Free Practice Questions for FAA FII

The FII is the academic knowledge test required to add an instrument rating to an airplane flight instructor certificate — commonly called the CFII. It is 60 multiple-choice questions in 2 hours 30 minutes at PSI testing centers, with a 70 percent passing score (42 of 60 correct). It is one of the FAA airman tests listed in the Airman Knowledge Testing Matrix.

70 percent (42 of 60 questions correct). All FAA airman knowledge tests use a 70 percent passing standard, and the FII follows that rule per the Airman Knowledge Testing Matrix.

The FII knowledge test has 60 multiple-choice questions with a 2 hour 30 minute (150-minute) time allotment per the FAA Airman Knowledge Testing Matrix. The FAA's 50-question test is the Fundamentals of Instructing (FOI), which is a separate test.

No. The FAA Airman Knowledge Testing Matrix explicitly states that the AIF, FIH, FII, HIF, ICH, ICP, IEP, IFB, IFP, and IGI tests do not require an instructor endorsement or any other form of written authorization. (However, the Fundamentals of Instructing test now does require an endorsement as of September 2024, and the CFII practical test does require endorsements under 14 CFR 61.183.)

Per 14 CFR 61.183, an applicant for a flight instructor certificate with an instrument rating must hold at least a commercial pilot certificate (or ATP) with an instrument rating in the same category and class as the instructor rating sought. The applicant must also pass the FOI knowledge test (unless waived for a current flight instructor or qualifying educator) and the FII knowledge test.

The FII knowledge test costs $175 at PSI testing centers. If FOI must also be taken, that is an additional $175. Retakes are $175 each after the applicant receives additional instruction and an endorsement per 14 CFR 61.49.

The three core references are FAA-H-8083-15B (Instrument Flying Handbook), FAA-H-8083-16B (Instrument Procedures Handbook), and FAA-H-8083-9 (Aviation Instructor's Handbook). The FAA-S-ACS-25 (Flight Instructor for Airplane Category ACS) and the FAA Airman Knowledge Testing Supplement for Flight and Ground Instructors are also direct references for chart, plate, and figure questions.

FAA knowledge test results are valid for 24 calendar months. If the practical test is not completed within that window, the FII knowledge test must be retaken.

FII is the knowledge test for the Flight Instructor Instrument Airplane (CFII) — a CFII can give both ground and flight instruction toward an instrument rating and sign off applicants for the rating practical test. IGI (Instrument Ground Instructor) authorizes ground instruction only for the instrument rating; an IGI cannot endorse a candidate for the flight portion. Many CFIIs hold both, but the FII test is a CFI prerequisite while IGI is a separate ground-only credential.

Per 14 CFR 61.49, you must receive additional instruction from an authorized instructor and obtain a logbook endorsement stating you have received that instruction and are competent to pass the test. There is no mandatory calendar waiting period, but the $175 retest fee must be paid for each retake attempt.