Our GroundSchool FAA written test prep apps contain actual and realistic questions just like you will see when you go to take your FAA written exams.
In a word, YES. Our GroundSchool apps provide actual, current
(2026 - 2027)
and realistic FAA questions - the best in the business. These are continuously reviewed and updated by our editorial staff of professional pilots, mechanics,
regulatory experts, instructors, and designated examiners for currency, usefulness, and consistency with official FAA Airman Certification Standards. Our prep materials are 100% FAA ACS compatible.
If you study conscientiously using our GroundSchool FAA written test prep software or app for the platform(s) of your choice, you will in all likelihood find the questions and answers extremely familiar when you go to take your actual test.
In fact, if you're like most people who have done a good job studying using GroundSchool, you will not only pass your test, but you will ACE it.
That said, you should be aware that these days, the FAA is taking significant steps to ensure that the knowledge tests really, well, test your knowledge. To do this, FAA is working hard to come up with techniques that reward those
who understand the material well while discouraging those who just try to memorize. This makes a lot of operational and safety sense. As such, occasionally there may be a few questions that have not yet reached us due to the way that the FAA informs test prep sources of updates and there
may be a few questions from time to time that are worded differently as an FAA anti-memorization strategy. Such changes are usually quite minor non-issues to well-prepared test takers.
Additionally, occasionally the FAA throws in ungraded and/or experimental questions. We are not informed of such questions, but they are generally not graded, either. These exceptions and any other chance unpublished questions notwithstanding, Your score depends overwhelmingly
on your studying the questions as we have them presented and learning the "whys", "what's", and "hows" that our detailed, often illustrated explanations provde.
Actual and realistic FAA test questions?
Yes! GroundSchool FAA written test prep gives you actual and highly realistic questions like those you can expect to see on your FAA knowledge test.
In a word, YES. GroundSchool delivers actual, current, and realistic FAA test questions backed by what we believe is the best and most carefully maintained FAA test-prep content in the business.
Our question banks are continuously reviewed, expanded, and updated by an experienced editorial team that includes professional pilots, mechanics, instructors, regulatory experts, and designated examiners. We compare our material with current FAA Airman Certification Standards (ACS), FAA publications, regulations, and other authoritative sources to keep GroundSchool accurate, relevant, and closely aligned with what you need to know for the real test.
We do not simply publish a question bank and leave it sitting there. Our editorial team actively maintains GroundSchool as FAA testing evolves. New material is added, existing material is updated as appropriate, explanations are enhanced, and questions are continually reviewed for currency and usefulness.
Important: As soon as you install GroundSchool on any platform, use the "Check for Updates" or "Content Updates Check" feature from the main menu. Then check regularly while you study. This ensures that you are using the latest and greatest material available from our editorial team.
Study conscientiously with GroundSchool and, when you sit down for your actual FAA knowledge test, there is a very good chance that much of what you see will look extremely familiar. The subject matter, question styles, answer choices, calculations, charts, regulations, and concepts should all feel like territory you have already covered.
That familiarity matters. If you work through the material properly, review your weak areas, and learn from our detailed explanations, GroundSchool is designed to put you in an excellent position not merely to pass your FAA knowledge test, but to ACE it.
There is one important catch: the FAA does not want applicants to pass simply by memorizing a string of answers. Modern FAA knowledge tests increasingly reward people who actually understand the material. The FAA may change the wording of a familiar question, rearrange answer choices, alter numerical values, introduce a new variation, or ask you to apply a familiar principle in a slightly different way.
That is exactly why GroundSchool goes far beyond simple answer memorization.
Our detailed explanations are designed to teach you the why, the what, and the how behind the correct answer. Where appropriate, we supplement those explanations with illustrations, diagrams, calculations, references, and other supporting material. The goal is simple: when the FAA changes the wording, you should still know the answer because you understand the underlying concept.
Occasionally, you may encounter a question that is new, unpublished, experimental, or worded differently from anything available to test-prep providers. The FAA can introduce new material without providing advance notice, and some questions may be included for evaluation rather than scoring purposes. No legitimate test-prep source can guarantee advance access to every question that may appear on every examination.
But those occasional variations should be minor issues for a well-prepared GroundSchool user. Your score will depend overwhelmingly on mastering the core body of knowledge, questions, concepts, regulations, calculations, and explanations that GroundSchool is designed to teach.
Do the work, understand the explanations, keep your content updated, and you should arrive at the testing center very well prepared.
It is vitally important that, as soon as you install GroundSchool,
the very first thing you do is start the app and select "Check for Updates" (or the equivalent option) from the main menu.
This updates your learning content to the latest available version. It is particularly important for mobile versions of the app. Our editorial team is continuously reviewing and improving GroundSchool throughout 2026, 2027, and beyond, so check for updates regularly while you study.
How to Prepare for your test using GroundSchool
I tightened the wording, corrected grammar and a few awkward formulations, made the progression through GroundSchool easier to follow, and standardized every screenshot so it centers, expands sensibly on larger displays, and shrinks cleanly on phones and tablets.
GroundSchool is an all-in-one FAA knowledge-test preparation system used by tens of thousands of pilots, mechanics, and other aviation professionals each year.
GroundSchool gives you the tools and learning material you need to prepare thoroughly for your FAA knowledge test. It combines an enormous depth of instructional content with a polished, flexible, and efficient study system designed to help you learn effectively without wasting time.
GroundSchool includes several different learning and study modes. The exact appearance and available options vary somewhat between platforms and versions, but the overall study process is the same. Most importantly, the underlying GroundSchool learning content is the same regardless of which supported platform you use.
Everyone studies differently. A method that works perfectly for one person may not suit another. GroundSchool therefore gives you considerable control over how you study while also providing tools to help you identify weak areas, monitor your progress, and determine when you are ready for the real test.
Start here: update your learning content.
When you first install GroundSchool, the first thing you should do is select Updates, Check for Updates, or the equivalent option from the main menu.
This connects you with the latest learning material maintained by our professional editorial team.
Continue checking for content updates periodically while you study. About once a week is normally more than sufficient. Our editorial team reviews and improves GroundSchool throughout the year. Individual changes are usually small and incremental, but together they help keep your study material current.
Better still, GroundSchool content updates are free for the life of your individual license on the platform you purchased.
Once your content is up to date, select Prepare from the main menu.
Next, select the exact FAA knowledge test for which you are preparing. GroundSchool then filters its material so that you study the questions and subject matter applicable to your selected test. You can change tests later whenever necessary.
After selecting your test, choose the chapters or subject areas on which you want to concentrate.
Some versions of GroundSchool also display a progress or readiness indicator. This provides an estimate of your current preparation based on factors such as your recent performance and how much material you have studied.
You may also see a selector for Question Stacks. This is one of GroundSchool's most useful tools for directing your attention toward questions that need more work.
Questions initially begin in Stack 3. As you encounter them during study, correctly answered questions move toward the higher stacks, while incorrectly answered questions move toward the lower stacks.
This gives you a simple way to identify and concentrate on weaker material. For example, if you want to spend a session working primarily on questions that have caused difficulty, you can select the lower stacks.
You can also choose whether to include questions that refer to figures. Figure-based questions often require more time because they may involve charts, diagrams, performance graphs, or calculations. This option lets you save them for a session when you have time to work through them carefully.
The next screen lets you select your Test and Study Mode. GroundSchool provides six principal learning modes, as well as optional Audio Mode for certain products. Advanced settings are also available when you want more control over a study session.
The six principal modes are Introduction (or Flashcard), Learning and Practice, Study I, Study II, Pre-Test Check, and Simulated Test. They progress broadly from initial exposure to the material through increasingly realistic preparation for the actual FAA knowledge test.
Introduction (or Flashcard) Mode: A relaxed way to become familiar with new material. The correct answer is already shown and you can immediately read the explanation. Some students enjoy beginning this way, while others prefer to start with a more active study mode.
Learning and Practice Mode: You answer each question yourself, but you cannot continue until you provide the correct answer. This lets you actively work with new material while reinforcing the correct response from the beginning.
Study I: Provides immediate feedback after each question. This is an excellent mode for taking advantage of GroundSchool's detailed explanations. You can choose whether explanations appear after correct answers, incorrect answers, or both.
Study II: Increases the difficulty. Answer choices are randomized and feedback is withheld until the end of the session, requiring you to rely more heavily on your own knowledge.
Pre-Test Check: Moves closer to examination conditions. It is similar to Study II but is presented in a more test-oriented format.
Simulated Test: Designed to reproduce the real FAA knowledge-test experience as closely as practical. You receive the appropriate number of questions and the applicable time limit. Some versions identify the session as a Full Simulated Test or Partial Simulated Test, depending on whether you have enabled the complete question set. A Full Simulated Test provides the closest approximation to the real examination. You can take as many practice tests as you wish.
Where should you spend most of your time?
Many GroundSchool users do most of their day-to-day studying in Study I and Study II, then move increasingly toward Pre-Test Check and Simulated Test as the examination approaches.
Under Advanced Options, you can fine-tune a session further, including choosing exactly how many questions you want to study. In some mobile versions, Advanced Options and controls such as Question Stacks may appear directly beneath the main study-mode choices.
Audio Mode, where available, allows you to listen to questions and answers read aloud by a human narrator. Adding listening to your study routine can be a useful way to reinforce material, particularly when sitting in front of a screen is inconvenient.
Audio Mode works best as a supplement to GroundSchool's active visual study modes. Questions that depend heavily on calculations, charts, figures, or other visual information are not well suited to audio-only study. Audio Mode also does not provide the same opportunity to work through GroundSchool's detailed written explanations.
Those explanations are especially valuable when the FAA presents a familiar concept using new wording or an unfamiliar variation. For that reason, we recommend treating Audio Mode as an additional study tool, not as a replacement for normal GroundSchool study.
Audio Mode is an optional add-on, is available only for certain titles, and is not included automatically with every GroundSchool product.
Once you have selected your study mode, you are ready to begin. The example below shows Study I.
GroundSchool provides two basic screen layouts: Normal and Full-Screen. In Normal Mode, you can resize or move the various panes to arrange the workspace in a way that suits you.
The question and its answer choices appear in the upper-left portion of the screen. You will also see a row of controls that let you customize the session.
Select the Help icon for a complete description of the controls available in your version. In general:
Review: Controls when explanations appear, such as after every question or only after correct or incorrect answers.
Sound: Turns available sound effects on or off.
Star: Adds the question to your persistent list of favorite questions so that you can easily return to it later.
Mark: Flags a question for review later during the current study session.
Font Size: Where available, lets you adjust the on-screen text size to your preference.
The question list in the lower-left portion of the screen tracks your progress through the current session.
When a question refers to an FAA chart, graph, diagram, or other figure, the applicable figure appears in the upper-right portion of the screen.
Some GroundSchool versions also include drawing and annotation tools that let you work directly on a figure. These can be especially useful for navigation problems, aviation charts, and aircraft performance graphs.
Some platform versions also provide a regular calculator and an integrated E6B flight computer in the lower-right portion of the screen.
But the most important feature of the lower-right panel is one of the things that truly distinguishes GroundSchool: our detailed explanations of FAA questions and the knowledge behind them.
GroundSchool explanations are detailed, frequently illustrated, and continuously maintained by a professional editorial team that includes aviation instructors, mechanics, pilots, and examiners.
They are not simply a sentence or two telling you which answer is correct. Their purpose is to teach the underlying knowledge.
The explanations are, in many ways, the heart of GroundSchool.
If the explanations for a typical GroundSchool FAA test-prep title were printed, they would amount to thousands of pages of instructional material.
This depth lets you move quickly through subjects you already understand while spending as much time as necessary on more difficult material.
Developing that understanding is increasingly important. The FAA can change wording, alter numerical values, introduce unfamiliar variations, and use questions that you have not previously encountered.
Simply memorizing a sequence of answers is therefore not a reliable study strategy. A student who understands the why, what, and how behind the material is much better prepared to deal with whatever form a question takes.
The overwhelming majority of GroundSchool users successfully pass their FAA knowledge tests and continue toward becoming knowledgeable and capable pilots, mechanics, instructors, and other aviation professionals.
When you finish a study session, select Grade to see how you performed. You can then review unanswered questions and questions you answered incorrectly, allowing you to direct your next study session toward exactly the material that needs more attention.
GroundSchool also lets you view a moving-average chart of your progress so that you can see how your performance develops over time.
On some platforms, you can also share your results with your instructor or flight school, allowing them to monitor your progress online.
A simple study strategy:
Install GroundSchool and check for content updates.
Select the exact FAA test you are preparing for.
Work through the material using Introduction, Learning and Practice, or Study I as appropriate.
Use Question Stacks and chapter selections to concentrate on weaker areas.
Move into Study II and Pre-Test Check as your knowledge improves.
Take Full Simulated Tests as you approach your actual examination.
Continue reviewing explanations and weak areas until you are consistently comfortable with the material.
GroundSchool is a powerful, flexible, and efficient FAA test-preparation system built around a polished study experience and an exceptional depth of learning material.
Whether you are seeing the material for the first time, concentrating on a difficult subject, or taking one final simulated test before exam day, GroundSchool gives you the tools to study intelligently, understand the material, measure your progress, and arrive at your FAA knowledge test thoroughly prepared.
Yes, questions are filtered by specific test. (for example: airplane vs helicopter)
GroundSchool automatically filters its question banks for the specific FAA knowledge test you are preparing to take.
That means you study the questions our editors have determined apply to your particular test — nothing less, and nothing more. You do not have to waste valuable study time working through large numbers of questions intended for some other certificate, rating, or aircraft category.
It is a simple feature, but an important one. GroundSchool helps you concentrate your effort where it matters.
Our FAA knowledge test prep products are sold in logical groups. These include:
Private Pilot
Instrument / IFR
Sport Pilot
Commercial Pilot
Flight and Ground Instructor
Sport Pilot Instructor / Examiner
Airline Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Engineer
Aviation Mechanic — General
Aviation Mechanic — Airframe
Aviation Mechanic — Powerplant
Drone (UAS) Pilot
Each group generally contains one or more individual FAA tests. For example, our GroundSchool — Private Pilot title includes tests such as:
Private Pilot Airplane
Private Pilot Helicopter
Private Pilot Glider
Private Pilot Gyroplane
...and several more.
When you install GroundSchool — Private Pilot on the device or platform of your choice, you select the particular test you want to study for — for example, Private Pilot Airplane. GroundSchool then filters the learning content so that you are presented with the questions our editors have determined are applicable to that specific test.
No digging through irrelevant material. No guessing which questions apply to you. GroundSchool does the filtering for you.
