Student pilots need to practice for private pilot knowledge tests.

With the availability of countless resources online, choosing the right one can be a dilemma.

I shared three private pilot practice tests, that you can use to familiarize yourself with the FAA knowledge test questions.

I listed the free resources and the paid courses. All of these courses will help you to assume:

• The type of questions you will see in the actual test;
• How to answer all the questions correctly within the time limit to pass the exam.

In short, paid courses are always the best to prepare for the exam, and I will tell you the reason at the end of this article.

But first, let’s see the free courses that you can find online.

Exams4pilots.org

Exams 4 Pilots is an online tool where you can choose the type of exam you will take.

Student pilots can choose the Private Pilot License exam and decide how many questions to generate questions and practice test duration accordingly.

Immediately, you will see multiple-choice questions with a time limit.

The time limit will be variable depending on the number of questions you choose.

Exams 4 Pilots‘ FREE practice exam is excellent for familiarizing yourself with the FAA knowledge test questions.

Similarly, you will be comfortable with completing an exam within the time boundary.

Nevertheless, merely taking the Exams 4 Pilots’ free practice test is not adequate to pass the FAA knowledge test.

FAA does not publish the questions of FAA knowledge tests like they did in the past. Thus free platforms like Exams 4 Pilots have limited questions for student pilots to practice for free.

FREE platforms have limited questions and they do not update the question bank as frequently as a paid tool. After you take the PPL practice exam in Exam 4 Pilots, you will see a repetition of the same questions, which is futile.

King School’s FREE FAA Private Pilot Practice test.

Like I mentioned:

Free courses are not adequate to pass the real FAA knowledge test.

Similar to Exams 4 Pilots, King School’s private pilot practice test is useful to get comfortable with perfecting the exam without exceeding the time limit.

In King School’s free mock examination, you can choose a maximum of 60 aeronautical questions at once.

King School designed it like an actual FAA knowledge test, unlike Exams 4 Pilots, where you can pick a lot more questions at once.

However, like all other free platforms, King School’s question bank has outdated questions.

Student pilots cannot memorize the free questions and expect to pass the private pilot FAA knowledge test.

These were common before decades:

• Student pilots memorized the answer to the questions and pass the FAA knowledge test.
• Students didn’t need to understand a subject clearly.

Hence, the FAA frequently adds new questions in the knowledge test and steers clear of publishing the questions for student pilots.

It is a superb technique to drive student pilots towards studying harder and progress toward being smarter and safer pilots.

Now, it is essential for student pilots that they:

• Clearly understand aeronautical subjects, so they are ready to answer all types of questions;
• Don’t rely on FREE tools for memorizing questions answers.

Kings School’s practice test page has a bold warning regarding this concern to prevent students from failing their FAA knowledge test.

Private Pilot Written Test Bootcamp by FLY8MA.

FLY8MA’s private pilot practice test is an excellent tool and it is not for FREE.

I mentioned two FREE training tests for student pilots. By now you may already know why the FREE resources are not enough to pass your actual exam.

FAA discourages student pilots to memorize the answers for the exam. FAA desires student pilots to learn a subject clearly so that they can answer any kind of question from their knowledge.

Paid private pilot practice tests like FLY8MA’s Bootcamp course will train you to answer unique questions.

In FLY8MA’s Bootcamp course:

• The flight instructors work hard to prepare solid questions and add it to the question bank for the students to practice.
• Experienced flight instructors add questions that are most relevant to the FAA’s recent questions.
• FLY8MA’s flight instructors consistently update the questions database according to the FAA’s new regulations that keep student pilots up to date.
• Instructors emphasize on brand new questions to prepare student pilots for unseen questions.

Pilots who did not take the exam for a long time.

Once a student pilot practice answering different questions from the paid version of FLY8MA’s Bootcamp, they will be able to answer all varieties of questions.

Paid practice test course train student pilots on how to manage time to answer unfamiliar questions without exceeding the time limit.

FLY8MA’s Bootcamp also helps student pilots to understand aeronautical information even more clearly.

It is so common that many private pilot trainees did not take any exam in over a decade.

For such student pilots, FLY8MA’s private pilot Bootcamp is a must.

