FAA A&P General Pass Rate, Format & Study Guide

The FAA Aviation Maintenance Technician General knowledge test has 60 multiple-choice questions and a 120-minute time limit, drawn from the Airman Certification Standards (FAA-S-ACS-1). The minimum passing grade is 70 percent (14 CFR 65.17), and the content spans 12 areas, each weighted about 8.3%. This portal's practice mock has 60 questions; the FAA oral and practical tests are separate.

Passing the General knowledge test is a required step toward any FAA mechanic certificate, because it covers the fundamentals that apply to both the airframe and the powerplant ratings.

Aviation maintenance students and technicians starting the A&P certificate path, and candidates retesting after a failed attempt.

The certifying body does not publicly publish an official pass rate for this exam. Be wary of third-party sites citing a specific number here — treat any pass-rate claim you see elsewhere for this exam as unverified.

After a failed knowledge test you may retest after 30 days, or sooner with a signed statement from an airman who holds the certificate and rating you seek, saying you received extra instruction in every failed subject (14 CFR 65.19).

The minimum passing grade for each FAA test is 70 percent (14 CFR 65.17). Format: 60 multiple-choice questions in 120 minutes; the oral and practical tests are separate and are not part of this knowledge test. No official pass rate is available for this exam, so none is quoted here.

The FAA Aviation Maintenance Technician General knowledge test has 60 multiple-choice questions and a 120-minute time limit, drawn from the Airman Certification Standards (FAA-S-ACS-1). The minimum passing grade is 70 percent (14 CFR 65.17), and the content spans 12 areas, each weighted about 8.3%. This portal's practice mock has 60 questions; the FAA oral and practical tests are separate. 60 multiple-choice questions · 120 minutes · pass: at least 70 percent · written knowledge test only (oral and practical tests are separate). The minimum passing grade for each FAA test is 70 percent (14 CFR 65.17).

• Fundamentals of Electricity and Electronics8.4%
• Aircraft Drawings8.3%
• Weight and Balance8.3%
• Fluid Lines and Fittings8.3%
• Aircraft Materials, Hardware, and Processes8.3%
• Ground Operations and Servicing8.3%
• Cleaning and Corrosion Control8.3%
• Mathematics8.3%
• Regulations, Maintenance Forms, Records, and Publications8.3%
• Physics for Aviation8.3%
• Inspection Concepts and Techniques8.3%
• Human Factors8.3%

The content outline spreads questions across 12 areas: Fundamentals of Electricity and Electronics (8.4%); Aircraft Drawings (8.3%); Weight and Balance (8.3%); Fluid Lines and Fittings (8.3%); Aircraft Materials, Hardware, and Processes (8.3%); Ground Operations and Servicing (8.3%); Cleaning and Corrosion Control (8.3%); Mathematics (8.3%); Regulations, Maintenance Forms, Records, and Publications (8.3%); Physics for Aviation (8.3%); Inspection Concepts and Techniques (8.3%); Human Factors (8.3%).

Under 14 CFR 65.71 an applicant must be at least 18 years of age, able to read, write, speak and understand English, and pass all prescribed tests within a 24-month period. Under 14 CFR 65.77 the experience requirement is 18 months of practical experience for an airframe or powerplant rating and 30 months for both ratings together, or an authenticated document from a certificated aviation maintenance technician school. Experience, oral and practical tests are handled with an FAA-designated examiner.

The FAA does not set the testing-center fee. A 2022 testing-center schedule listed about $175 for each of the General, Airframe and Powerplant knowledge tests, and the FAA calls such fees approximate; confirm the current charge with your test center. Oral and practical test fees are set by the examiner.

FAA mechanic certificates do not carry a renewal date in the rules we read, but 14 CFR 65.83 lets you exercise the privileges only if, within the preceding 24 months, the FAA found you able to do the work or you had at least 6 months of qualifying experience.

Start with the heaviest areas of the content outline: Fundamentals of Electricity and Electronics (8.4%); Aircraft Drawings (8.3%); Weight and Balance (8.3%). Then work through the remaining areas, and finish with timed full-length practice runs of 60 questions in one sitting.

Content outlines, fees and passing standards change; this guide follows the materials listed under Verification as of October 2026. Check the FAA and your testing center before you register.