You can also switch between tests within the same product group whenever you wish. For example, after studying for Private Pilot Airplane, you could later switch to Private Pilot Glider without purchasing another Private Pilot GroundSchool title.
In practice, most customers prepare for only one test within a particular group. One common exception is flight instructor candidates, who may need to prepare for the FOI (Fundamentals of Instructing) knowledge test as well as a test such as FIA (Flight Instructor Airplane). GroundSchool makes it easy to switch between the applicable tests whenever you need to.
The result is a more focused and efficient way to study: select your FAA test, and GroundSchool concentrates your preparation on the material that applies to it.
Total Questions: 14258 (11165 in audio version)
Recreational and Private Pilot (PVT) : 1681 (1306 in audio version)
Private Pilot Airplane : 1231 (936 in audio version)
Private Pilot Rotorcraft Helicopter : 1060 (818 in audio version)
Private Pilot Glider : 915 (699 in audio version)
Private Pilot Balloon - Hot Air : 712 (558 in audio version)
Private Pilot Balloon - Gas : 687 (535 in audio version)
Private Pilot Lighter-Than-Air (Airship) : 743 (572 in audio version)
Private Pilot Rotorcraft Gyroplane : 1062 (804 in audio version)
Private Pilot Airplane/Recreational Pilot - Transition : 1182 (897 in audio version)
Private Pilot Helicopter/Rec. Pilot - Transition : 1043 (804 in audio version)
Private Pilot Gyroplane/Recreational Pilot - Transition : 1046 (790 in audio version)
Recreational Pilot Airplane : 1234 (944 in audio version)
Recreational Pilot Helicopter : 1078 (839 in audio version)
Recreational Pilot Gyroplane : 1085 (828 in audio version)
Private Pilot Powered Parachute : 807 (631 in audio version)
Private Pilot Weight Shift Control : 859 (672 in audio version)
Private Pilot Canadian Conversion (Airplane) : 646 (530 in audio version)
Private Pilot Canadian Conversion (Helicopter) : 617 (505 in audio version)
Private Pilot EU Part - FCL Conversion (Airplane) : 650 (534 in audio version)
Instrument Rating (IFR) : 1513 (1057 in audio version)
Instrument Rating Airplane : 1428 (994 in audio version)
Instrument Rating Helicopter : 1274 (870 in audio version)
Parachute Rigger (PAR) : 337 (309 in audio version)
Parachute Rigger Senior : 329 (301 in audio version)
Parachute Rigger Master : 311 (283 in audio version)
Parachute Rigger Military Competence : 334 (306 in audio version)
Designated Parachute Rigger Examiner : 334 (306 in audio version)
Sport Pilot - General (SPG) : 1359 (1065 in audio version)
Sport Pilot General : 684 (540 in audio version)
Sport Pilot Airplane : 1026 (797 in audio version)
Sport Pilot Glider : 850 (673 in audio version)
Sport Pilot Gyroplane : 914 (711 in audio version)
Sport Pilot Powered Parachute : 687 (552 in audio version)
Sport Pilot Weight-Shift-Control : 738 (591 in audio version)
Sport Pilot Lighter-Than-Air (Balloon) : 704 (565 in audio version)
Sport Pilot Lighter-Than-Air (Airship) : 710 (571 in audio version)
Sport Pilot - Instructor and Examiner (SPI) : 1911 (1743 in audio version)
Flight Instructor Sport Airplane : 1037 (900 in audio version)
Flight Instructor Sport Balloon : 652 (581 in audio version)
Flight Instructor Sport Glider : 882 (772 in audio version)
Flight Instructor Sport Lighter-than-Air : 678 (600 in audio version)
Flight Instructor Sport Powered Parachute : 662 (591 in audio version)
Flight Instructor Sport Weight-Shift-Control : 739 (650 in audio version)
Flight Instructor Sport Gyroplane : 886 (784 in audio version)
Pilot Examiner Sport Airplane : 1032 (897 in audio version)
Pilot Examiner Sport Balloon : 684 (613 in audio version)
Pilot Examiner Sport Glider : 883 (773 in audio version)
Pilot Examiner Sport Lighter-than-Air : 712 (634 in audio version)
Pilot Examiner Sport Powered Parachute : 673 (602 in audio version)
Pilot Examiner Sport Weight-Shift-Control : 736 (647 in audio version)
Pilot Examiner Sport Gyroplane : 885 (783 in audio version)
Fundamentals of Instruction : 531 (519 in audio version)
Remote / Drone Pilot (RDP) : 786 (693 in audio version)
Small UAS Remote Pilot in Command (Initial) : 786 (693 in audio version)
Small UAS Remote Pilot in Command (Recurrent) : 637 (566 in audio version)
Purchasing bulk or lab/classroom/site licenses for your school or business
GroundSchool FAA test prep is available in bulk and site license versions for businesses and educational institutions. Pretty much everybody
agrees that GroundSchool is far superior in terms of learning content compared to G****, A**, K*** ******, J*******, S****** ***, and our other
competitors. If you've been using one of those competitors for far too long, maybe it's time to switch! Our prices are highly competitive, and
the process of obtaining bulk and site licenses is fully automated and fast. Please click the links below for more information.
Individual Licenses
An individual license is for one person—forever. You can buy it for yourself or as a gift (for example, a parent for a child or an instructor for a student). Once activated, it’s permanently assigned to that person and cannot be transferred, shared, sold, or given to anyone else, even if the original holder stops using it. To purchase, start at our homepage and choose your product and platform. Need help? Visit the helpdesk.
Bulk Purchase of Individual Licenses
You can purchase individual licenses for multiple people at a volume / bulk discount. Each person receives their own non-shareable license. This option is ideal for flight and mechanic schools, companies, airlines, universities, instructors, FBOs, retailers, or groups/classes purchasing together. The process is fully automated—visit the B2B Portal: Bulk Licenses for details and step-by-step guidance.
Lab/Site Licenses
Lab/Site licenses are designed for classrooms or labs with fixed computers (or things like FBO lobby PCs). Users sign in on any station and their study sessions and progress follow them—also working alongside any personal license they may own. Pricing is per seat (not per student), which can mean a very competitive per-student cost. Learn more on our B2B Portal: Site Licenses page.
Online Test Prep
Online Test prep is currently in the work for later this year. Click the icon to learn more about this.
How to use the plotter / protractor / compass?
GroundSchool includes built-in plotting and drawing tools for working directly with certain FAA charts and figures.
The Plotter — also referred to as the Compass or Protractor — lets you measure distances and angles directly on supported charts. This can be particularly useful for navigation questions, chart work, and other problems where accurate measurement matters.
Please note: GroundSchool plotting and drawing tools are available on the PC and Mac versions only.
To learn how to use these tools, select the "?" or Help button located next to the drawing tools within GroundSchool itself. The built-in help provides detailed instructions for using the Plotter, Protractor, and other available drawing and annotation tools.
Because the instructions are built directly into the app, they will always correspond to the version of GroundSchool you are actually using.
Testing Center Emulation Modes?
We have in the past offered a 'testing center emulation' modes inside our PC FAA test prep software. This is because long ago, some small percentage of people were unfamiliar with or at least intimidated by basic computer usage. Per our more recent experience and internal metrics, the need for this has now long passed. As such, we are removing these features (or rather, not building them into new versions) of our test prep apps. They may already have been removed by the time you read this.
You presumably know how to use a keyboard and mouse, and so there's no reason to worry about the testing center experience. None. The test center software in use at all FAA testing centers these is very straight-forward and user friendly. Additionally, if you're really concerned, you can take a short tutorial on the test center software interface itself before you take your actual test. In writing this answer, we contacted about a dozen people who recently took their FAA knowledge tests. All but two two skipped the testing center interface tutorial and the two that did said that they did so only out of an overabundance of caution but really there was nothing much to be learned there.
In other words, the test center interface these days is a 100% non-issue.
Inspection Authorization (IA) Test Prep?
We do not currently offer a prep for the IA FAA (Mechanic) Inspection Authorization test.
Instrument Flight Instructor (CFII) and Ground Instructor (IGI)?
Quick Summary: CFI-I (Instrument Instructor) test prep content is similar to that in initial IFR tests. Therefore, INSTRUMENT Flight and Ground Instructor test preps (both initial and add-on, for all aircraft types) are in our FAA GroundSchool - INSTRUMENT RATING (IFR) TEST PREP apps NOT in the regular Flight/Ground Instructor Instructor apps.
The Instrument Instructor Tests are in our IFR test prep apps.
The "regular" ("CFI", non-instrument) test (including AGI and BGI) are in our CFI (GroundSchool FAA Flight and Ground Instructor) test preps. The INSTRUMENT ("CFII") tests, including Instrument Ground Instructor (IGI) are in our IFR (GroundSchool FAA Instrument Rating) test prep apps.
For any FAA INSTRUMENT INSTRUCTOR knowledge test, please use our INSTRUMENT RATING test prep apps. If you're a previous customer of ours and had bought our FAA Instrument Rating test prep when you were doing your instrument rating initially, then you're all set and have nothing more to buy as in that case you just need to start up the app and select IFI or IGI as appropriate.
Our FAA IFR test prep includes the following instrument instructor tests:
Flight Instructor INSTRUMENT airplane INITIAL (FII): most future airplane CFI-Is, including those who are already "VFR" Airplane CFIs, take this.
Flight Instructor INSTRUMENT airplane ADDED RATING (AIF): take this if you are already a CFI-I-Helicopter and want to become a CFI-I-Airplane.
Flight Instructor INSTRUMENT helicopter INITIAL (FIH): most future helicopter CFI-Is, including those who are already "VFR" Helicopter CFIs, take this.
Flight Instructor INSTRUMENT helicopter ADDED RATING (HIF): take this if you are already a CFI-I-Airplane and want to become a CFI-I-Helicopter.
Instrument Ground Instructor (IGI)
Here are the answers to common question we get from users about this test:
What app should I get to prepare for this test?
The questions for the INSTRUMENT instructor tests have a lot in common with the IFR Instrument Rating test banks. Therefore, the INSTRUMENT instructor test preps are part of our GroundSchool FAA Instrument Rating products. They are NOT part of our CFI Flight Instructor products. To prep for your CFI-Instrument test, please get the GroundSchool - FAA - IFR app for the platform of your choice. Once you start the app, you will be able to choose from a list of tests. Choose the instrument instructor test of your choice from there and the question list will be filtered to reflect those that our editors feel reflect the Instrument Instructor test you have selected.
Are the questions filtered so that I will only study the content which might appear on my specific test?
Yes, absolutely.
What is the difference between the regular and the "added rating" tests?
Please contact your local FAA FSDO to determine which test you should take as the situation varies depending on the individual. Only your FAA FSDO can give you a definitive, "bankable" answer. NONE OF THE INFORMATION PRESENTED HERE OR ANYWHERE ELSE ON THIS PAGE IS OFFICIAL, LEGAL ADVICE, and there is always a chance that we may be presenting incorrect or out of date information here.
Unofficial "could be wrong" advice:
The "added rating" tests are for those who already have an existing INSTRUMENT instructor rating. So, for example, if you are already a CFI-I-Helicopter and want to become a CFI-I-Airplane, take the CFI-I-Airplane add-on test (AIF). Or, for the opposite, the HIF test. What this means is that in practice, very few people legitimately need to take the "added rating" tests.
That said, we have heard cases where people have accidentally taken the added-rating tests thinking that because they are already a CFI (VFR), that this was an 'added rating.' Unofficially, we have heard of this being accepted from time to time by the FAA as "close enough", but we strongly suggest not counting on having this courtesy as your application may be rejected if the FAA/examiner deems this to be unacceptable.
Instead, most potential instrument instructors reading this, even if they already are a 'regular, VFR' CFI, as is typical, will be taking the initial tests: FII for airplane, FIH for helicopter.
What is the difference between the Instrument Ground Instructor (IGI) and the Flight Instructor Instrument tests?
There is very little difference between the two Because you get your IGI based on taking the written (and filing some FAA paperwork), what many people do is that they take their flight instructor instrument and ground instructor instrument written tests one after another on the same day. Sure, you have to pay the testing center for another test, but most people find this to be a successful strategy if they want to get both.
What is the difference between the instrument flight / ground instructor tests and the regular IFR tests such as IFR - Airplane?
The test banks vary here and as a very rough estimate they vary by about 20-30% from one another with the airplane ones varying a bit more from one another than the helicopter ones. If you're an IFR candidate who know that you're going to go for a CFI-I, you might want to consider taking both sequentially. If you do we suggest studying using our app for the CFI-I test most of the time and then once you're really good at that using our app to study the regular IFR test for a bit to try to catch any differences. We suggest it this way since instructor test is harder than the regular one (by a bit), we reckon that you'll have little problem going from CFI-I preparedness to regular IFR preparedness as your knowledge for CFI-I should be sufficient to prepare you for the regular IFR (but again, we recommend you do a few sessions with the regular IFR just to be sure). Then, you can take the tests sequentially on the same day. Please keep in mind however that FAA knowledge test results have a limited validity period (24 calendar months at the time of this writing).
Do I have to pay twice to study for regular IFR and CFI-I?
No. You only pay once. Just get our GroundSchool IFR app for the platform of your choice and select the test of your choice. If you want to change from regular IFR to CFI-I or from CFI-I to IGI or whatever, you can switch on the 'select test' screen without limits. What's more, updates are free for life in our apps so if you're planning a gap between your initial IFR and your CFI-I that's no problem.
What do I need to take if I am NOT a "VFR" CFI but want to be a CFI-Instrument as my FIRST flight instructor rating?
This is uncommon, but it happens. In this case, you will need to take both the FII or FIH test as appropriate and also you will need to take the FOI Fundamentals of Instruction knowledge test. The FOI is a general "theory of learning" test that is only marginally aviation-specific. The FOI prep is in our "regular" GroundSchool flight and ground instructor apps. The FOI prep is not included in our IFR prep. For some platforms (PC only at the time of this writing), we may also sell the FOI prep as a stand-alone prep for a slightly lesser price, but honestly, unless you have a very specific need, it is almost always better to get the entire regular Flight/Ground Instructor package as the price difference is not much.
Instructor Add-On / Added Rating Tests
Yes, our test preps include the add-on (added rating) instructor tests such as:
The "regular" ("CFI", non-instrument) tests are in our CFI (GroundSchool FAA Flight and Ground Instructor) test preps. The INSTRUMENT ("CFII") add-on tests are in our IFR (GroundSchool FAA Instrument Rating) test preps (as are the "initial" instrument instructor tests).
For a complete list of which tests are in what product, click the link in the the "related issues" below.
