot Exam
The FAA Commercial Pilot Aeronautical Knowledge Test (test code CAX) is required for anyone seeking a Commercial Pilot Certificate with an airplane category rating under 14 CFR Part 61. The 100-question computer-based exam covers 11 areas of operation defined in the Airman Certification Standards (FAA-S-ACS-7B), including preflight preparation, navigation, emergency operations, and multiengine procedures. Passing the knowledge test is a prerequisite for the practical test (checkride).
Questions
100 scored questions
Time Limit
2.5 hours (150 minutes)
Passing Score
70% (70 of 100 questions)
Exam Fee
$175 (FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) / PSI Testing Centers)
FAA Commercial Pilot Exam Content Outline
Preflight Preparation
Pilot qualifications and privileges under 14 CFR Part 61, airworthiness requirements, weather information and services, cross-country flight planning, performance and limitations, aircraft systems, aeromedical factors
Preflight Procedures
Preflight assessment, flight deck management, engine starting, taxiing, runway incursion avoidance, before-takeoff checks
Airport and Seaplane Base Operations
Radio communications, ATC light signals, runway lighting, traffic patterns, airport marking and signage, NTSB reporting
Takeoffs, Landings, and Go-Arounds
Normal, crosswind, short-field, and soft-field operations, power-off 180-degree accuracy approaches, go-around and rejected landing procedures
Performance and Ground Reference Maneuvers
Steep turns, steep spirals, chandelles, lazy eights, eights on pylons, and ground reference maneuver principles
Navigation
Pilotage and dead reckoning, VOR/GPS navigation, radar services, diversion procedures, lost procedures
Slow Flight and Stalls
Maneuvering during slow flight, power-on and power-off stalls, accelerated stalls, spin awareness, stall recovery
High-Altitude Operations
Supplemental oxygen requirements per 14 CFR 91.211, pressurization systems, high-altitude aerodynamics, decompression
Emergency Operations
Emergency descent, approach, and landing procedures, systems and equipment malfunctions, engine failure, emergency equipment
Multiengine Operations
Engine inoperative procedures, VMC factors, propeller feathering, single-engine performance, VYSE and VMC speeds
Postflight Procedures
After-landing procedures, parking, securing, and postflight inspection and documentation
How to Pass the FAA Commercial Pilot Exam
What You Need to Know
- Passing score: 70% (70 of 100 questions)
- Exam length: 100 questions
- Time limit: 2.5 hours (150 minutes)
- Exam fee: $175
Keys to Passing
- Complete 500+ practice questions
- Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
- Focus on highest-weighted sections
- Use our AI tutor for tough concepts
FAA Commercial Pilot Study Tips from Top Performers
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the FAA Commercial Pilot knowledge test (CAX)?
The CAX is a 100-question, computer-based multiple-choice exam administered at FAA-authorized PSI testing centers. It covers 11 areas of operation defined in the Airman Certification Standards (FAA-S-ACS-7B) for the Commercial Pilot Certificate with an airplane category rating. You have 2.5 hours to complete the test and need a score of 70% or higher to pass. The test fee is $175.
What are the eligibility requirements for a Commercial Pilot Certificate?
Per 14 CFR 61.123, you must be at least 18 years old (16 to take the knowledge test), able to read, speak, write, and understand English, hold at least a Private Pilot Certificate, and hold at least a third-class medical certificate or BasicMed. You must also meet the aeronautical experience requirements of 14 CFR 61.129 (250 total flight hours under Part 61, or 190 under Part 141).
How long are Commercial Pilot knowledge test results valid?
Your knowledge test results are valid for 24 calendar months. You must pass the practical test (checkride) within this period, or you will need to retake the knowledge test. The Commercial Pilot Certificate itself does not expire, but you must maintain currency requirements and a valid medical certificate to exercise commercial pilot privileges.
What can I do with a Commercial Pilot Certificate?
A Commercial Pilot Certificate allows you to be compensated for flying. Per 14 CFR 61.133, commercial pilots may carry persons or property for compensation or hire, and may be hired for certain operations such as aerial photography, banner towing, crop dusting, pipeline patrol, and ferry flights. However, carrying passengers for hire in most situations also requires an operating certificate under Part 119/135.
What happens if I fail the CAX knowledge test?
If you fail, you must receive additional instruction from an authorized instructor on the areas you missed. The instructor must endorse your logbook certifying you are ready to retest. You then present the failed Airman Knowledge Test Report (AKTR) along with the new endorsement when scheduling your retake. The $175 fee applies again for each attempt. There is no limit on retake attempts.