Figuring out the answer to a unique question takes time and someone who did not take any exam in a long time will likely fail because of poor time management.

For those student pilots, using this FLY8MA’s private pilot practice test will help sharpen their aviation knowledge. Likewise, practicing different kinds of questions will ready them for the FAA knowledge test.

In the long run, a paid version is always beneficial for student pilots regardless of when you took an exam the last time. If you don’t want to take the private pilot knowledge test more then once, then paid tools are the way.

Knowing aeronautical subjects in-depth, and understanding precisely, will benefit you in several ways.

• You will become a better pilot;
• Can pass your private pilot exam with ease;
• Students pilots will be ready for their check-ride.

To become a better pilot, and pass your FAA knowledge test, use an online pilot course together with FLY8MA’s private pilot practice test.

Choosing the right book is a dilemma for a beginner pilot in flight training.

There are hundreds of books for student pilots. Only studying the appropriate book can build you as an excellent pilot. The books I mentioned in this article will aid in flight training, FAA knowledge test, and your check-ride.

I shared the top five beginner pilot books, and studying any one of them will take you close to getting your private pilot license.

I see many websites share a list of books for beginner pilots or student pilots, but they rarely say why a book is essential for student pilots, instead they talk about the book’s author and history.

Hence, I listed the books in this article, explaining:

• How easily can a beginner pilot understand the book’s language.
• Why a book is essential for student pilots to pass the PPL knowledge test and check-ride;
• Is a particular book a must-buy for student pilots;
• In which phase of flight training, a book will benefit the most;

So, the first book I want every beginner pilot to have on their shelf is by Rod Machado.

Private Pilot Handbook by Rod Machado.

Rod Machado is a veteran flight instructor and gained popularity for teaching in a clear, understandable language.

For beginner pilots, aeronautical knowledge is overwhelming, and remembering a wide variety of subjects can be challenging.

Thus, it is crucial for a student pilot to understand subjects apparently.

Similarly, ground school for student pilots is accelerated and it is better learning in technical methods.

Rod Machado’s private pilot handbook has at least two pictures or illustrations on each page to describe a topic transparently.

Apparently, the author took his time to write this book for beginner pilots.

And the author added unique techniques that allow student pilots to not forget a topic even if they want to.

Is this book essential for student pilots?

Aviation studies and aeronautical knowledge is complicated in the beginning. Thus many students lose interest in studying. Yet, Rod Machado keeps students engaged with his humor while preparing for their FAA knowledge test.

Typically, student pilots get the flying hours but they procrastinate to take the private pilot knowledge exam.

Why do they procrastinate?

Students fear they may fail the FAA knowledge test.

As a result, it takes almost a year for many student pilots merely to prepare for the FAA knowledge test and get their private pilot license.

RELATED: Is the private pilot written exam hard?

A good book can play an excellent role to boost your confidence.

Private Pilot Handbook by Rod Machado has more than what you require to pass the private pilot exam in FAA.

Why every beginner pilot needs this book?

This book is not only for beginner pilots but any pilot at any stage of their flight training can read this book.

This book has all the fundamentals of aeronautical knowledge, introduction to aviation, and an excellent refresher book for pilots at any stage.

But mostly this book is essential for beginner pilots. Student pilots preparing for the private pilot knowledge test only needs one book.

This book has everything you need to learn for the knowledge test in the shortest possible time.

Be ready for any kind of questions that might appear in the FAA knowledge test or by your check-pilot.

How to fly an airplane handbook by Rod Machado.

It may sound weird that I suggest the first two books by Rod Machado.

A beginner pilot willing to be good at flying an airplane, I suggest either of these two books:

The airplane flying handbook by ASA has always been my most favorite book for flight training. No doubt, this is an excellent book to learn basic maneuvers of airplane.

However, now I suggest student pilots to buy: How to fly an airplane handbook by Rod Machado.

As always, Rod Machado’s transparent language and explanation is on a different level. I believe Rod Machado’s flying Handbook is superior to the book by ASA in various ways.

Rod Machado explained all the maneuvers in detail:

• What to do for a certain maneuver and why to do that;
• How the airplane will react, when a student pilot does something wrong;
• How a student must respond if his input was not correct.
• Why an airplane reacts in different manners;
• Which maneuver is right for complex situations.