Are the questions separated into test so that I study only what I need to for my add-on test?
Yes. Once you start the app, you select exactly the test you want. For example, you select "Flight Instructor Helicopter (Additional Rating)" from the list of tests available in the GroundSchool CFI app and you will be presented with only those questions that our editors have determined apply to that particular test.
I heard that the "additional rating" test banks are smaller than that "initial" test banks.
Well, yes and no. They are a bit smaller in practice. In theory, they should be quite a bit smaller, but in practice the FAA doesn't do a great job of excluding questions that technically it might claim to categorically exclude from the add-on tests. This is likely simply a reflection of the difficult task that the FAA test-setters have. As such, in practice, you are likely to encounter on your add-on test a wider selection of questions than you might otherwise expect to see just from reading the FAA knowledge test guides. Correspondingly, our editors mirror this with a conservative inclusion of questions in our add-on rating test banks. For pretty much all test takers, this is a non-issue as at most you experience a gentle review of some things that might well appear on the test you are going to take anyway. Our instructor add-on test takers have historically reported very, very high degrees of success and nearly uniformly high scores on their tests. That said, don't take them lightly - they are still real FAA knowledge tests and studying hard is essential even if you aced your initial instructor written previously.
Basic, Advanced, and Instrument Ground Instructor (BGI, AGI, and IGI)
Are you asking about preparing for any of the following FAA Knowledge Tests?
Basic Ground Instructor (BGI)
Advanced Ground Instructor (AGI)
Instrument Ground Instructor (IGI)
If yes, then great! We have excellent preparation apps that can help you pass those tests.
BGI and AGI are part of our GroundSchool FAA CFI (Flight and Ground Instructor) test prep packages.What this means is that you should purchase the GroundSchool FAA Flight and Ground Instructor / CFI app for the platform of your choice (click on the link in the beginning of this paragraph to get started). Then, when the app starts, you will be presented with a list of flight and ground instructor tests. Among these will be AGI and BGI. Select the one you want from the list and study away (the app will then only show questions relevant to the test you choose).
IGI Instrument Ground Instructor is part of our GroundSchool FAA IFR (Instrument Rating) test prep package. It is NOT part of the CFI package. This is because the IGI questions are basically similar to the general FAA IFR questions. Please note that the prep for the INSTRUMENT flight instructor exams is also in the IFR package. To prepare for the IGI exam, get the IFR app for the platform of your choice (click on the link in the beginning of this paragraph) and then after you have downloaded and installed the app, select IGI as appropriate from the list of instrument tests that you will be presented with and study away.
Frequently Asked Questions:
What if you want both BGI and AGI?
BGI and AGI are both in the GroundSchool - Flight and Ground Instructor Package. So, you just need to purchase it once and you can use it to study for both.
What if I want 'regular' airplane CFI and AGI?
As above. By the way - if you visit the GroundSchool CFI Flight and Ground Instructor page you can see the list of tests included in the app. Many smart flight instructor candidates take for example their Flight Instructor Airplane and AGI or BGI tests sequentially (right after another at the testing center on the same day) since the tests are very similar. Sure, it costs you an additional fee to the test center, but you walk out of there with that extra 'Ground Instructor' qualification to put on your resume. Likewise, Instrument Flight Instructor candidates could benefit from taking the Flight instructor instrument airplane and instrument ground instructor tests sequentially on the same visit to the testing center in the same way as, again, the tests are quite similar to one another. In fact, it's even possible to take the basic Instrument Rating - Airplane, Flight Instructor Instrument Airplane, and Instrument Ground Instructor tests sequentially. While the overlap in question content isn't 100% there, they are close enough that this is potentially not a bad strategy if you can plan that far ahead.
What about if I want AGI and IGI?
AGI is in the CFI package. IGI is in the Instrument package. This requires you to get two different apps/titles.
What about the Fundamentals of Instruction Exam (FOI)?
This test is required of some flight and ground instructor candidates. Prep for it is included in our GroundSchool - CFI (Flight and Ground Instructor) package.
What test should I take?
If you have questions regarding which test you should take given your experience and/or aviation/career goals, please contact your nearest FAA FSDO (Flight Standards District Office). It is the job of the FAA employees there to help you answer such questions and they are standing by ready, willing, and able to help you. Moreover, when you call them you are getting an answer from an official source - when you call them, make a record of your call and you will have 'official backing' for your decision. This is a much better strategy than asking us or any other private company for advice on this. As we want you to get the best and most accurate advice, we refer people with career / "which test" type questions to the FAA.
Which platform should I study on?
No matter which platform you choose, the learning content in each is exactly the same and we make updates available for all platform versions at exactly the same time. The user experience and feature set of our apps on each platform is similar, but is is also naturally tailored to the look and capabilities of each specific platform and device. There is no one "best" platform - they are all good apps and the platform you should choose depends on your personal preferences. Some people purchase our apps on multiple platforms for greater convenience and availability. However, due to policies set forth by the app stores (Google and Apple), each platform version is a separate purchase. Please also note that due to limitations imposed by Google, Amazon, and Apple, we are not necessarily able to offer the same "bundle" options on all platforms.
I don't understand what I am supposed to do on the page that you sent me to.
This message basically directs you to visit either the:
GroundSchool Flight and Ground Instructor page if you want to study for the BGI, AGI, or other non-instrument and non-sport-pilot flight and/or ground instructor exams or the Fundamentals of Instruction test
GroundSchool - IFR page if you want to study for the IGI or other instrument instructor tests.
Once you click on either of the links above, scroll down to the box in the middle of the screen where you will see it available for various platforms. From there, you can get the app as appropriate either (for PC) by downloading it directly via our website or for other platforms such as Android, Mac, and iPhone/iPad by getting it directly from the official app store for that platform.
Which ATP Test?
Our ATP test prep contains prep for a number of tests, some of which are "legacy" tests that are no longer widely given but are still seen in some niche schools / applications.
If you are a regular FAA pilot looking to get your ATP, you will likely be taking the ATP - ATP Airplane Multi-engine test. Use our prep to prepare for the ATM test and ignore everything else that does not apply to you. Of course, if you fly helicopters, choose the appropriate helicopter test.
While the overwhelming majority of people these days going for their ATP need to prepare for and pass the ATM test, you can always ask your flight school / training provider to confirm which exact test you need.
Where can I take my actual FAA written test?
Most people take their actual FAA exams at one of the 300+ PSI testing centers nationwide.
Your local PSI center may be co-located with your Flight School / Mechanic School / FBO. The tests are administered on a computer. PSI collects a fee for their services - we have nothing to do with this.
Please visit http://www.psiexams.com/ for more information or to find a testing center near you. They also have some international locations.
Setup re-runs when I expect the program to start
This question applies to any of our Microsoft Windows PC software titles.
If when you click on the program icon for one of our PC titles, "setup re-runs", what's probably happening is that you're clicking on the download package of the program, not the icon for the installed program itself.
You can normally find our apps installed on your PC under the start menu. Typically it's something like START ... PROGRAMS ... DAUNTLESS.
Additionally, during the setup process you are offered the opportunity to make a "desktop shortcut." This is often helpful as it means that when the installation is done, you'll have an icon on your desktop to quick launch the app.
Can't activate discount during the purchase process
This text is for those of you who are having trouble claiming your discount as a purchaser of an additional Groundschool for PC license.
In order to claim the discount for this additional purchase, you must have two things handy:
Your unlock/activation code from your previous purchase of GroundSchool FAA written test prep software for Windows PC and
Your email address.
It should be a simple matter of typing in this unlock code and your email address into the boxes provided to activate the discount.
If you're having issues with the process, here are some potential reasons why:
Reason 1: maybe you are not typing in your unlock code correctly.
An unlock / activation code will typically look like this:
X-XXX-XXXXX-XXXX
Where each X is a letter or number. You need to copy this exactly as it was given to you before, taking special care not to confuse the letter O with the number 0, the letter I with the number 1, and so forth.
Reason 2: You are trying to use a code for something other than our GroundSchool FAA written test prep software for Windows PC.
ONLY a GroundSchool FAA written test prep software for Windows PC code is valid here. This means that your unlock code for RideReady Checkride Oral Exam prep software, GroundSchool for iOS, Android, or Mac, Safelog pilot logbook software, GroundSchool Canada pilot written test prep software, or anything else will not work.
Reason 3: You have a valid GroundSchool FAA for PC unlock code, but did not use it yet.
In order to claim the discount, you must have actually used your unlock code to unlock the software. This will typically be a problem only if you just purchased the software. The solution is to start the software on your PC, use the unlock code to actually activate the software, and then return here to use the same unlock code for your discount.
Reason 4: You have entered an incorrect or unrecognized email address either now or in the past.
Perhaps you are indeed entering your email address correctly now, but the problem is that previous you entered it incorrectly, so the system can not match it up.
If, after hearing these reasons, you think that you are entitled to a discount but still can’t get it to work, please contact our helpdesk and explain the situation carefully and in detail, including telling us what email address and unlock code you are attempting to use. We’ll be happy to help.
Thank you, and good luck in all of your aviation goals.
No Test Bank Installed?
Are you receiving a message to the effect that there is "no test bank installed on this computer?"
We're sorry to hear about the difficulty you are experiencing. There are a number of possible reasons for this. Whatever the reason, getting this sorted is very straightforward if you follow the steps below in the order provided.
Solution 1: Try rebooting your PC.
Sometimes, the simple act of rebooting your PC fixes this problem. Since it is so simple, why not try this first?
Solution 2: Install a test bank from within the application.
If the program takes you to the main menu after you receive this message, you can normally install a test bank as follows:
Clicking on 'Check for Updated Content' or an equivalent update link in the software.
Selecting the test group of your choice, where necessary.
Clicking on 'install.'
This will normally cause the test bank of your choice to be downloaded from the Internet to your PC. This may take up to a few moments, and you may need to restart the application and/or your PC to see the results.
Solution 3: Re-download and re-install the software from our website.
A not unusual reason why you see the message that you did is because you, well, made a mess of the installation of the software. This usually happens due to the user making several attempts to install the software and putting things in various random folders.
Again, don't worry, this is easy to fix.
The first thing to do is, just out of general principle, is to uninstall whatever you've installed. How you do this depends on your copy of Windows, but basically you go into something like your PC's control panel, then click "add/remove programs" and remove as many copies of the affected software as you see there. Then, reboot your PC.
After uninstalling the software and rebooting your PC, re-visit our website and download and install the software anew. This fixes basically all such problems that the previous two fixes didn't solve.
So, the steps are:
Fully uninstall the software from your PC.
Reboot your PC.
When starting your PC, make sure you are logged in as administrator / with administrator access.
Visit our website.
Download the software anew from our website.
Install it on your PC.
To make your life easier, we suggest that you do both of the following:
Install in the default folder suggested by the install program.
Opt to create a desktop icon from which you can run the software, if the choice is provided to you. This is often via a checkbox that reads 'create desktop icon' offered to you near the end of the installation.
If you need further assistance, there are plenty of step-by-step guides and other help in this helpdesk and on our website should you need further assistance with this.
Solution 4: Fix your PC's permission properties and/or set your internet 'security' software properly.
This solution really isn't substantially different than the first one. However, if you've gotten to this point, there's probably one of three things happening:
You really didn't uninstall or remove some previously corrupted version, and despite re-installing, are just running the old, corrupt version over and over (solution: fully remove the old corrupt version, reboot, and re-download and re-install).
You installed the new version, but you did not do so with the proper permissions on your PC. Try again, but this time you are logged in as administrator with full administrative access before installing it anew. Basically, it seems the system can not write its databases due to your permission settings.
You installed the new version, but your Internet 'security' software, such as Norton or whatever, is interfering. Too often, lazily written "security" software, often from big name companies, causes havoc. Solution: set your internet 'security' software settings to allow our program to install and run properly and try again.
If you follow these steps, you should be up and running in no time.
It is really important that as soon as you get our test prep app, the very first thing you do is to start it up and click on "check for updates" (or similar) from the main menu. This will update the learning content to the latest and greatest. It's really critical that you do this, especially for mobile app versions. Our editorial team is hard at work updating the content regularly through 2026, 2027 and beyond, so check for updates regularly as you study.
Passing Guarantee?
No — GroundSchool does not include an expensive "passing guarantee." We would rather give you excellent FAA test preparation at a reasonable price.
We understand why passing guarantees sound attractive. Aviation training is expensive, FAA knowledge tests can be stressful, and nobody wants to pay for test preparation only to wonder whether it will work.
But a passing guarantee does not make a student better prepared. Ultimately, you still have to learn the material and pass the test.
Some aviation training companies bundle their test preparation into much more expensive "courses" or "pilot kits" and then use a passing guarantee as one of the principal selling points. Those packages can cost many times what GroundSchool costs and may include combinations of:
Printed copies of FAA publications that are available directly from the FAA at no charge and are often more useful electronically because they can be searched.
Pilot supplies such as bags, plotters, or other accessories that you may or may not actually need and can purchase separately if you do.
Hours of video instruction, which some students enjoy but which can be an inherently slow way to review a large amount of factual test material.
FAA knowledge-test questions and practice tests of the same general type that dedicated test-prep software such as GroundSchool is specifically designed to deliver efficiently.
A heavily advertised "Passing Guarantee" used to help justify the much higher package price.
Our philosophy at Dauntless is different: provide outstanding FAA written-test preparation, make it exceptionally efficient to use, and charge a reasonable price for it.
We are pilots, instructors, aviation professionals, engineers, and software developers. Our specialty is building highly effective aviation learning software and maintaining an enormous body of detailed FAA test-prep content. We do not believe you should have to buy a large bundle of unrelated material simply to obtain excellent knowledge-test preparation.
The overwhelming majority of pilots and mechanics who use GroundSchool successfully pass their FAA knowledge tests. At the same time, no legitimate study product can do the studying for you. With tens of thousands of people using our test-prep products over the years, there have naturally also been users who did not pass.
In our experience, successful preparation comes down overwhelmingly to something much more useful than a guarantee: putting in sufficient study time, understanding the material, and demonstrating consistently strong performance before taking the real test.
That is why we would rather keep the price of GroundSchool reasonable than increase the price for everyone in order to fund a marketing guarantee that most properly prepared customers will never need.
There is another important detail worth examining whenever you compare passing guarantees. Read the terms carefully. A prominently advertised guarantee may apply only to a company's premium course rather than to all of its books, software, or test-prep products. It may also require you to complete a prescribed course, achieve particular practice-test scores, or satisfy other conditions before the guarantee applies.
And that gets to the heart of the matter: the most useful "guarantee" is demonstrating to yourself that you are ready before you take the real FAA test.
