Practice tests › CAX
Commercial Pilot practice test and AI study plan
Prepare for the FAA Commercial Pilot Airplane (CAX) knowledge test. Track every topic on the test, master each one with an AI tutor that cites the FAA handbooks, and take timed mock exams weighted like the real thing.
- Questions
- 100
- Time allowed
- 3 hours
- Passing score
- 70%
- ACS topics
- 688
How it works
What’s on the CAX test
Questions come from the knowledge and risk management elements of the Commercial Pilot for Airplane Category ACS. Our mock exams spread the 100 questions across its areas in proportion to how many topics each has; the FAA does not publish its exact weighting.
| Area of operation | Topics | Mock exam questions |
|---|---|---|
| I. Preflight Preparation | 131 | 18 |
| II. Preflight Procedures | 56 | 8 |
| III. Airport and Seaplane Base Operations | 19 | 3 |
| IV. Takeoffs, Landings, and Go-Arounds | 200 | 27 |
| V. Performance Maneuvers and Ground Reference Maneuvers | 58 | 8 |
| VI. Navigation | 37 | 6 |
| VII. Slow Flight and Stalls | 52 | 8 |
| VIII. High-Altitude Operations | 18 | 3 |
| IX. Emergency Operations | 74 | 11 |
| X. Multiengine Operations | 30 | 5 |
| XI. Postflight Procedures | 13 | 3 |
Taking the CAX knowledge test
What you need before, during, and after the FAA Commercial Pilot Airplane test. Requirements change, so confirm with the sources below before you schedule.
Before the test
- Minimum age
- You must be at least 16 to take the CAX test.
- Authorization
- Bring a graduation certificate or statement of accomplishment from a ground school course (pilot school, college, Civil Air Patrol, ROTC and similar), or an endorsement from an authorized instructor.
- Registration
- Get an FAA Tracking Number (FTN) by creating a profile in IACRA, then schedule with PSI, the FAA's testing vendor, online or by phone at 844-704-1487. Cancel or reschedule at least 24 hours ahead, and arrive about 15 minutes early.
- Cost
- PSI charges $175 per knowledge test, plus tax where it applies.
On test day
- Format
- 100 multiple-choice questions in 3 hours (180 minutes). You need 70% to pass.
- Bring
- A current government-issued photo ID that shows your date of birth, signature, and physical residential address (a P.O. box doesn't count). Applicants under 18 without an acceptable ID need a parent or guardian to attest to their identity.
- Provided
- The test center provides the testing supplement, scratch paper, and a pen, and the test software has a built-in calculator. You may bring an E6B, plotter, or a basic or aviation calculator if you clear its memory in front of the proctor, though the center can refuse any personal calculator.
After the test
- Results
- You get your printed Airman Knowledge Test Report (AKTR) at the test center as soon as you finish. It shows your score and a code for each knowledge area you missed.
- Validity
- A passing result is valid for 24 calendar months for the practical test.
- If you fail
- You need additional training and a written endorsement from the authorized instructor who gave it, then present the failed test report at the retest. There is no required waiting period.
- Higher score
- You can retake a passed test to improve your score after 30 days; the most recent score is the one that counts.
- Next step
- Pass the commercial pilot practical test, where the examiner must evaluate every area you missed. You must be 18 to hold a commercial pilot certificate.
Sources: 14 CFR 61.35 · 14 CFR 61.39 · 14 CFR 61.49 · 14 CFR 61.123 · FAA Airman Knowledge Testing Matrix · FAA airman testing · PSI FAA testing programs · FAA Order 8080.6H. Checked October 2026.
Online ground school courses for the CAX test
A course teaches the material; KTR Helper helps you master it and track what’s left. Here are the options we know of. Listings marked Sponsored are paid placements and appear first; the rest are shown in a rotating random order.
- Commercial Pilot Course MzeroAvideo course
15 lesson modules on regulations, aerodynamics, weather, navigation, performance, and commercial maneuvers, including FAA test preparation.
- Commercial Pilot Study Course Sheppard Airtest prep app, works offline
Question-based study software that works offline, with separate airplane and helicopter courses.
- GroundSchool - Commercial Pilot Dauntless Aviationtest prep app, works offline
FAA-style questions with explanations, reference figures, study modes, and practice test generation.
- Commercial Pilot Made Easy Pilot Institutevideo course + test prep
15 hours of short videos, 850+ practice questions, 350+ flashcards, and an instructor endorsement for the written test.
- Free FAA Practice Test – Commercial Pilot King Schoolspractice examFree
Free practice exam of FAA-style commercial questions; only the first answer explanation is free.
- FAA Test Prep Online: Commercial Pilot Gleim Aviationtest prep
650+ multiple-choice questions with explanations, study sessions, and unlimited exam-style practice tests.
- Prepware Online ASAtest prep
Cloud-based question bank with study sessions and practice tests for one chosen FAA knowledge test, with 24 months of access.
- Online Ground School: Commercial Pilot Gleim Aviationvideo course + test prep
Self-directed course of about 35 hours with study guides, videos, and quizzes; a test endorsement is issued on completion.
- Commercial Pilot Training Course Sporty'svideo course + test prep
13 hours of video, 800+ test questions, and 420 oral exam flashcards, with a written test endorsement after two practice tests at 80%.
- Commercial Pilot Ground School & Test Prep King Schoolsvideo course + test prep
About 10 hours of short video lessons with 700+ FAA-style questions, explanations, and unlimited randomized practice exams.
- Study Buddy (Free FAA Practice Tests) Sporty'stest prepFree
Free custom study sessions and timed 60-question practice tests from a 1,000+ question database, with no account required.
Frequently asked questions
How many questions are on the Commercial Pilot knowledge test?
+
The FAA Commercial Pilot Airplane (CAX) knowledge test has 100 multiple-choice questions, 3 hours (180 minutes) to answer them, and a passing score of 70%.
What does the Commercial Pilot test cover?
+
Questions come from the knowledge and risk management elements of the Commercial Pilot for Airplane Category Airman Certification Standards: Preflight Preparation; Preflight Procedures; Airport and Seaplane Base Operations; Takeoffs, Landings, and Go-Arounds; Performance Maneuvers and Ground Reference Maneuvers; Navigation; Slow Flight and Stalls; High-Altitude Operations; Emergency Operations; Multiengine Operations; Postflight Procedures.
How old do you have to be to take the Commercial Pilot test?
+
You must be at least 16 to take the CAX test.
Do I need an endorsement to take the CAX test?
+
Bring a graduation certificate or statement of accomplishment from a ground school course (pilot school, college, Civil Air Patrol, ROTC and similar), or an endorsement from an authorized instructor.
How much does the Commercial Pilot knowledge test cost?
+
PSI charges $175 per knowledge test, plus tax where it applies. You schedule through PSI after getting an FAA Tracking Number (FTN) in IACRA.
How long are CAX test results valid?
+
A passing result is valid for 24 calendar months for the practical test.
What happens if I fail the CAX test?
+
You need additional training and a written endorsement from the authorized instructor who gave it, then present the failed test report at the retest. There is no required waiting period.
How should I study for the Commercial Pilot test?
+
Take a ground school course to learn the material, then use KTR Helper to track all 688 ACS topics, master each one with the AI tutor and practice questions, and take timed mock exams. After the test, add your knowledge test report and the codes you missed move to the top of your plan for the checkride.
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