Rod Machado went into deep details of the aircraft and how the airplane reacts and why it does like that, unlike ASA only explained what a student pilot needs to do to control the airplane.

Likewise, Rod Machado has tons of illustrations to explain beginner pilots how the airplane will behave and why it will behave like that.

This book is not essential for passing the FAA knowledge test. But with the details on how to fly an airplane, certainly, you will be ready for your FAA check-ride.

Student pilots repeat the same mistakes in their flight training.

Therefore, it takes longer for beginner pilots to be ready for their first solo.

Study this book, implement the techniques and trust me you ill learn to operate and control the airplane in no time.

Get your first solo flight quicker and improve your airplane flying skills.

This book will make a significant difference in your actual flight training.

Typically, it takes 30 hours for student pilots to get their first solo flight. As a result, student pilots fly more than the required 40 Hours for their private pilot license.

The national average for student pilots is to fly 50+ hours to get their private pilot license.

Therefore beginner pilots spend more money than they are supposed to.

Using this book, you will improve your flying skills, and get several private pilot training endorsements within lesser hours.

Using this book will help, so save your money plus time, and invest in a book like this before you begin flight training.

Stick and Rudder by Wolfgang Langewiesche.

People say this book is the Bible of airplanes flying. As the name suggests, this book teaches: The art of flying.

This book is not only meant for pilots but aviators. Can you see the difference?

Aviators are the ones who love going back to the sky again and again for experiencing new challenges because that’s what they love.

So as a beginner pilot, you will not lose anything by investing in this book. Buy this book once and keep it forever.

Although many things in the book seem irrelevant in this age, you will know nothing is irrelevant, while you are in control of the aircraft.

For student pilots, it’s a must-have.

It explains everything about flying an airplane and knowing how and why an airplane responds to your input. Rod Machado’s how to fly an airplane handbook is a lot similar to Stick and Rudder but Rod Machado wrote his book with his own twist and elaborately.

You will also learn what you must not dot while in control of the airplane and why it is best to avoid doing so.

Students pilots need this book to become better in flying.

Beginner pilots, regardless of their intentions:

• Whether to start flight training,
•  Learning to fly an airplane;
• To improve their flying skills;

This book is something you can rely on.

This book can help beginner pilots of fixed-wing airplane or helicopter student pilots. Get this book at an early stage of your flight training and you will not regret it.

Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge.

ASA is excellent in publishing books in straightforward language. When I was a student pilot I studied Jeppesen private pilot handbook.

No wonder the ASA’s handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge is a lot comprehensible than Jeppesen. ASA’s handbook of aeronautical knowledge is a good alternative for Rod Machado’s private pilot handbook.

Though it is not the best, it has all you need to know as a student pilot.

Similar to Rod Machado’s private pilot handbook, ASA’s handbook of aeronautical knowledge is in a straightforward language but it doesn’t cover topics elaborately.

ASA’s handbook is essential for beginner pilots, especially to study things that are essential to pass FAA private pilot knowledge test.

You can order online or download the PDF format from the FAA’s website.

After you get your private pilot license, you need to learn more advanced topics to become a better pilot regardless of your purpose of flying. Fly with your friends and family for recreation but always keep learning as a pilot to become a safer pilot.

Acquiring more knowledge is crucial to become competent in the industry.

For more advanced knowledge, you will have to buy another book together with the Pilot’s handbook of aeronautical knowledge.

I like books by ASA because they are easy to understand and always on point.

Get a copy of this book if you are a student pilot or before you start your flight training.

Weather Flying by Robert N. Buck.

As a pilot, you will encounter adverse weather and by studying this book you will know how to fly in bad weather.

This book may not be necessary as a student pilot but there is nothing wrong with being ready.

In this book, you will learn:

• What kind of weather to avoid and what weather to expect en route.

For student pilots, reading this book can be boring. The book is difficult to read as there is no picture and illustrations. This book is like a novel, by two pilots where they share their experiences of weather flying.

Yet, take your time to read this book, you will be a better pilot in real life. This book has nothing much for passing your private pilot knowledge test.

This book is only about aviation weather. It is different from what you learn in other private pilot handbook meteorology chapter.