GroundSchool lets you take an unlimited number of simulated FAA knowledge tests. Study the material, learn from our detailed explanations, take full simulated tests, identify your weak areas, study them again, and continue until your scores demonstrate that you are genuinely prepared.
As a practical guideline, we have historically found that students who use GroundSchool's Simulated Test mode with all applicable chapters enabled and can consistently score at least 90% — preferably 95% or better — across multiple consecutive simulated tests are generally very well prepared for the real examination.
Five strong simulated-test scores in a row is a useful benchmark; ten is even better. But the number itself is not magic. What matters is that the scores reflect real understanding rather than simple memorization.
This is particularly important because the FAA can change wording, alter numerical values, rearrange answer choices, introduce unfamiliar variations, and include previously unseen questions. Someone who has merely memorized answers can be caught out by a small change. Someone who understands why the answer is correct is much better prepared.
That is why GroundSchool places so much emphasis on its detailed explanations. Use them. Learn the underlying concepts. Understand your mistakes. Then use repeated simulated tests to confirm that you are ready.
We think that is a far better value than paying substantially more for a guarantee.
Spend less on marketing promises. Spend your time actually preparing. GroundSchool gives you the questions, explanations, study tools, progress tracking, and unlimited simulated tests you need to walk into your FAA knowledge test well prepared.
It is vitally important that, as soon as you install GroundSchool,
the very first thing you do is start the app and select "Check for Updates" (or the equivalent option) from the main menu.
This updates your learning content to the latest available version. It is particularly important for mobile versions of the app. Our editorial team continuously reviews and updates GroundSchool throughout 2026, 2027, and beyond, so check for updates regularly while you study.
Number of Questions in GroundSchool vs. FAA?
This
pertains primarily to our GroundSchool FAA Written Test Prep Software and Apps.
>> To see the exact number of questions that we have for each test, click here. <<<
Do we appear to have MORE or FEWER questions than you have been led to believe is correct for a given test?
MORE QUESTIONS?
I saw an FAA PDF document on the internet that had (for example) 512 questions for a given test, but your test bank shows more (for example 954). If I use GroundSchool, will I be studying too many questions?
Our app has it just right. The PDFs that the FAA publishes generally have an incomplete, sample only test bank that does not reflect the totality of the questions that you might be asked. If you study using only the FAA PDF (which by the way doesn't have correct answers and explanations, as our prep certainly does), you will most likely be studying far less than is required and will almost certainly not be ready to pass the test. The FAA no longer releases the full test banks via its website.
FEWER QUESTIONS?
I saw an FAA PDF document on the internet that had (for example) 413 questions, but your test bank shows fewer (for example, 341).
Again, our app has it just right. If we appear to have fewer questions for a given test than you've seen in some FAA or other list or PDF, then what you're likely looking at is a document containing an entire test bank which has not yet been filtered down into individual tests. For example, you might be looking at a document that has both airplane and helicopter questions mixed together while you're only looking at airplane questions in our app. In GroundSchool, the questions are carefully sorted (filtered) so that you only study the questions that apply to your exact test. So therefore, in this example, of the 413 questions in the bank, only a subset of those apply to your particular test. This doesn't mean that 341 questions necessarily come from the 413 in the PDF. it could be, for example, that 200 come from the PDF and another 141 come to us from the question list that the FAA does not publicly release via its website.
Bottom Line: Our GroundSchool FAA knowledge preps are the best and most comprehensive knowledge test preps out there and feature correctly filtered, representative FAA question sets fully compatible with and compliant to FAA Airman Certification Standards. Other test preps may try to lure you in with nonsense claims about the number of questions but your key focus should be on comparing depth of content, proven track record, and polished and user experience, where we come out way ahead in any serious comparison.
Approved Ground School?
For everything except for certain ATP (Airline Transport Pilot) certificates, there is no requirement to attend a formal, classroom-based ground school.
You may see a ground school course advertised at your local airport or community college. Such courses can be a nice way to meet interesting people and to get a direct point of contact to ask questions and explore ideas. However, for most certificates and ratings, including all Private Pilot, Instrument Rating, and Commercial Pilot certificates, there is absolutely no requirement to attend a formal, classroom ground school. You can do all the learning at home (or wherever) at your own schedule and pace using our test prep apps.
To take and pass an FAA knowledge (written) test you need only two things:
to have the knowledge in your head to take and pass the test
for many exams, an instructor "signoff" or signature.
The first one you can get, entirely, by using our test prep apps at home on your own time and at your own pace. This is part of what makes our apps so great. Get our app, study hard, learn not just the answers but also make sure you internalize our detailed explanations. Take several simulated practice tests using the app and score highly, and statistically speaking, you'll be all set with a very high chance of doing great.
For the second thing (the signoff) if you study hard using our prep, go to your local flight school and introduce yourself to an instructor. To any flight school or instructor, a well prepared student is like gold. Pretty much all flight schools and instructors will be thrilled to give a well prepared student an endorsement on the spot - it's quick and easy to do and for them it's good business since it opens the door to you being a customer / student of theirs. Getting such an endorsement really is a non-issue for pretty much everybody.
So - about those classroom-based ground schools. Necessary? No. Helpful sometimes? Yes. It's entirely your choice whether you want to attend one. Many classroom-based ground school instructors and classes use and recommend our test prep apps to help their students prepare for their tests. To such instructors / schools, we give a big thank you! This is a win-win combination in that this lets students study the 1000+ questions found in a typical FAA test efficiently on their own time while freeing up classroom time for questions and discussions on the finer points.
How to report an issue with a question or learning content ...
Have a question or concern about GroundSchool content? Please report it directly from within the app so it reaches the right member of our editorial team.
Our online Helpdesk is happy to assist with technical and customer-service matters involving our apps and programs.
However, if your concern relates to the learning content itself — for example, a particular question, answer, explanation, calculation, figure, or illustration — please do not submit it to the technical Helpdesk. Content issues are handled separately by our editorial team, and there is a much better way to send them the information they need.
Before reporting a content issue, please work through this short checklist:
First, update GroundSchool.
Use the in-app update feature to make sure you have the latest learning content. GroundSchool is updated regularly, so the issue you noticed may already have been addressed in a more recent content update.
Verify the issue as carefully as you can.
If you believe something is incorrect, please provide documentation or other solid supporting evidence whenever possible. A specific FAA publication, regulation, Airman Certification Standard, manufacturer's document, or other authoritative reference is enormously more useful to our editors than simply saying that an instructor, website, or book gives a different answer.
We certainly do not claim to be infallible. At the same time, instructors, books, websites, and even older reference material can themselves contain errors or become outdated. A large proportion of the content reports we receive ultimately turn out not to identify an actual error. Sometimes, however, such reports show us that an explanation could be made clearer — and that is useful feedback too.
Make sure your concern is not simply about FAA question wording.
Many of the questions and answer choices used in aviation knowledge testing originate with the FAA or other testing authorities. Some can be awkwardly worded, ambiguous, or contain answer choices that seem unusually similar. Where GroundSchool is accurately reflecting the source material, there may be little we can do to change the wording itself.
Report the issue directly from the question.
In the explanation or review section for the question concerned, click the "Report an Issue" link or button. This is the correct way to contact our editorial team about learning content.
Examples of where to find the content-reporting feature are shown below:
Why is it important to report content issues this way?
Because our technical and customer-service Helpdesk and our editorial team perform very different jobs. The Helpdesk staff can assist with installation, purchasing, account, compatibility, and technical matters, but they are not the editors responsible for reviewing FAA questions and instructional content.
GroundSchool contains tens of thousands of questions, explanations, figures, and other content items across dozens of titles. When you click "Report an Issue" from the particular question or content item concerned, GroundSchool automatically gives the editorial team the context needed to identify exactly what you are referring to.
Even better, your report can be routed to the appropriate member of our editorial team responsible for that particular material. That means less time trying to identify the question, less chance of your report being misdirected, and a much better chance that a legitimate issue can be reviewed efficiently.
By contrast, content-related messages sent to the general technical Helpdesk may not contain enough information to identify the material concerned and may not reach the appropriate editor. For that reason, our Helpdesk staff cannot investigate or resolve content issues submitted through the general Helpdesk.
So, if you spot something in GroundSchool that you believe deserves editorial attention:
Update first, verify your concern, and then use the "Report an Issue" link directly from the question.
Our editorial team genuinely appreciates users who take the time to submit thoughtful, well-documented content feedback through the proper reporting mechanism. Good reports help us keep GroundSchool current, clear, and as useful as possible for everyone.
Is the content current for 2026 and will it be current in 2027 and beyond?
Yes, absolutely. Our team regularly updates the question banks and our best-in-the-business explanations. No test prep can honestly claim to have all of the current FAA questions all of the time, but between the actual and realistic questions that we have at any given point plus our explanations to prepare you for any unpublished questions the FAA may throw your way, our system works and tens of thousands of pilots and mechanics each year pass their tests thanks to our materials.
It is vitally important that as soon as you get our test prep app, the very first thing you do is to start it up and click on "check for updates" (or similar) from the main menu. This will update the learning content to the latest and greatest. It's really critical that you do this, especially for mobile app versions. Our editorial team is hard at work updating the content regularly through 2026, 2027 and beyond, so check for updates regularly as you study.
Content updates are built-in and free. Take advantage of this by making sure you check for updates often. There's a "check for updates" (or similar) button/link on the main menu of all of our apps. Make sure that you check this often - once when you get the app, and regularly thereafter, to ensure that you have the latest and greatest content. The year that you see on the main menu of our apps only gives a rough idea of the currency of the content that you currently have loaded. In reality, our editors update the content continuously, so it makes sense for you to check for updates regularly.
What does it mean when you see an FAA test prep book with "2027" on the cover?
The stamping of a year on the cover of a test prep book is mostly a marketing gimmick (not unreasonable perhaps, but still a gimmick) aimed at both you (the pilot) and at retailers. The truth is that the FAA releases questions and updates continuously and somewhat asynchronously throughout the year. Therefore, the start of a new year has no particular meaning as far as the question banks go. In practice, this means that some book companies will take their current set of questions in, say, mid-Summer 2026 and send these off to the printer to create a "2027" book. This causes some test-goers to be concerned that they may have 'out of date' material and also creates a system where conscientious students would feel compelled to buy an updated version of the book with a semi-misleading title year-in, year-out. With our GroundSchool preps, there are no such issues.
With our GroundSchool FAA test prep apps, updates are free for life for the platform of your choice for individual users. What this means is that you can update the learning content in the app to the latest available at any time, free. You can do this from within the app by clicking on the 'check for updates' button on the main menu. Just to be clear: we also put year information such as "2026" or "2027" on the main menus of our apps, but this only serves as a general guide.) We believe that ours is by far the most generous and sensible policy out there and also the one most conducive to lifetime learning. What we ask in return, however, is your honesty; you can't transfer (lend, give, sell, etc.) the app or its contents to anybody else, even when you are done using it. Should you encounter somebody who might benefit from our apps, we'd be most obliged if you could direct them to our site where they can purchase their own copies. This is a fair system that will allow to continue to bring to the aviation community the best product at a reasonable price.
FAA Control Tower Operator (CTO) ATC (Air Traffic Control) Test Prep
The FAA Control Tower Operator (CTO) test is intended for people who are looking to qualify as control tower operators.
It is approved by the Air Traffic Service for use in technical training.
We at Dauntless offer the best CTO test prep in existence. You can prepare for the platform of your choice using
actual, realistic, and current FAA questions per the FAA Control Tower Operator study guide. Our prep offer a polished
and efficient study environment and, critically, the best, most detailed explanations in the business so that
you'll be best prepared for new and unpublished questions.
Our prep is fully compatible with FAA ATC Publication TS-14-1 and the FAA Airmen Certification Standards (where applicable).
If, after you get the ATP prep you don't immediately see CTO in the list of tests, then don't panic - there's an easy fix.
Go the update screen from the main menu of the app and use the 'update' feature get the latest and greatest content. This will
add the CTO content to the app and from there you'll be able to select the CTO test.
Our test prep consists of seven individual areas of learning. Each area is listed in Title 14,
Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR), Section 65.35. These accurately reflect the areas that you
will be tested on in your actual app. The content is current for 2026 and with the lifetime included
free updates you'll be set for years to come.
The CTO test prep content that comes from FAA publication TS-14-1 is accurately reflected in our test prep. In other words, we make sure that you can study from
official FAA guidance for the CTO test. We supplement this prep with additional related material from other FAA tests. For example, in order to better cover the
breadth of weather questions that you may need to know as a CTO applicant or continuing education subject, we include a number of METAR/TAF/etc questions that generally
come from other, pilot tests. By adding these, we have a more complete prep that will make you better prepared for both the CTO test specifically and to work as
an air traffic controller or related professional more generally.
All questions in the app feature complete, detailed explanations.
Where possible and relevant, our explanations include direct quotations from FAA Publications, including:
CFR 14 (the Federal Aviation Regulations)
FAA Guidebooks and Handbooks
JO 7110.65 (Air Traffic Control)
The Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge
The Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM)
The FAA Pilot/Controller Glossary
and many others. Our explanations are detailed and often illustrated. Each is written by an editorial team of experienced pilots, mechanics, examiners, and ATC specialists.
Converting Transport Canada Pilot Licenses to USA/FAA or vice versa
Converting a Canadian pilot certificate or rating to the equivalent FAA certificate or rating? GroundSchool can help you prepare for the required FAA knowledge test.
The following information is for pilots who hold a Transport Canada pilot certificate and/or rating and are working toward the corresponding United States FAA certificate and/or rating.
FAA PILOT CONVERTING TO TRANSPORT CANADA?
We do not provide test-prep material for pilots converting an FAA certificate to a Transport Canada certificate.
Transport Canada prefers applicants preparing for its conversion examinations to use the study materials it recommends. If you are converting from FAA to Transport Canada, please contact Transport Canada for guidance on the appropriate study material.
We do, however, provide comprehensive test preparation for Transport Canada pilots converting to FAA certificates and ratings. That is what the information below covers.
LOOKING FOR LICENSING, CAREER, OR LEGAL GUIDANCE?
Dauntless makes FAA test-prep software and related learning material. We are not a flight school, licensing consultancy, or legal advisory service.
If you need to know exactly which certificate, rating, test, application procedure, or licensing pathway applies to your individual circumstances, please obtain that guidance directly from the FAA.
Requirements can change, and individual circumstances can matter. We therefore do not want to give you licensing advice that could later prove incomplete or out of date.
