Commercial Pilot Practice Test: FAA Written Exam (CAX) Questions

1416 practice questions across the 13 knowledge areas of the Commercial Pilot Airplane ACS: the commercial rules and part 119, airworthiness, weather, navigation, airspace, performance, complex airplane systems, aerodynamics and the commercial maneuvers, high-altitude operations, emergencies, night, multiengine, and takeoffs, landings and go-arounds (the power-off 180 included). We wrote every question from the FAA's own handbooks and regulations, and each answer links the exact page or rule it comes from. The Chart room has the test's own performance tables, climb and cruise charts, wind component and weight-and-balance graphs and airport signs, with questions we wrote on each. The real test is 100 questions in 2.5 hours at 70%.

The real test: 100 multiple-choice questions in 2.5 hours at an FAA-approved testing center, three choices each. 70 right (70%) passes.

Passing score: FAA knowledge test passing score (70%), the codes on your test report, and retesting

Here: 1416 questions. Our own practice questions, written from the FAA's Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge (FAA-H-8083-25C), Airplane Flying Handbook (FAA-H-8083-3C), Aviation Weather Handbook (FAA-H-8083-28B) and 14 CFR parts 61, 91 and 119, all U.S. government works. Topics follow the Commercial Pilot Airplane ACS (FAA-S-ACS-7B). Not the FAA's test questions. Free.

What's on the test

"On the test" is the rough share of a 60-question test for each topic; the FAA's mix changes from test to test.

10 sample questions

1. What is the minimum age for a commercial pilot certificate?

   • A.18 years
   • B.17 years
   • C.21 years
   Show answer

   A. 18 years

   CAX-1 · Commercial pilot regulations: privileges, parts 61, 91 and 119 · 14 CFR 61.123

2. Who is primarily responsible for maintaining an aircraft in an airworthy condition, including compliance with airworthiness directives?

   • A.The FAA Flight Standards office
   • B.The pilot in command
   • C.The owner or operator
   Show answer

   C. The owner or operator

   CAX-43 · Airworthiness, inspections, documents and inoperative equipment · 14 CFR 91.403

3. Low-level wind shear is commonly associated with:

   • A.Stable air with light surface winds
   • B.Passing fronts, thunderstorms, temperature inversions and strong winds aloft above 25 knots
   • C.High pressure systems, clear skies and light surface winds in stable air with a low temperature-dew point spread
   Show answer

   B. Passing fronts, thunderstorms, temperature inversions and strong winds aloft above 25 knots

   CAX-71 · Weather theory and hazards · PHAK page 295

4. A SPECI is:

   • A.A forecast for the 5 statute miles around an airport, issued four times a day and valid for 24 or 30 hours
   • B.A special METAR issued between routine reports for rapidly changing weather or other critical information
   • C.An automated station that cannot detect precipitation
   Show answer

   B. A special METAR issued between routine reports for rapidly changing weather or other critical information

   CAX-100 · Weather reports, forecasts and charts · PHAK page 316

5. Dead reckoning is navigation by:

   • A.Computations based on time, airspeed, distance and direction
   • B.Reference to visible landmarks such as roads, rivers and railroad tracks
   • C.Radar vectors from ATC
   Show answer

   A. Computations based on time, airspeed, distance and direction

   CAX-122 · Navigation and cross-country planning · PHAK page 400

6. Class A airspace extends from:

   • A.The surface to 18,000 feet MSL
   • B.14,500 feet MSL up to and including FL450
   • C.18,000 feet MSL up to and including FL600
   Show answer

   C. 18,000 feet MSL up to and including FL600

   CAX-145 · Airspace, airports and ATC · PHAK page 377

7. A CG beyond the aft limit:

   • A.Reduces longitudinal stability and the ability to recover from stalls and spins, with very light control forces
   • B.Has no effect on handling if under gross weight
   • C.Makes the airplane nose-heavy and hard to flare, with high control forces and an increased stall speed on landing
   Show answer

   A. Reduces longitudinal stability and the ability to recover from stalls and spins, with very light control forces

   CAX-173 · Performance, weight and balance · PHAK page 247

8. A complex airplane is one that has:

   • A.Retractable landing gear, flaps and a controllable-pitch propeller
   • B.Retractable landing gear, a turbocharged engine and more than 200 horsepower
   • C.A turbocharger and a pressurized cabin
   Show answer

   A. Retractable landing gear, flaps and a controllable-pitch propeller

   CAX-195 · Complex airplane systems: props, turbocharging, gear, pressurization · AFH page 232

9. A commercial steep turn uses a bank angle of:

   • A.45 to 60 degrees
   • B.60 to 75 degrees
   • C.30 to 45 degrees
   Show answer

   A. 45 to 60 degrees

   CAX-234 · Aerodynamics, stalls, spins and commercial maneuvers · AFH page 210

10. Stress is defined as:

    • A.The feeling of fatigue after a long flight
    • B.The body's response to physical and psychological demands placed upon it
    • C.A disease of the heart and circulation caused by overwork and a poor diet
    Show answer

    B. The body's response to physical and psychological demands placed upon it

    CAX-315 · High-altitude operations, aeromedical factors and decision-making · PHAK page 434

What the study guide does

• Short study rounds and flip cards.
• A practice test built like the real one: 100 questions, 70 to pass.
• Pass Meter: your chance of passing if you sat the test today, worked out from your own answers.
• An explanation for every answer.