All aeronautical handbooks explain:

• The weather;
• Types of clouds;
• What kind of weather to avoid;
• Why adverse weather is dangerous, etc.

On the other hand, this book doesn’t talk about whether formation and other meteorological details, this book talks about how to fly through different kinds of weather.

Knowing how to fly through different weather and landing the airplane safely is a crucial part of becoming a safe pilot.

No one knows what you may encounter as a pilot. After you read this book you will know what to expect and what kind of weather to avoid.

Beginner pilots in their private pilot training stage can sharpen their skills as a pilot by reading this book.

This book tells you about the safe operations of an airplane in any kind of weather condition.

One last thing, this book is very relevant for weather flying in the USA, as the author of this book has experience in flying in the USA. As a beginner pilot in general aviation, you must get this book as it is crucial for safe flying. Regardless, any pilot can buy this book read this book several times during their flying career.

No matter at what stage of your flight training or your aviation career you are now, you can refer to this book over and over again.

The only books that beginner pilot needs.

Pass the private pilot written exam with ease and confidence!

The private pilot written exam is not difficult. All you need is a great online pilot course to study well. Next, use an online test prep to prepare for the PPL written exam.

In this post, I will give student pilots:

• First, an overview of the PPL written exam;
• Second, I will discuss what to expect in the FAA Private Pilot knowledge test;
• Third, some crucial tips for taking the exam.

Is the private pilot written exam difficult?

It is common for student pilots to pass the private pilot written exam on their first attempt.

Sometimes student pilots require two attempts to pass their PPL written exam.

I believe those who fail the knowledge test on their first take did not take any online pilot course before the exam.

Either you self study adequately or take classes in an actual ground school for your PPL, you will inevitably pass the exam.

RELATED: Self-study guide for private pilot written exam.

Online course alone is an aid to gather knowledge but student pilots need a test prep.

It is crucial to use Gleim’s test prep to practice answering multiple-choice questions similar to the FAA knowledge test for a private pilot license.

You may use Gleim’s test prep book or FLY8MA’s written test Bootcamp for ultimate preparation.

Unquestionably, individuals with poor aeronautical knowledge will find the PPL written exam difficult.

Student pilots must:

1. Allocate adequate time to study,
2. Follow a process for studying;
3. Give effort while taking the online pilot ground school;
4. Practice answering as much as tets prep questions they can get their hands on.

How many questions on the private pilot written exam?

The private pilot written exam has 60 multiple-choice questions and a duration of 2.5 hours.

Duration of 2 hours and 30 minutes is adequate for any well-equipped student pilot to complete and pass the exam.

You will see questions on various subjects relevant to aeronautics.

There will be no absurd questions, so be confident that you can pass the exam if you practiced using FLY8MA’s private pilot written exam Bootcamp.

Expiration of the PPL written exam.

The private pilot written exam has a validity of two years from the date you took your exam.

If any student pilot passed the knowledge test but can’t pass the check ride within this time frame, they must take the ppl written exam again.

However, six months is sufficient for anyone to achieve their required flying hours for the private pilot license and pass their check-ride.

Waiting for two years to merely get a private pilot license is not a wise idea.

Tips for taking the PPL written exam.

The FAA private pilot written exam is not different from any other exam.

However, it’s common to see private pilot trainees of all ages and many of them are taking exam after years.

Thus following these tips is crucial for student pilots of all ages:

• Remember that the FAA private pilot knowledge test has 60 multiple-choice questions;
• Each question has three choices;
• The duration of the exam is 2.5 hours, and you have 2.5 minutes to answer each question correctly.

Prepare well for the exam and be smart while taking the exam.

If you use the courses that I mentioned in this article, you will indeed find many familiar questions in the FAA knowledge test.

Also remember these points:

1. Don’t spend time on the questions you can’t answer;
2. First, finish answering the questions that you find easy;
3. Next, come back to the difficult questions;

Answering the easy questions will consume less time. Therefore, you will have extra time to think and answer the difficult ones.

Even for the most unfamiliar question, you can analyze and answer.

Typically, out of three questions, there is always one choice that you can immediately eliminate.

Eliminate the most apparent, wrong option, and you will have only two remaining choices.