For questions involving conversion from Transport Canada to FAA certificates or ratings, we suggest contacting the FAA International Field Office in New York. Its specialists can provide authoritative guidance on which requirements apply to you.
If the FAA tells you that you need to take a knowledge test, that is where GroundSchool comes in.
YES, GroundSchool provides test preparation for the principal Transport Canada to FAA pilot conversion knowledge tests.
Depending on the certificate or rating involved, this includes preparation for:
Transport Canada PPL to FAA Private Pilot Certificate, airplane and helicopter
Transport Canada Instrument Rating to FAA Instrument Rating, airplane and helicopter
Transport Canada CPL to FAA Commercial Pilot Certificate, airplane and helicopter
Transport Canada ATPL to FAA ATP Certificate, airplane and helicopter
Professional airplane pilots using our ATP preparation will see several Canadian conversion tests available. In many cases, an airline or professional multiengine airplane pilot will be looking for the applicable ATP Multiengine Airplane Canadian Conversion test.
Broadly speaking, holders of a Canadian certificate or rating who wish to obtain the corresponding FAA certificate or rating will normally need to:
Take and pass the applicable FAA Canadian conversion knowledge test, where one is required.
Complete the necessary FAA application, documentation, and certification procedures.
GroundSchool helps you with the knowledge-test preparation. We do not handle the paperwork or determine which licensing pathway applies to your individual situation.
If you are uncertain which conversion test you need, please ask the FAA directly. The FAA International Field Office in New York is a good place to start. We strongly recommend obtaining the answer from the authority responsible for issuing the certificate rather than relying on a private company to interpret your individual licensing situation.
So, once you know which test you need, how do you prepare for it?
Our GroundSchool FAA software and apps for PC, Mac, iPhone/iPad, and Android provide the test-prep material you need for the supported Canadian conversion knowledge tests.
For example, suppose you hold a Canadian Commercial Pilot Licence and need to prepare for the corresponding FAA Commercial Pilot conversion knowledge test:
Choose the platform you want to use, such as PC, Mac, iOS, or Android, and obtain the appropriate GroundSchool product.
Within GroundSchool FAA Commercial Pilot, select the appropriate test, such as Commercial Pilot Airplane Canadian Conversion or Commercial Pilot Helicopter Canadian Conversion.
Study the questions carefully and, just as importantly, study the explanations. The FAA may vary wording, values, or presentation on the actual test, so understanding the material is much more effective than simply memorizing answers.
Once you are consistently performing well on simulated tests, schedule and take the actual FAA knowledge test at an authorized testing center. Be sure to confirm current eligibility, identification, authorization, and testing requirements directly with the FAA or testing provider before attending.
"But I heard the actual conversion test has only a few dozen questions."
That's true, but it does not mean there are only a few dozen questions you need to study.
On test day, the FAA will present you with a limited number of questions. The exact number depends on the particular conversion test. Those questions, however, are selected from a considerably larger body of material.
GroundSchool takes care of the filtering for you. When you select the appropriate Canadian Conversion test, our software presents the question bank our editors have determined applies to that conversion exam.
You study what applies to your test, rather than the entire question bank for a standard FAA certificate.
The Canadian conversion pools are generally much smaller than the full FAA question banks, but they can still contain several hundred questions. That is why proper preparation normally takes more than a quick session of memorizing a few dozen answers.
Expect to study over several sessions. Use GroundSchool conscientiously, read the explanations, identify your weak areas, and take advantage of the unlimited simulated tests available in the app.
As a practical guideline, once you are consistently achieving strong scores on full simulated tests, you should be in a much better position for the real examination. We recommend aiming comfortably above the FAA passing standard rather than studying merely to scrape through.
"I heard the Canadian conversion test is only about Air Law."
Be careful with that description.
"Air Law" is terminology commonly used in Canadian aviation training. The FAA more commonly refers to regulations, operating rules, procedures, and related knowledge areas. The subject matter does not map perfectly from one terminology system to the other.
As a result, thinking of the FAA conversion test as simply an "Air Law test" can give you an unnecessarily narrow impression of what you should study.
Conversion tests can cover material beyond what a Canadian pilot might ordinarily place under the heading of Air Law. The precise mix can also change as the FAA revises question pools, areas of emphasis, and test content.
GroundSchool's Canadian Conversion test banks are maintained specifically to reflect the material applicable to those tests. We take a reasonably conservative approach: enough breadth to help ensure that you are properly prepared, but without making you study the entire question bank intended for a standard FAA applicant.
We also greatly appreciate useful feedback from pilots after they take the real test. Remember, however, that not receiving a question on a particular subject during one examination does not necessarily mean that another applicant will not receive one.
Quick Links to Get Started
Canadian PPL to FAA Private Pilot Certificate
Get GroundSchool FAA Private and Recreational Pilot and select the appropriate Private Pilot Canadian Conversion test for Airplane or Helicopter.
One final point: FAA conversion question pools change over time.
Our editorial team works continuously to keep GroundSchool's Canadian Conversion material current and representative. No legitimate test-prep provider can promise that every question appearing on every future FAA examination will already be present in its preparation material.
In practice, many GroundSchool users report seeing questions that are highly familiar from their preparation. From time to time, however, the FAA introduces new questions or variations. This is another reason why we strongly encourage you to study our detailed explanations and understand the material rather than relying solely on memorization.
We also welcome feedback after your test. If you encounter genuinely new or significantly different material, specific information about what you saw can be extremely valuable to our editorial team as we continue updating and improving GroundSchool for future test takers.
Audio Mode ('Learning by Listening'): What it is and how to get it.
The best way to prepare for any FAA knowledge test prep is to use one of our GroundSchool knowledge test prep apps on the platform of your choice. Not only do we have actual and realistic FAA questions and a comfortable and efficient user experience, but our apps also feature the most detailed and illustrated explanations. When you study for any FAA knowledge test, it is vital that you read and understand our explanations. This will help you best be ready both for any unpublished question variants that they FAA may throw your way and, more importantly, will help you learn the material well so that you can operate smartly in real-world aviation.
Most (nearly all) of our FAA test prep apps feature an OPTIONAL audio mode which we call "Learning by Listening." Many people find it useful in addition to their study with the basic app.
In audio mode, a human reader reads a stream of questions and correct answers. If you listen to them, this will help implant the correct answers in your brain.
This can be a very valuable study supplement. For example, you can listen to this when you are commuting to work.
Audio mode covers most but not all FAA questions. Specifically, the ones it does not cover are ones that have a large visual or calculative element. For example, many questions involving performance or navigation charts cannot be usefully done in audio mode.
You can see the exact number of questions available in audio mode for a given test here.
For most titles, audio mode is not free. Rather, it is an add-on which you are welcome to purchase if you feel that you can find it useful.
If you'd like to purchase the audio or if you've already purchased it and want to restore your purchases, the process is as follows:
Start the app, click on "Prepare for Knowledge Test" (or similar)
Select the specific test you want to study for and click "Next."
Select the chapters or study areas you want to concentrate on in this session and click "Next."
From the test options screen, select Learning by Listening / MP3 Audio mode.
At this point, if the system has determined that you have already purchased the audio mode, it will start the app in audio mode and you can begin studying. If necessary, it will also prompt you to download any updated audio files from our cloud servers. However, if it does not detect that you have purchased it, you will be presented a screen similar to the one at left. To purchase audio mode, click 'Buy Now' and follow the process. Activation of audio mode is immediate once the purchase process is complete. If you think you already purchased it already for the exact combination of app, platform, and app store user ID that you are currently using / on your device as, click on "restore purchases" and it will connect to the app store to verify your previous purchase. The usual case to do this is if you have just installed our app that you previously used on a different device onto a new device.
Reference Figure Image Issue?
Yes! Our test prep apps come complete with every chart and figure that you will need to reference to prepare for and pass your test. For most questions, these are presented directly as links or buttons near the question so that you can jump directly to the relevant reference figures. This makes your study fast and efficient.
On your actual test, you will be presented with these either in book form or on screen.
If you want to get a copy to print out, do a google search for exactly this phrase: "FAA Knowledge Test Prep Supplements site:.faa.gov". You can also in some cases print them out via a link in our app, but getting them from the FAA is often at least as convenient.
If the figures you see for a question seem to be incorrect:
Make sure you use the in-app update from the main menu of the app to "check for updates" to make sure you have the latest and greatest content.
If you are using a mobile version such as for iOS (iPhone/iPad), be aware that some questions have multiple reference figures attached to them. When viewing one reference figure, use the arrows there to move to other ones associated with that question.
Some versions of our apps feature drawing and annotation tools (plotters, protractors, compasses, etc.) to help you work out problems that involve the figures.
Content note: some FAA questions have attached 'reference images' that aren't necessarily actually required to answer the questions or relevant to the topic at hand. In some cases, especially on more advanced tests, the FAA may do this in order to present you with a plethora information just as you might have in a real-world aviation scenario so that it is your responsibility to analyze and determine which material is relevant. In other cases, it is hard to tell what the FAA was thinking. This affects only a small percentage of questions. Also, some questions may appear to require additional information as might appear in a reference figure, but actually don't. We sometimes get feedback from people who claim that a given question is missing a reference when in fact no such reference is required. It is important to carefully read and understand our explanations which clarify such cases.
It is vitally important that as soon as you get our test prep app, the very first thing you do is to start it up and click on "check for updates" (or similar) from the main menu. This will update the learning content to the latest and greatest. It's really critical that you do this, especially for mobile app versions. Our editorial team is hard at work updating the content regularly through 2026, 2027 and beyond, so check for updates regularly as you study.
Progress Monitoring for Instructors and Schools is built-in and free!
Our GroundSchool FAA test preps feature great tools to help students and instructors connect. Student monitoring and tracking is built in and free. Key to this is our www.TestPrepStatus.com website. In addition to letting you see the results of study sessions, it provides a number of
statistics and moving averages that provide a meaningful picture of student activity, strong/weak areas, actual-test readiness, and more.
If you're a student, you can use this to see your own progress as you study.
If you're an instructor or school, you can monitor student progress, organize students into folders/classes, and more.
If you happen to be both a student and an instructor simultaneously, you can make use of both sets of features at the same time.
If you're a school, any or all of your instructors can log in to monitor student progress.
Progress monitoring at our TestPrepStatus.com site works via a permission mechanism - either the
student can request that an instructor monitor their progress or an instructor can request to monitor a student's progress an the requested party must agree. Nothing is done without your permission.
This system is completely free for instructors, students, and schools. It works on all GroundSchool platforms (a few iOS apps have, at the time of this writing, slightly limited support for this) and work regardless of whether our apps were purchased individually, via bulk organizational purchase, or via site/lab license.
For users of our GroundSchool FAA knowledge test preps, the answer is 100% YES. Student progress tracking is built-in and free. It's built in and free regardless of whether your student is using our prep in a lab under a site/lab license at your location, on our app on a mobile device, or on their PC/Mac at home. As long as they are logged into either a lab account or a free dauntless cloud account (any user can create this themselves - it's free and in some cases is done totally transparently), then you can track them. You can track individual students or whole classes.
You can track student progress by subject area. This allows you to zero in on their strong and weak areas.
You can see how regularly they are studying
You can see their scores on simulated tests
The system provides you with a series of moving averages to help you visualize their progress better; these are provided both raw and 'smoothed' so that 'bad luck' on questions plays less of a factor in getting a picture of your student's progress.
Yes, you can organize students into folders / classes, mark past students 'inactive', and so forth.
The best way to see it work is to give it a try yourself TestPrepStatus works fine in demo mode:
Visit www.TestPrepStatus.com and set up an instructor account. Totally free.
Then, you need to link a student account with an instructor account. There are two ways to do this: If you've just created an account on testprepstatus and have no other connection to the prep, the easiest way to do this is to use the 'invite' feature there to invite a 'demo' student that you might have created so that you can see how it works (or, if you have a real student with you, you can try that too!). This is the 'instructor initiated' way of doing it. There's also a 'student initiated' way within the individual apps (usually on the 'test results' screen) where the student can request an instructor to monitor their progress. This way, the system is permission based, as is naturally required.
As the student studies, their scores will be sent up to the TestPrepStatus.com system at the end of each session. As an instructor, you can log in to TestPrepStatus.com from wherever you are and see how they are doing.
Please note that TestPrepStatus.com is currently only connected to our FAA Knowledge Test preps. If you are reading this and are interested in this service for our other test preps, please let us know.
Sport Pilot, Sport Pilot Instructor (Sport-CFI), Sport Pilot Examiner
Yes, we have test prep materials for the various FAA "regular" Sport Pilot tests and also the Sport Pilot Instructor/Examiner tests.
FAA Aircraft Dispatcher (ADX) Knowledge Test Prep?
Yes! Our GroundSchool series of FAA Knowledge test preps can you prepare for your ADX (FAA Airline Dispatcher) test. They are inexpensive and effective and thousands of dispatchers have passed their tests thanks to our stuff. Our prep is 100% what you need to pass the FAA ADX knowledge test.
Our FAA ADX written test prep material is part of our FAA GROUNDSCHOOL AIRLINE TRANSPORT PILOT program. This is because the ADX questions are mostly a subset of the airline transport pilot questions.
To prepare for the ADX written test, you'll want to get our GroundSchool FAA Airline Transport Pilot tests.
Our ATP test prep contains prep for a number of tests. ADX is one of them. When you select the ADX test inside our ATP test prep, it will ask you only the questions that are pertinent to dispatchers. If and when you purchase our ATP prep that includes ADX, you're NOT paying for anything you don't need - we just bundle similar tests into one package for distribution efficiency. To put it another way, we don't sell any app that is "just" ADX and if we did, the price would not be cheaper than the ATP "package." Remember: one you start our app and select the ADX prep, you will be presented ONLY with material that our editorial board has determined applies to the ADX test.
To download the software or to get the app for the platform of your choice or to learn more, please visit one of the following two links:
if neither of the above links are working for you, then visit https://www.dauntless--soft.com, click on 'groundschool' and then follow the links to the airline transport pilot page. Preparation for the ADX test is available within our GroundSchool - ATP apps.
Many people who are preparing for their ADX test use our apps. This includes both people who are enrolled in some ADX course and those who are exempted. Why? Because, simply, our inexpensive software is the most efficient and best way to LEARN THE MATERIAL and BE READY FOR THE TEST. There's no way around it - if you want to be an FAA-certified dispatcher, you will need to prepare for and take the ADX written (knowledge) test. Even if you are enrolled in some course, this will mean some serious home study, and there is no better way to prepare for this than via our software. If you want to be an FAA-certified dispatcher, then you almost certainly would benefit very highly from our software and other ADX test prep materials as have hundreds of dispatchers before you.
Are you looking for something else?
We provide the world's best FAA Airline Dispatcher STUDY MATERIALS (mostly software).
However, we are not a dispatcher school. As we are not a dispatcher school, we do not provide graduation certificates or signoffs.
To take the actual test, contact a testing center. Please see our FAQ at www.FAATest.com/FAQ for more info on testing centers.
We do not know if you personally need to sit in a formal dispatcher school. This varies highly by individual based on education, experience, and so forth. Please contact your local FAA Flight Service District Office (FSDO) where a specialist can help you with such questions.
Sometimes, future dispatchers contact us with a range of issues. If this sounds like you, the below is intended to help you get where you want to go:
There are absolutely no circumstances under which you need to send us any bit of paper such as a graduation report from a school, your 'personal file', a copy of any official documents or identification, or so forth. Again, we are NOT a school and we are not a testing center. We simply provide the world's best test prep materials. We're stating this quite strongly since it worries us a bit when people send out all sorts of really personal documents, unsolicited as has been done a few times in the past.
You can not enroll in our classroom course since we are not a school.
It is not possible to take the actual test online. Please contact one of the testing center companies if you want to schedule your test - www.catstest.com or www.lasergrade.com.
If you have questions about becoming a dispatcher, CONTACT THE FAA via your local FLIGHT STANDARDS DISTRICT OFFICE. Helpful FAA personnel are standing by to answer career related questions.
If you have questions about converting your non-USA/FAA dispatcher license to an FAA one, please contact the FAA IFO (International Field Office). You can find the contact information for this by typing 'FAA International Field Office' into your favorite search engine.
We hope this answers your question(s). If it doesn't, feel free to submit your ticket below.
Remember, we'll happily answer questions on ADX topics that we know about - we are ADX knowledge (written) test preparation experts. However, beyond preparation for the written test, we do not provide career counseling for ADX candidates nor are we an ADX school, so please contact the appropriate organization (usually the FAA, an ADX school, or a test center) for relevant queries.
FAA Flight Engineer Test
Our Flight Engineer (FE) test prep covers any/all of the following tests:
When you start our app, just select the test you want to prep for and the questions will be filtered to only that test. You can also change this at any time within the app. You study for a "Basic" test if it's your first FE certificate/rating, as will be the case for pretty much everybody. You study for an 'add-on' if you already have one FE rating and are moving to another - for example, if you already have a FE Reciprocating and are moving to FE Turbojet. In practice, the difference between the "basic" and "added rating" test banks is minor. Out of prudence we suggest all FE candidates study the (sometimes slightly larger) "basic" test bank even if you are taking an "added rating" test. It won't hurt and it might help.
Relatively few people these days take the FE exams. As such, the FAA does not update them often and some of the questions on them are quite old and often out of date. It is what it is. It still can be interesting and useful for a surprisingly wide range of aviation activities and all else being equal, no matter what you fly you'll be a better informed pilot if you study for and pass an FE test.
Moreover, we and other test prep providers get relatively little feedback on the FE tests these days. From the users who do take the test, we tend to get score feedback ("I got a 96%!", "I got a 90%!", etc.) but not specific question feedback.
The tests are not easy, but are manageable by any reasonably qualified person who puts in the time and effort to study. For the Turbojet tests, which most people take, it will take as a VERY rough estimate 20-40 hours of study using our app.
Some airlines and companies view your taking and passing the FE test - normally the turbojet one in such cases - as helpful to your application for a pilot job even if the aircraft/company you might fly with no longer has flight engineers.
Some non-US countries continue to use the FAA Flight Engineer tests for validation of their Flight Engineers. Our prep will almost certainly be fine for you if this applies to your country.
That said, we absolutely have the best FE test prep in the business. We have the most detailed explanations and by far the best overall user experience. While we don't have a lot of FE users these days, feedback has overall been excellent from those who have used our preps to pass.
Obviously, if you're going to be taking a very rare FE test, like a reciprocating engine FE test in 2026, we ask for your understanding that our app is necessarily a 'best effort' sort of affair. While the FAA has carried through a lot of the guidance material into relatively new versions of their FE handbooks, some of the nuance has been lost and at times there is a bit of a disconnect between the handbooks and the questions. We're not trying to put you off - our prep is still very much the best out there for this and there's no reason that we know of that you shouldn't pass if you put the time in to study. We're just trying to align your expectations with the reality that some of these tests are taken by a few handful or fewer people per year at most in some cases, so you can't expect the FAA test bank to be as polished or current as it is for, say, the Private Pilot Airplane test.
It is highly recommended that you supplement your study using our FE test prep app with reading FAA handbooks which you can download for free from the FAA website. Look at the references of questions in our test prep to see what handbooks the information comes from. A combination of our app and reading of official, current FAA handbooks is absolutely the best, proven way to prepare for your FE test. That also said, you can certainly pass your FE test if you only use our app to study.
Switching between tests or test groups
This video shows how to change between different tests or test groups in our test prep software:
How is Dauntless GroundSchool better than the rest?
GroundSchool FAA knowledge test prep is available for Windows PCs, Apple Macs, iPhone, iPad, and Android devices.
No matter which platform you choose, the GroundSchool learning content is the same. We make content updates available across our supported platform versions at the same time, so you are not choosing between different question banks or different levels of preparation.
The interface and available features are also broadly similar, although each version of GroundSchool is naturally adapted to the capabilities and conventions of the device on which it runs. A Windows PC, an iPhone, a Mac, and an Android tablet are different types of devices, so the apps do not look or behave identically.
There is no single "best" GroundSchool platform. They are all designed to provide excellent FAA test preparation. The best choice is simply the platform that fits the way you prefer to study.
Some customers prefer studying at a larger computer screen. Others appreciate being able to study anywhere using a phone or tablet. Some purchase GroundSchool on more than one platform so that their test preparation is conveniently available in different places and on different devices.
Please note, however, that each platform version is sold separately. Purchases made through Apple, Google, and other platform-specific stores cannot generally be transferred between completely different app-store ecosystems.
Bundle availability can also vary by platform. Apple, Google, Amazon, and other distribution platforms have their own rules and technical limitations, so we cannot necessarily offer exactly the same purchasing or bundle options on every device.
Whichever platform you choose, you will receive the same core GroundSchool learning content and access to the same continuously maintained FAA test-prep material.
It is vitally important that, as soon as you install GroundSchool,
the very first thing you do is start the app and select "Check for Updates" (or the equivalent option) from the main menu.
This updates your learning content to the latest available version. It is particularly important for mobile versions of the app. Our editorial team continuously reviews and updates GroundSchool throughout 2026, 2027, and beyond, so check for updates regularly while you study.
Which FAA Tests Can I study For? How Many questions are there?
GroundSchool is organized into individual product titles, and each title includes the related FAA knowledge tests that belong naturally together.
For example, our GroundSchool FAA Private Pilot apps include preparation for tests such as Private Pilot Airplane, Private Pilot Helicopter, Private Pilot Glider, and several others.
Some questions within a product title apply to several different tests, while others apply only to one specific test. GroundSchool handles all of that filtering for you.
When you start one of our products, simply select the exact FAA test you want to prepare for. GroundSchool then presents you with only the questions our editors have determined apply to that particular test, nothing less and nothing more.
This saves you from wasting study time on large numbers of questions intended for some other certificate, rating, or aircraft category.
Most people will only take one of the individual tests within a particular product group. For example, you might prepare for Private Pilot Helicopter and never need Private Pilot Glider, or vice versa.
There are exceptions. Flight instructor candidates, for example, may need to prepare for both a flight instructor knowledge test and the FOI (Fundamentals of Instructing) test.
Creating a completely separate product for every individual FAA test would add unnecessary complexity. Instead, we group closely related tests together for convenience and value. Once you own a GroundSchool title, you can switch among the included tests whenever you like.
What about Audio Mode?
Many GroundSchool FAA knowledge-test prep titles also offer an optional Audio Mode, available as a separate purchase where supported.
In Audio Mode, questions and answers are read aloud by a real human narrator. This can be an extremely useful supplement to your regular study, particularly when you want to review material while driving, exercising, commuting, or at other times when sitting in front of a screen is inconvenient.
Audio Mode does not include every question in a given test bank. Questions with substantial visual, chart-based, or calculation-based content are generally not suitable for audio-only presentation and are therefore omitted.
Audio Mode also generally does not include the detailed explanations that form such an important part of GroundSchool. For that reason, Audio Mode should be treated as a supplement to your regular visual study, not as a replacement for it.
The detailed explanations in GroundSchool help you understand the underlying material so that you are better prepared for new, unfamiliar, or differently worded FAA questions. Audio Mode, by contrast, is particularly effective for reinforcing familiarity with questions and answers that lend themselves well to listening.
Many customers tell us they love Audio Mode and find that it lets them turn otherwise unused time into productive study time.
Be skeptical of test-prep products that focus heavily on how few questions they claim you need to study, or that promote supposed shortcuts based on memorizing keywords or other test-taking tricks.
The FAA is well aware of simple memorization strategies and can vary wording, values, answer choices, and question presentation specifically in ways that reward genuine understanding rather than recognition of a memorized pattern.
Your goal should not simply be to scrape through a knowledge test. You should come out of the process a more knowledgeable, capable, and safe pilot, mechanic, or instructor.
GroundSchool combines realistic question banks with best-in-the-business explanations and supporting material designed to help you actually understand the subjects being tested.
This matters beyond the written test as well. Examiners expect applicants to demonstrate real knowledge, not simply the ability to recognize memorized answers.
There is no magic shortcut to learning the material. What GroundSchool does provide is a fast, polished, and highly efficient way to do that legitimate learning.
Our results speak for themselves. For decades, the overwhelming majority of GroundSchool users have successfully passed their FAA knowledge tests, and leading aviation schools and training organizations continue to rely on our products for test preparation.
The table below shows the current number of questions by GroundSchool title, individual FAA test, and Audio Mode where available.
These totals change regularly as our editorial team updates and maintains the material.
Total Questions: 14258 (11165 in audio version)
Recreational and Private Pilot (PVT) : 1681 (1306 in audio version)
Private Pilot Airplane : 1231 (936 in audio version)
Private Pilot Rotorcraft Helicopter : 1060 (818 in audio version)
Private Pilot Glider : 915 (699 in audio version)
Private Pilot Balloon - Hot Air : 712 (558 in audio version)
Private Pilot Balloon - Gas : 687 (535 in audio version)
Private Pilot Lighter-Than-Air (Airship) : 743 (572 in audio version)
Private Pilot Rotorcraft Gyroplane : 1062 (804 in audio version)
Private Pilot Airplane/Recreational Pilot - Transition : 1182 (897 in audio version)
Private Pilot Helicopter/Rec. Pilot - Transition : 1043 (804 in audio version)
Private Pilot Gyroplane/Recreational Pilot - Transition : 1046 (790 in audio version)
Recreational Pilot Airplane : 1234 (944 in audio version)
Recreational Pilot Helicopter : 1078 (839 in audio version)
Recreational Pilot Gyroplane : 1085 (828 in audio version)
Private Pilot Powered Parachute : 807 (631 in audio version)
Private Pilot Weight Shift Control : 859 (672 in audio version)
Private Pilot Canadian Conversion (Airplane) : 646 (530 in audio version)
Private Pilot Canadian Conversion (Helicopter) : 617 (505 in audio version)
Private Pilot EU Part - FCL Conversion (Airplane) : 650 (534 in audio version)
Instrument Rating (IFR) : 1513 (1057 in audio version)
Instrument Rating Airplane : 1428 (994 in audio version)
Instrument Rating Helicopter : 1274 (870 in audio version)
Parachute Rigger (PAR) : 337 (309 in audio version)
Parachute Rigger Senior : 329 (301 in audio version)
Parachute Rigger Master : 311 (283 in audio version)
Parachute Rigger Military Competence : 334 (306 in audio version)
Designated Parachute Rigger Examiner : 334 (306 in audio version)
Sport Pilot - General (SPG) : 1359 (1065 in audio version)
Sport Pilot General : 684 (540 in audio version)
Sport Pilot Airplane : 1026 (797 in audio version)
Sport Pilot Glider : 850 (673 in audio version)
Sport Pilot Gyroplane : 914 (711 in audio version)
Sport Pilot Powered Parachute : 687 (552 in audio version)
Sport Pilot Weight-Shift-Control : 738 (591 in audio version)
Sport Pilot Lighter-Than-Air (Balloon) : 704 (565 in audio version)
Sport Pilot Lighter-Than-Air (Airship) : 710 (571 in audio version)
Sport Pilot - Instructor and Examiner (SPI) : 1911 (1743 in audio version)
Flight Instructor Sport Airplane : 1037 (900 in audio version)
Flight Instructor Sport Balloon : 652 (581 in audio version)
Flight Instructor Sport Glider : 882 (772 in audio version)
Flight Instructor Sport Lighter-than-Air : 678 (600 in audio version)
Flight Instructor Sport Powered Parachute : 662 (591 in audio version)
Flight Instructor Sport Weight-Shift-Control : 739 (650 in audio version)
Flight Instructor Sport Gyroplane : 886 (784 in audio version)
Pilot Examiner Sport Airplane : 1032 (897 in audio version)
Pilot Examiner Sport Balloon : 684 (613 in audio version)
Pilot Examiner Sport Glider : 883 (773 in audio version)
Pilot Examiner Sport Lighter-than-Air : 712 (634 in audio version)
Pilot Examiner Sport Powered Parachute : 673 (602 in audio version)
Pilot Examiner Sport Weight-Shift-Control : 736 (647 in audio version)
Pilot Examiner Sport Gyroplane : 885 (783 in audio version)
Fundamentals of Instruction : 531 (519 in audio version)
Remote / Drone Pilot (RDP) : 786 (693 in audio version)
Small UAS Remote Pilot in Command (Initial) : 786 (693 in audio version)
Small UAS Remote Pilot in Command (Recurrent) : 637 (566 in audio version)
If the totals shown above do not match what you see inside your GroundSchool app, check the following:
First, use the update feature from the GroundSchool main menu to make sure your installed learning content is current. Check for updates regularly while studying.
Make sure you do not have any filtering options enabled that would reduce the number of questions being displayed. For example:
Make sure all chapters or study areas are selected.
Make sure all Question Stacks are selected.
Make sure there is no search term entered in the search box.
Check any other active filters that may limit the displayed question set.
Not sure which FAA knowledge test you should be studying for?
GroundSchool can help you prepare for nearly every major FAA knowledge test, but we cannot provide individualized career, certification, or legal guidance about which test you personally should take.