Use your knowledge from your online pilot ground school course to figure out the correct answer.

If you follow all the steps in this article and follow my self-study guide for PPL ground school, I promise, you will pass your FAA knowledge test with over 90% marks.

After you read this article, you will know which factors to consider before buying a pilot ground school course.

Either online or offline ground school, there are various factors before selecting a course.

The reason behind choosing a pilot ground school course varies for each student pilot.

Thus I described the factors to consider before choosing an online ground school. Similarly, I recommended online pilot courses that are the best value for the price.

So read the article till the end.

The factors to consider before choosing an online ground schools are:

• Kno the author of the course;
• Do you have lifetime access to the online pilot course?;
• Length of the online ground school;
• What other resources are available with the course?;
• How is the course structured, and does it have reviews?;
• Can you get a Private Pilot knowledge test endorsement?;
• Lastly, the price of the course.

Is online ground school worth it?

One crucial thing I must mention is that student pilots need an endorsement from a certified flight instructor to take the PPL exam. FAA doesn’t review if a student pilot earned knowledge test endorsement from a physical flight school or an online ground school.

So it is always wiser to choose an online ground school versus a physical classroom.

Online pilot ground schools are worth it because student pilots can study at their convenience. Similarly, online ground schools cost lesser than offline ground school. Upon passing all the quizzes in the online pilot course, you can get an endorsement too.

Overall from all aspects, an online pilot ground school is a better option than a conventional classroom course without spending extra money.

How to choose the right online pilot ground school?

The price of an online ground school is the last thing you worry about.

I say this because online ground school is in a range of 300 USD, which is a lot cheaper compared to a physical ground school.

Crucial Things to consider are as follows.

Know about the author of the course.

There are numerous online ground school available, but not all of the courses were created equal.

Authors of some courses have experience over 40 years in the aviation industry, and others are young.

Some courses have multiple flight instructors.

I don’t say the courses by young instructors are not good, I say it is better to learn from veteran flight instructors.

From my experience, I figured out veteran flight instructors speak in an easy language and explains a lot better.

Unlike young flight instructors, they know the subject but its sometimes quite difficult for them to explain clearly.

Veteran flight instructors like Jon King and Rod Machado has a unique way of teaching student pilots.

The way Rod Machado and Jon king explains, it is easy for student pilots to remember topics without ever needing to study again.

Do you have lifetime access to the online pilot course?

In case, you need to revise a topic, you need to access the course.

Although veteran instructors teach you techniques to remember certain subjects forever, you may want to revise sometimes.

Because being a pilot is about learning forever.

At that time, having access to the course will beneficial for you.

Therefore, a course with lifetime access or at least a year access is essential.

With a lifetime access to the course, you will be able to watch updated videos.

Flight instructors frequently add new videos to keep the course up to date. If you have access to the latest videos in the course, you will learn fresh topics.

Having perpetual access, student pilots can study at their own pace and prepare for the private pilot knowledge test.

Lengthier courses are better, as they are a lot more detailed.

Considering the length of the course is essential.

Some courses are not adequately long. The author of the course tries to squeeze too much information in a short period.

As a result, the course becomes fast-tracked, and the information in the course becomes overwhelming for student pilots.

Although you can rewind and rewatch the videos, some information is just not well explained in short courses.

An example of a better course is Rod Machado’s Private Pilot eLearning. This course is over 40 Hours Long.

I believe Rod Machado did not leave any subject necessary for private pilot unexplained in his course.

Choose a course that is easy to understand and does not only throw information towards student pilots.

More available resources to become a smarter pilot.

You may assume a course is all about watching videos and rewatch them as necessary.

That is not how an online pilot ground school should look like. An online ground school is worth your money if it has numerous resources available with it.

Resources such as: Books; Simulator, Tools, Practice Quizzes.

An excellent course is the FLY8MA PPL Bootcamp. It is like an all in one package.

This course has an inventory of practice quizzes and they promise whoever takes their course will pass their exam during their first take. They frequently update their question database to prepare student pilots for any kind of questions in the private pilot knowledge test.

FLY8MA’s PPL Bootcamp is not a private ground school but an excellent test prep course.

On the contrary, Rod Machado’s eLearning. If you purchase this course, you will avail of many other resources to ready yourself for the FAA knowledge test.

Not just that, Rod Machado’s course has simulation tools, which prepares student pilots for the real flight experience.

How is the course structured, and does it have reviews?

Another thing to consider before purchasing any online pilot ground school is to take a sneak peek inside the course.

Most courses have videos that will allow you to look into the course.

You must choose a course that you think is most suitable for your learning style.

Some courses are designed in a conventional whiteboard teaching style.

I prefer the course by FLY8MA, as their teaching style is unique compared to any other course.

The flight instructor will teach you from various locations.

Sometimes FLY8MA CFI teaches from inside the cockpit while flying the airplane, and sometimes they are back inside the classroom. But often they will use an aircraft to teach students, to learn from real-life environments.

Rod Machado’s online ground school is unique as he frequently uses animation to clarify topics for in-depth lessons.

Can you get an endorsement for the FAA knowledge endorsement?

The purpose of taking an online ground school for a student pilot is to prepare for the FAA private pilot knowledge test.

Only preparing for the knowledge test is not enough.

Student pilots require an endorsement from the Flight Instructor that says a student pilot is eligible for taking the private pilot exam.

Online ground schools have practice quizzes typically after each chapter.

Student pilots taking the online course need to pass the exams. Once they achieve satisfactory marks in all of the practice quizzes, they can request for a knowledge test endorsement.

Choose a course that can endorse you for the FAA knowledge test after you complete the pilot ground school.

Price point of online courses.

I saved this factor for the last. The pricing of online courses are inexpensive compared to actual physical ground school.

And taking online ground school, you will get similar privileges like an offline ground school.

Consider all the factors in this article before buying an online ground school. Don’t think much about the price.

The price of any online ground school ranges between 300 USD to 350 USD. This price is already a better deal than a physical ground school.

So who is the winner?

There are a few online courses that have all the factors present in them. My favorite online pilot ground school courses are:

1. Rod Machado’s eLearning;
2. Kings School;
3. FLY8MA PPL premium.

King’s school is an amazing course. The instructor is a veteran pilot. However, King School has the second spot because many of their videos are old and looks outdated.

On the contrary, Rod Machado is equally knowledgable like Jon king, and the eLearning course he offers is a lot more upgraded.

Finally, you will have to decide and pick a course that suits your needs.

Is an online pilot training ground school costly?

The truth is online pilot lessons are cheaper than taking ground school with a flight instructor.

Online pilot lessons are cheaper for the fact you have to neither pay for a flight instructor nor the flight school classroom.

You can take the pilot lessons from your preferred place at any time just by using an internet connection and your smartphone.

Generally speaking, any kind of online schooling is a lot cheaper than going to a real school.

Hence, there are tons of poor quality online training programs available today at a cheaper rate.

You can easily be scammed by purchasing a poor online pilot lessons program and never get a refund.

Therefore, before someone scam you, use your judgment to identify a legit course with 5-star reviews.

How much is private pilot ground school?

Every school has their own hourly rate.

However, the cost of private pilot ground school is very inexpensive compared to the actual flight training.

For ground school training you don’t count money for renting an aircraft, neither for fuel.

The ground instructor’s hourly rate is very reasonable.

So the cost of private pilot ground school might be as less as 15 USD per hour.

The flight schools may try to charge more money by compelling you to take more hours of pilot lessons in the ground.

Most of the time that is not necessary but it is just a technique for flight school scams.

It is the 21st century, and most people have the world in their palm.

There are online pilot courses available for the convenience of student pilots.

Why do I believe online pilot training is convenient?

Because you can study from the comfort of your room.

You can study at your own pace.

If you are free at midnight and want to take your pilot lessons, you can simply log in to your online pilot ground school course.

Once logged in you can study as long as you want.

However, do not sprint through the full course.

Aeronautical knowledge is overwhelming in the beginning and talking about different stages of flying can be confusing.

Student pilots worry about endorsements and which endorsements student pilots need to apply for a private pilot license.

I made a list of various endorsements required for private pilot license applications.

The FAA knowledge test endorsement is all everyone talks about, but that is the last thing you must be concerned about.