Speaking generally, many people begin their aviation training with the Private Pilot knowledge test for the aircraft category they intend to fly, such as Private Pilot Airplane. If your goal is to become a pilot, that is often where the process begins, and you can start studying even before beginning formal flight training if you wish.
If you are a Canadian pilot converting a Transport Canada certificate or rating to an FAA equivalent, please see our separate information on Canadian-to-FAA conversion preparation.
If you are unsure which test applies to your particular combination of experience, certificates, ratings, or career goals, consult a qualified instructor or contact the FAA directly.
For an authoritative answer, your local FAA Flight Standards District Office (FSDO) is an excellent source. FAA personnel can give you official guidance based on your individual circumstances, which is preferable to relying on any private company for licensing advice.
It is vitally important that, as soon as you install GroundSchool,
the very first thing you do is start the app and select "Check for Updates" (or the equivalent option) from the main menu.
This updates your learning content to the latest available version. It is particularly important for mobile versions of the app. Our editorial team continuously reviews and updates GroundSchool throughout 2026, 2027, and beyond, so check for updates regularly while you study.
How many questions are in the audio version of the test prep?
Our GroundSchool series of FAA knowledge test preps are divided into individual app titles which each cover a number of related tests.
For example, our GroundSchool FAA Private Pilot test apps contain study material for the Private Pilot Airplane, Private Pilot Helicopter,
Private Pilot Glider, and other tests. Some questions in a given title are common to most or all of the tests in that title while some
are unique to specific tests. When you start any of our titles, you are given the option to select exactly which test you want to study
and then you are presented with only those questions which our editors have deemed correspond to that test - nothing more and nothing
less.
Our FAA knowledge test prep apps also feature an (optional purchase) audio mode where questions and answers are read by a human narrator.
The audio mode does not cover all of the questions for a given test - specifically, questions with a large calculative or visual element
are not included. Additionally, the audio modes generally do not include explanations for the material and as such won't prepare you
well to actually learning the material deeply so that you'll be prepared for new and variant FAA questions. With those caveats out
of the way, the audio prep is an extremely effective complementary mode to help familiarize you with questions and answers which you can
listen to, for example, in your car. We regularly get feedback from people who love the audio mode and tell us how much time it saved
them and how much it helped them learn.
The list below contains the number of questions per title, per test, and in the audio mode for each. These totals are regularly changing
as our editors update the material.
The number of questions in the audio versions is generally less than that in our full test banks because the audio does not cover questions that have a significant visual or calculative element. Imagine sitting in your car listening to our narrator read off list of questions for a complicated weight and balance question--it would be boring and pointless. Pointless because not only would it encourage counter-productive memorization, but also pointless because the actual quantitative questions that you will see on your actual FAA test are likely to have different numbers and answers specifically because the FAA these days wants to discourage memorization. Smart pilots use our audio-mode as a supplement to our core test prep app study modes and make sure that they take the time to read and understand our detailed explanations in those modes.
Total Questions: 14258 (11165 in audio version)
Recreational and Private Pilot (PVT) : 1681 (1306 in audio version)
Private Pilot Airplane : 1231 (936 in audio version)
Private Pilot Rotorcraft Helicopter : 1060 (818 in audio version)
Private Pilot Glider : 915 (699 in audio version)
Private Pilot Balloon - Hot Air : 712 (558 in audio version)
Private Pilot Balloon - Gas : 687 (535 in audio version)
Private Pilot Lighter-Than-Air (Airship) : 743 (572 in audio version)
Private Pilot Rotorcraft Gyroplane : 1062 (804 in audio version)
Private Pilot Airplane/Recreational Pilot - Transition : 1182 (897 in audio version)
Private Pilot Helicopter/Rec. Pilot - Transition : 1043 (804 in audio version)
Private Pilot Gyroplane/Recreational Pilot - Transition : 1046 (790 in audio version)
Recreational Pilot Airplane : 1234 (944 in audio version)
Recreational Pilot Helicopter : 1078 (839 in audio version)
Recreational Pilot Gyroplane : 1085 (828 in audio version)
Private Pilot Powered Parachute : 807 (631 in audio version)
Private Pilot Weight Shift Control : 859 (672 in audio version)
Private Pilot Canadian Conversion (Airplane) : 646 (530 in audio version)
Private Pilot Canadian Conversion (Helicopter) : 617 (505 in audio version)
Private Pilot EU Part - FCL Conversion (Airplane) : 650 (534 in audio version)
Instrument Rating (IFR) : 1513 (1057 in audio version)
Instrument Rating Airplane : 1428 (994 in audio version)
Instrument Rating Helicopter : 1274 (870 in audio version)
Parachute Rigger (PAR) : 337 (309 in audio version)
Parachute Rigger Senior : 329 (301 in audio version)
Parachute Rigger Master : 311 (283 in audio version)
Parachute Rigger Military Competence : 334 (306 in audio version)
Designated Parachute Rigger Examiner : 334 (306 in audio version)
Sport Pilot - General (SPG) : 1359 (1065 in audio version)
Sport Pilot General : 684 (540 in audio version)
Sport Pilot Airplane : 1026 (797 in audio version)
Sport Pilot Glider : 850 (673 in audio version)
Sport Pilot Gyroplane : 914 (711 in audio version)
Sport Pilot Powered Parachute : 687 (552 in audio version)
Sport Pilot Weight-Shift-Control : 738 (591 in audio version)
Sport Pilot Lighter-Than-Air (Balloon) : 704 (565 in audio version)
Sport Pilot Lighter-Than-Air (Airship) : 710 (571 in audio version)
Sport Pilot - Instructor and Examiner (SPI) : 1911 (1743 in audio version)
Flight Instructor Sport Airplane : 1037 (900 in audio version)
Flight Instructor Sport Balloon : 652 (581 in audio version)
Flight Instructor Sport Glider : 882 (772 in audio version)
Flight Instructor Sport Lighter-than-Air : 678 (600 in audio version)
Flight Instructor Sport Powered Parachute : 662 (591 in audio version)
Flight Instructor Sport Weight-Shift-Control : 739 (650 in audio version)
Flight Instructor Sport Gyroplane : 886 (784 in audio version)
Pilot Examiner Sport Airplane : 1032 (897 in audio version)
Pilot Examiner Sport Balloon : 684 (613 in audio version)
Pilot Examiner Sport Glider : 883 (773 in audio version)
Pilot Examiner Sport Lighter-than-Air : 712 (634 in audio version)
Pilot Examiner Sport Powered Parachute : 673 (602 in audio version)
Pilot Examiner Sport Weight-Shift-Control : 736 (647 in audio version)
Pilot Examiner Sport Gyroplane : 885 (783 in audio version)
Fundamentals of Instruction : 531 (519 in audio version)
Remote / Drone Pilot (RDP) : 786 (693 in audio version)
Small UAS Remote Pilot in Command (Initial) : 786 (693 in audio version)
Small UAS Remote Pilot in Command (Recurrent) : 637 (566 in audio version)
If the totals above don't match what you see in the app:
Most important: use the update feature from the main menu of the app to update the content to the latest available. Please check for updates regularly when using the app.
Make sure you have no 'filtering' conditions set. For example:
Make sure all chapters / study areas are selected
Make sure all 'question stacks' are selected
Make sure you don't have any search term typed in the search box
etc.
It is really important that as soon as you get our test prep app, the very first thing you do is to start it up and click on "check for updates" (or similar) from the main menu. This will update the learning content to the latest and greatest. It's really critical that you do this, especially for mobile app versions. Our editorial team is hard at work updating the content regularly through 2026, 2027 and beyond, so check for updates regularly as you study.
Are the questions broken down into study areas?
Yes, absolutely. The material has been chapterized so that you can focus your study. The list below shows a chapter breakdown of individual titles.
Total Questions: 14258 (11165 in audio version)
Recreational and Private Pilot (PVT) : 1681 (1306 in audio version)
Federal Aviation Regulations : 75 (74 in audio version)
Pilot Certification and Limitations : 86 (85 in audio version)
NTSB Part 830 : 12 (12 in audio version)
Maintenance Requirements : 38 (38 in audio version)
Airspace : 86 (74 in audio version)
Maps and Charts : 82 (15 in audio version)
Ground Facilities : 64 (43 in audio version)
Aerodynamics : 192 (177 in audio version)
Flight Planning : 115 (43 in audio version)
Weight and Balance : 67 (23 in audio version)
Performance : 82 (29 in audio version)
Engine and Related Systems : 112 (112 in audio version)
Instrumentation and Avionics : 87 (63 in audio version)
Operations : 170 (152 in audio version)
Clearances and Procedures : 71 (69 in audio version)
Aerodynamics and Performance : 270 (232 in audio version)
Aircraft Systems : 127 (121 in audio version)
Weight and Balance : 41 (24 in audio version)
Flight Planning : 34 (14 in audio version)
Physiology : 51 (51 in audio version)
Aeronautical Decision Making : 12 (12 in audio version)
FOI - Teaching and Learning : 227 (227 in audio version)
FOI - Student Behavior : 103 (103 in audio version)
FOI - Evaluation : 87 (87 in audio version)
FOI - Teaching Methods : 114 (102 in audio version)
Physiology and Psychology : 50 (50 in audio version)
Weather : 36 (33 in audio version)
Weather Services : 28 (15 in audio version)
Weather Services - Charts : 10 (5 in audio version)
Instrumentation and Avionics : 46 (46 in audio version)
VFR Flight : 35 (34 in audio version)
Operations : 37 (36 in audio version)
Landing / Ground Operations : 29 (25 in audio version)
Maintenance Requirements : 15 (15 in audio version)
Clearances and Procedures : 16 (16 in audio version)
Remote / Drone Pilot (RDP) : 786 (693 in audio version)
Regulations : 179 (174 in audio version)
Airspace and Charts : 120 (77 in audio version)
Weather : 134 (104 in audio version)
UAS Loading and Performance : 31 (28 in audio version)
Emergency and Abnormal Procedures : 26 (26 in audio version)
Crew Resource Management : 15 (15 in audio version)
Radio Communications : 27 (21 in audio version)
UAS Preflight : 28 (28 in audio version)
Physiology : 45 (45 in audio version)
Aeronautical Decision Making and Judgement : 75 (75 in audio version)
Airport Operations : 32 (26 in audio version)
UAS Maintenance Requirements : 12 (12 in audio version)
Remote Pilot Certification and Limitations : 23 (23 in audio version)
UAS Best Practices : 39 (39 in audio version)
Important: the totals above are totals for entire test groups. Therefore, the totals may be larger than those that you see for any individual test. For example, the Commercial Pilot ... Aerodynamics chapter total above will reflect the total for the Commercial Pilot Airplane, Helicopter, Glider, and other tests.
Military Competence (Military to Civilian) Test Prep
Yes! our GroundSchool apps can prepare you for your Military to Civilian "Military Competence" tests.
Our prep is less expensive, better, and faster than one of those "waste your Saturday" cram courses you may have seen at Ft Rucker or elsewhere. In over 20 years, we have never heard of anybody using our app for any Military Competence test not passing the test(s) while many, many thousands of military pilots have used our prep. This isn't a guarantee and you MUST put in the study time or you certainly could fail, but our prep has been repeatedly proven to work. We've had people study in the morning and take the test that afternoon and pass highly. Of course, whether you can do so depends on your particular test taking aptitude and overall background. Again, don't take the studying lightly. You can take an infinite number of practice tests using our prep to gauge your readiness.
Converting to an FAA Commercial Pilot Certificate: The old "Airplane" and "Helicopter" tests to convert your military experience to an FAA Commercial Pilot Certificate have now been replaced with a single "Military Competence Non-Specific" (MSN). Our preps support both the MSN tests and also continue to include test banks for the old airplane and helicopter specific tests in case somebody needs them for legacy reasons.
Converting to an FAA Flight Instructor (and/or instrument instructor) Certificate. Yes, we can prepare you for the Military Competence Instructor (MCI) test that is used to make you a civilian instructor. While, strictly speaking, it is not necessary to pass the knowledge test, it is generally in your best interest to take advantage of the fact that our apps have the best learning content (explanations) in the business by far to really learn "the FAA way" if you're going to actually instruct as a civilian.
If you buy our PC products at www.MilComp.com you get an effective "military discount" as we price these cheaper than our regular civilian products.
As we don't control our products as they are sold in the Apple Mac, iOS (iPhone/iPad), and Google / Android app stores, we have no mechanism there to implement a military discount (they might have one - we don't). Still, our apps are reasonably priced (certainly cheaper than classroom courses or 'cram' providers) and you get to study immediately on your own time, offline or off.
To prep for the MCN test, get our GroundSchool Commercial Pilot test prep for the platform of your choice. You can select the MCN test specifically from the list of tests provided there and the resulting question set will be filtered to those that apply to the MCN test only.
To prep for the MCI test, get our GroundSchool Flight and Ground Instructor test prep for the platform of your choice. You can select the MCI test specifically from the list of tests provided there and the resulting question set will be filtered to those that apply to the MCI test only.
Some more Frequently Asked Questions:
What do I do after I take the MCI test to actually receive the FAA certificate?
he general procedure is: after you pass the MCI test, take your paperwork to a DPE (Designated Pilot Examiner) or FAA FSDO. You will be issued with flight instructor certificates commensurate with any military instructor certificates you hold. For example, if you are a multi-engine airplane instructor, you will get multi-engine airplane instructor privileges.
Do I need to take the MCN test also if I want to be a civilian flight instructor?
We have yet to get a definitive answer on this. However, to us it seems logical that you will need to take this too to get your civilian commercial pilot certificate in most cases. So, if you have no pilot certificates or ratings, consider taking both the MCN test and the MCI test.
I am a complex case - do I need to take the test?
Some people have complex backgrounds or certification histories and wonder if they need to take the test and what applies to them. If your case is complex, don't ask us - rather, ask the FAA via your local FAA FSDO. That's what the FAA FSDO is there for! When you call the FSDO, make a note of the name of the inspector you speak to and the time of your call - this way you will have a record for the future. Think about it - while we do make some great test preparation materials, do you really want to be asking a private company for quasi-legal advice such at this when official straight-from-the-horse's mouth advice is just a phone call away? Unfortunately, too often people write to us with multi-page complex tales of their flight experience asking for advice and all that we can reasonably do is direct such people to their FAA FSDO. Thank you for your understanding.
I am a military pilot but not a military flight instructor. What can I do do get an FAA civilian flight instructor certificate?