(you will not have to concern about FAA knowledge test endorsement if you follow the instructions in this article.)

What is an endorsement?

Flight instructors are authorized by FAA to certify student pilots with an endorsement.

An endorsement is a proof that a student pilot is eligible for doing certain tasks during flight training.

The flight instructors either sign off certificates or they endorse in the logbook about certain events that a student pilot is ready to take.

First, I want to discuss the private pilot knowledge test endorsement.

What is Private pilot knowledge test endorsement?

Private pilot knowledge test endorsement is permission from a flight instructor, which guarantees that an individual is ready for the FAA private pilot knowledge test.

A student pilot can take the FAA knowledge test anytime after they finish PPL ground school.

After you complete your ground school and pass all the tests, your flight instructor will endorse you for the knowledge test.

Regardless of online pilot ground school or actual classroom, you can get a private pilot knowledge test endorsement. 

Typically student pilots complete the FAA knowledge test before fulfilling the 40 hours requirement.

Before undergoing adequate flight experience, student pilots struggle to acquire essential knowledge for the ppl knowledge test.

Thus, it’s crucial for student pilots to self-study for PPL.

The FAA doesn’t need a private pilot license applicants to complete ground school, but they require the applicants to have an endorsement.

A flight instructor will endorse you if they believe you are ready for the private pilot knowledge test.

Hence, it is best to purchase an online pilot course and self-study for the PPL knowledge test ahead of time.

RELATED: How to study for the private pilot written exam?

Today, there is no necessity of enrolling in a conventional ground school. Everything is available online.

Online ground school courses have tests and numerous resources available, such as Books, Tools, Simulators, and Mock tests to give you a feel of the actual exam.

After you complete the online ground school, you will get an endorsement too.

What other endorsements student pilots need to become a safer pilot?

Each stage of flying will develop you to be a better pilot. Endorsements are like a certification for each stage and a proof that you are ready to step to the next level.

There are multiple endorsements that you will succeed before you apply for a private pilot license.

Pass your flight instructor’s expectation, and the flight instructor will endorse you.

Stage 1: Pre-solo endorsement.

Pre-solo endorsement proves that you are ready to go for your first solo flight.

Once a flight instructor thinks you are ready for the first solo, you will get your pre-solo endorsement.

Stage 2: First solo endorsement.

This stage comes after Stage 1. After you practice countless takeoffs and landings, your flight instructor will release you for your first solo flight, depending on your performance.

Having pre-solo endorsement doesn’t mean you can have solo flights.
Prove yourself in actual flight, and then you can get your first solo flight followed by your First solo endorsement.

Stage 3: Solo flight to another airport within 25 nautical miles.

After your first solo flight, comes stage 3. Likely, by now, you went to a different airport within 25 nautical miles, a couple of times accompanied by your flight instructor.

After a couple of flights, your flight instructor will endorse you for a solo flight to a different airport within 25 nautical miles.

Stage 4: Solo cross country endorsements.

Now that you are used to flying to new destinations, your flight instructor will endorse you for long cross country flights.

Endorsement fora a long cross country flight means now you can fly to airports within 150 nautical miles radius.

This endorsement might come after having at least one flight within 150 nautical miles with your flight instructor.

If your flight instructor doesn’t trust you for a solo cross country flight they will not endorse for solo cross country.

Therefore, you have to work hard to prove yourself.

Acing the FAA private pilot written exam is easy for student pilots, if they follow a step by step guide.

I passed my PPL exam with over 90% score and I followed these exact steps.

I shared the two books I consider adequate for passing the FAA knowledge test. Similarly, an essential online course that will prepare student pilots for any kind of questions in the written exam.

If passing the test is your only concern: Then all you need is the Gleims Test prep.

Nevertheless, if you intend to be a competent pilot and fly safely with your family and friends: You need a combination of an online pilot ground school course with a couple of books.

I divided the article into several sections:

1. Books that you need to familiarize with the FAA questionnaire;
2. Online ground school course to prepare for all types of questions;
3. A Step by Step guide to follow and study for the exam;
4. Tips on taking the exam for better chances of scoring high.

The only books you need to study for the private pilot written exam.

Anyone training for a private pilot license knows about Jeppesen private pilot manual.