Take the MCN test as necessary to get your FAA civilian Commercial Pilot certificate. Then, follow the normal civilian route to becoming an FAA flight instructor. That is, take both the Fundamentals of Instruction written test, a Flight Instructor test corresponding to the aircraft you fly (usually FIA or FIH - flight instructor airplane or helicopter) and then take a practical test (checkride) which can be scheduled with an FAA pilot examiner. If you are not (have not served as) a military flight instructor then there is no point in you taking the MCI - that route is closed to you. Again, please contact your local FAA FSDO if you have questions relating to your specific case.
How does your product compare with others?
A competitor of ours, heavy into 'social marketing' and spreading utter BS, is hoping that you won't actually do your homework to verify what they say, encourages you to compare their product to ours. Ok, let's compare!
We are Less Expensive / Reasonably Priced. They cost more.
We have actual and realistic FAA test questions and a decades long track record of successful test prep. Again, as far as we are aware, every person who has used our test prep for the military competence tests and has done the requisite study has passed their tests on the first try.
We have the best, often illustrated, explanations in the business to best prepare you for whatever unpublished questions the FAA is increasingly throwing test takers' way. The FAA is increasingly using unpublished questions to combat against 'cram schools' and 'cram apps' that don't do anything educationally useful. Any competitor who in 2026 claims they don't do this and that they "always" have all the current questions is not being honest. This is true
even if they have some sleight-of-hand, less-than-it-seems, "no new questions" guarantee. By contrast, they provide either poor or no explanations at all.
We have question banks that are actively worked on by our editorial team and whose number of questions accurately reflects current FAA practice on the military competence tests. Our professional team of pilots and pilot examiners have been working on FAA test prep since 1997 and it's safe to say are the best in the business at this point.
We offer you a lifetime license so that you can go back and study later to brush up on things. They don't.
We offer our prep on a variety of platform types (PC, Mac, iOS, and Android)
We can prep you anywhere. You can use our prep both online and off.
Our preps (via the explanations) offer an integrated glossary to help you adjust to civilian terms (learn "the FAA thinking") better.
We support our apps. Our tech support is standing by via this helpdesk.
We can prep you faster. Our apps feature a highly polished, very time-efficient, slick user experience. Fast study, fast pass.
(Mic Drop).
I have further questions.
No problem. We're here to help.
First, please check www.MilComp.com as you can find our apps and a bunch more answers there.
If that doesn't get you what you need, please contact us via our helpdesk.
FAA Drone / UAS / UAV / Part 107 Knowledge Test
Yes! our apps can prepare you for your FAA Part 107 UAS (Drone Operator) Knowledge tests - both initial and recurrent. You've come to the right place - this is the best FAA UAS knowledge test prep in existence:
Comprehensive question bank, regularly updated. Covers all FAA UAS/Drone topics.
By far, by far, the most detailed explanations in the business
Polished user experience
Covers both Initial and Recurrent Tests
Low Price and nothing else to buy.
Polished user experience for fast and efficient study.
How many questions are included in Dauntless prep?
Our prep will prepare you for both the initial and recurrent Remote Drone Pilot In Command - Small UAS Rating FAA knowledge tests.
Update for our app are free for life! As of this writing, the prep includes 500+ questions for the FAA Remote Pilot in Command small UAS initial knowledge test and a bit less than that for the recurrent test. This number is regularly growing as our editorial team continues to add content and question variations based on experience with the actual exams.
Will the Dauntless prep include every possible question on the FAA Remote Pilot in Command - Small UAS Rating knowledge test?
We make the best UAS prep with the deepest and most representative question set in existence. It has helped thousands and thousands of drone pilots take and pass their tests. The most straightforward answer is that our prep is 100% what what you need to take and pass your UAS knowledge tests. However, when it comes to "every possible question?" the honest answer is that no test prep can honestly claim to have 100% of these all of the time. Our prep covers, in detail, all of the subject topics and subtopics on the test and our app is fully compatible with / compliant to FAA Airman Certification Standards (ACS). Therefore, it is highly likely that that material of every or nearly every question on your exam will be covered in this prep. However, you can expect the actual wording of questions to be different on the actual exam because the FAA these days regularly changes the questions on knowledge tests as an active protection measure against those who would try to 'memorize the test.' While our updates are designed to match known FAA changes, as a general principle, you should expect that the questions that you will see will be on the same material as in our app, but may be worded or presented differently.
You say the questions are different and can change... so how will your prep prepare me for this?
The key difference between us and pretty much everybody else out there is that we offer a 'learning by doing' prep with superior, in-depth explanations. What this means is that with our product, instead of falling asleep while listening to some video or online presentation, your brain is actively trying to figure things out by working on the same sort of multiple choice problems that you'll see on the actual test. This means 'exploring the material' by turning to our in-depth, illustrated explanations. Active learning works! We've been making FAA knowledge test preps since 1997 and have become a leader in the field. We know what works for fast, efficient study that will help you not just pass the test, but really internalize the material so that you can go on to become a safe, legal, and knowledgeable UAS operator.
Beware of the fake and useless "Drone Test" prep apps, websites, books on Amazon, etc.
Even if for whatever reason you don't end up getting our prep, we strongly advise all potential drone
pilots / test takers be very, very careful about where they get there drone test prep from. To say that there are
a lot of worthless (but quasi-official looking) test prep products out there would be a massive understatement.
Here are some examples:
A book with the words "Remote" and "Test Prep" in the title (and the current year on it) sold on Amazon and elsewhere, despite being official looking, is essentially useless. You'll recognize its useless content as many of the questions there deal with things like "What is the role of drones in enhancing solar panel installtion effectiveness?" In short, it seems that some tech bros found some irrelevant FAA document about the potentials of drones and turned this into a pseudo 'test prep' based on nothing but their imagination. In our opinion, you are absolutely without a doubt wasting your money on such products and all similar ones. Nearly all "Drone Test" books on Amazon and the many bad apps based on them are similarly worthless.
There are supposed lists of drone test prep questions floating out there on the internet. Most of them stem from a single source; a bad and incomplete half-copy of an obsolete test bank under consideration by the FAA in the early days of remote pilot certification. While maybe 20% of those questions still have relevance and validity, again, this is a waste of your time. And, again, there is no shortage of tech bros out there with little to no actual FAA test or drone knowledge who have tried to turn those lists into shiny looking apps or quick-publish books.
"Drone universities" and "online drone courses" are the biggest waste of money of them all. All are based one principle: if it sounds like a course they can charge you a lot of money for it. We can't speak for all of them, but the ones that we have seen are an utter waste of time. Make a note of their generic, AI-generated, or outright fake 'testimonials.' No matter what kind of drone backstory the proprietors have conjured up or how slick their marketing is, these 'courses' come from the same place as any number of tech bro businesses that involve selling pdfs and useless instructional video. Be especially careful when such 'courses' list for example police departments in their list of 'customers.' It is not unusual for a police department or similar organization to buy licenses for their potential remote pilots from such 'universities.' Even if the courses turn out to be useless wastes of time, the sellers can nevertheless prominently advertise their important sounding 'customer.'
As of this writing, there have been at least three major revisions to the FAA drone test banks since the tests were first released. Additionally, many of the supporting regulations - covering everything from night flight to UAS certification to pilot certification to overflight rules to weather requirements to line of sight oprations to much much more have changed substantially. We are on top of it. Our competition is not. The vast majority of the 'drone schools' out there made the videos once back the and haven't updated them since it's impractical and costly to do. We have a full time team of editors whose job is to stay on top of these things. Again, for your own good, we respectfully suggest that you really look hard at whatever test prep source you choose. The ability to make a shiny website or buy expensive online ads does not mean that they make a prep that is worth your time.
We get a lot. I mean, a LOT of customers from those who have unfortunately fallen for such scam and useless products first, fail their test, and then find us, use our product, and pass. Yes, studying for the drone pilot test takes work. There are no 'cheats' to it We provide you with the content and supplementary learning material you need in a highly usable and efficient study platform at a fair price. We have over three decades of experience with FAA knowledge tests and are the industry leader in FAA test preps.
How have users been doing on the actual exam after studying with your app?
Our users have overwhelmingly passed the test with flying colors. A group of law enforcement professionals used our app for their prep and the average score was around 94%. A group of high school studens, directed by their teacher but including those who had no aviation experience whatsoever, reported average scores of 88%. In both cases, all test takers passed. This isn't a guarantee - whether you pass depends not just on getting our prep, but also using it diligently. Our app allows you to take an unlimited number of practice tests. As a general recommendation, we suggest that if you can take 5 or more practice tests in a row and score 90%+ on all of them, then statistically you are highly likely to be ready to take and pass the real thing.
Are the charts and figures included?
Yes! Every required chart and figure is included and fully integrated into the app. If you find the figures hard to use onscreen, there's a link inside the app to generate a PDF of the figures which you can print out.
I worry about aviation terms that I might not understand
Our app's explanations feature our built in 'JargonBuster' feature where definitions of thousands of key terms and abbreviations are available in a fast, context-sensitive way. See a term you don't know? Click on it and the definition will show up right there.
I saw some site selling 'drone mentoring' or a 'UAS university' or some other expensive course on the internet.
We can't speak to any particular product or service, but from what we've seen of a few handfuls of such sites, we seriously doubt the usefulness or value of such offerings when it comes to test prep. Several of those sites claim long experience with drones, which is great (some of our editorial board members can also claim the same, and have even been involved in the Part 107 deliberation and development process). However, as far as we know, none of those places can claim any real background with FAA testing. Our prep has been developed by a team of our aforementioned 'drone guys' and our 'traditional aviation / test prep team' and together they've combined those unique perspectives into an intelligent, effective test prep experience that we think is far superior to such other offerings. Plus, ours costs a lot less, too.
Does your app feature video that will drag me through the necessary material?
No, it doesn't, and for good reason. Our long experience with FAA Knowledge Tests has shown, conclusively, that such passive learning, even if you pay a lot for it, will likely be a waste of your time and money. A far better approach is to jump right in with our 'learning by doing' method where your brain is always working and where you can take advantage of our detailed, illustrated explanations at your pace and on your own time. It's a proven system that works. Hundreds of thousands of pilots and mechanics have used this method via our preps to successfully pass every manner of FAA knowledge test.
What subjects are covered in the prep?
Our 'initial certification' test prep covers the following required subjects:
Applicable regulations relating to small unmanned aircraft system rating privileges, limitations, and flight operation
Airspace classification, operating requirements, and flight restrictions affecting small unmanned aircraft operation
Aviation weather sources and effects of weather on small unmanned aircraft performance
Small unmanned aircraft loading
Emergency procedures
Crew resource management
Radio communication procedures
Determining the performance of small unmanned aircraft
Physiological effects of drugs and alcohol
Aeronautical decision-making and judgement
Airport operations
Maintenance and pre-flight inspection procedures
If you select to prepare for the recurrency test prep in the app, only the subset of subjects pertaining to that will be presented to you.
If I memorize the questions and answers in your prep, will I pass the test?
Passing the test generally requires more than rote memorization. the FAA now takes active measures to stymie those who would memorize answers. The key to being maximally prepared is to use our prep and its detailed explanations to where you actually learn and understand the material so that you are ready for whatever question variations the FAA will throw your way. Our app and its explanations will almost certainly cover all or nearly all of the actual content that will be on the exam - but you have to take the time to study and learn it. Our app, with its polished user experience and ease of use make this process as efficient and fast as possible.
I have an issue with or question about a piece of content in your app...
Our editorial team would love to hear from you! In the explanation pane for each question there is a 'report an issue with this question' link. Click that to send a message to our editorial team about the specific piece of content that you have concern over. our editorial team carefully reads and evaluates all feedback that comes in and, if necessary, can quickly make adjustments to the content, such as fixing the occasional typo or, more pertinently, by clarifying an unforeseen misconception or extending an explanation. Any changes done by our editorial staff will then be available via the 'update' feature in the app. This integrated, fast and easy system of feedback is one of the reasons why our apps are so good. We sincerely thank those users who provide us with feedback as we constantly work to bring you the best possible test prep.
Can I take practice tests using your app?
Yes! You can take an unlimited number of practice tests using the app. In addition to 'practice test' mode, the app features other study and learning modes that you can choose as best suits your individual learning style. These including flashcard modes, continuous study modes, and even an audio mode.
Does the content vary by platform?
The content is exactly the same no matter what platform you choose to study on. The actual apps themselves vary slightly to reflect the peculiarities and capabilities of each platform, but mostly have similar features.
Audio mode?
Yes! We call it 'Learning by Listening' and it's fully included in our FAA Remote Drone Pilot in Command test prep apps at no extra charge. In this mode, a human narrator reads the questions and answers and at times adds a bit of commentary to help you understand the material. While not necessarily as comprehensive as using the app in normal modes and reading the full explanations there might be, audio mode is nevertheless incredibly useful when you can't study actively - for example, you can listen to it in the car while driving. Note that audio mode covers most but not all of the content of this app - specifically, questions that require significant amounts of chart/figure reading and/or heavy calculation lend themselves poorly to audio mode and are not included in the audio prep. Our 'learning by listening' audio prep has proven itself to be highly popular as far as our other test preps go and we think with this drone prep it should be even more so.
How do I get updates?
Each app has an update screen or feature that you can periodically use to check for updates via the Internet. The process is simple and fully integrated. Generally, click on "Update" from the main menu to start the process.
How much does the app cost?
Due to the way the app stores work, this varies a bit by region and platform. Please visit the purchase page of the platform of your choice to see current pricing.
What is the purchase process (Mac, iPhone/iPad, and Android)?
Our app for each of the above platforms is available from the official App Store / App Market for those platforms. Follow the links above for the platform of your choice. If you need to type in our web address into a web browser on a mobile device, you may find it easier to just type in www.FAAtest.com which works just as well and is shorter and easier to type.
What is the purchase process (Windows PC)?
Download the demo version of our PC app from above and try it out on your PC. Make sure that it is working technically for you and as you like it. Once it is, click either one of the buy now links above or one of the buy now links within the PC app to start the purchase process. When you complete it, you will get an activation code emailed to you that you can use to transform the demo version of the PC app (which gives you access to 5% of the total questions only) into the fully activated title where you have access to 100% of the available question content.
I am interested in studying on multiple platforms. Can I get a combo deal on for example the app for iPad and PC?
Due to policies set forth by Apple, Google, and Amazon that we (and other app creators) have no role in setting but must adhere to, cross platform combo deals or platform switches are not available. Each of the app stores / app markets, protective of its commercial interests, makes it both technically impossible and contractually impossible to offer such combos. Apple even doesn't allow combining its Mac and iOS products. As such, our apps are available on each platform individually only.
Actual and Realistic FAA Questions - Regularly Updated