Without a doubt, this book is excellent for learning the fundamentals of flying.

Thus, most of us don’t know about the Private Pilot handbook by Rod Machado.

Purchasing any one of these books is great for student pilots. So which book will you buy?

• Aeronautical subjects are overwhelming in the beginning, and learning from a book like Jeppesen can be difficult;
• Rod Machado’s private pilot handbook is written in an understandable and transparent language.

There is another book crucial to study for the FAA private pilot written exam:

No one can memorize a whole book but they can grasp the facts. Either you read the Jeppesen private pilot manual or Rod Machado’s private pilot handbook, you will need the Gleim’s test prep to familiarize yourself with the type questions FAA will throw at your written exam.

Use this book to practice answering questions that you will see in your FAA knowledge test.

You will not find the same questions and answers today, but you will pass the exam.

As a student pilot:

I memorized all the questions and answers from the Gleim’s test prep and passed the exam with 90%+ marks.

Fortunately, during my private pilot written test, I had the same questions from the Gleim’s Test prep and the same answers to select.

Today it’s more competitive and to test a pilot’s aeronautical knowledge, FAA modifies the questionnaire.

The questions are relevant to what you studied in Geim’s test prep and some questions are just fresh.

Failure to understand a topic, you may fail your private pilot knowledge test.

Therefore, to understand and master aeronautical subjects, online pilot courses are essential.

Which online course to pick?

Physical ground school is not a requirement for the private pilot knowledge test.

Hence, online ground school is a better option to prepare for the FAA private pilot knowledge test.

My preferred online pilot course is:

Why do I suggest Rod Machado’s online course for student pilots?

Memorizing all the questions using the Gleim’s test prep will help you pass the exam. Yet understanding the subject in depth will make all the difference.

If you understand each subject precisely, you will be ready for the unknown.

Similarly, you will be a competent and safer pilot.

And that is exactly what Rod Machado’s eLearning will do for you.

This eLearning course with Rod Machado’s PPL handbook and Gleim’s test prep is a powerful combination to pass the FAA knowledge test with ease.

RELATED: Online ground school vs. Classroom.

Step by Step guide to study for the private pilot written exam.

Most important is to set a deadline. Select a date on which you will take your FAA private pilot knowledge test.

The best practice is to set a date for three months from now.

Two months is adequate for any student pilot to prepare for the private pilot knowledge test.

The steps described in this article is not only to pass your exams with a 70% mark. Follow the instructions, and you will pass the exam with a 90%+ mark.

STEP 1: Buy only the books necessary.

The common mistake of student pilots is they buy many unnecessary books. Student pilots deem they have to study a lot to pass the FAA private pilot knowledge test.

And most of the time they buy books that they never read.

So only purchase these two books:

• Rod Machado’s Private pilot handbook;
• Gleim’s private pilot test prep.

STEP 2: Make a routine.

The routine must be like this:

• Study for 2.5 hours each day;
• Use an hour to memorize at least 20 question and answer from Gleims’s test prep;
• Another hour to read the Rod Machado’s Handbook;
• Watch 30 minutes of Rod Machado’s eLearning every day.

This system is just an example. You can make your routine which you think is suitable.

Gleim’s test prep is designed for student pilots to practice in MCQ style. The reason for an answer being correct is also explained next to the questions.

In case, you want to study in-depth about any topic, refer to Rod Machado’s handbook for better understanding.

STEP 3: Watch the eLearning course and use the tools for practice.

The purpose of an online ground school is to prepare you for everything.

Take your time and watch the online ground school course at your own pace.

Buy the online course by Rod Machado before buying your books. Online courses come with multiple available resources and you will get the Rod Machado’s private pilot eHandbook for FREE.

Likewise, the online course by Rod Machado comes with a practice test after each chapter. That will allow student pilots to take mock tests.

Pass all the exams and you will be eligible for an endorsement to take the FAA knowledge test.

Once you get your endorsement, you can schedule a date for taking the test in the FAA.

Tips for taking the written exam.

The FAA private pilot written exam is not different from any other exam.

However, it’s common to see private pilot trainees of all ages and many of them are taking exam after years.

Thus following these tips is crucial for student pilots of all ages:

• Remember that the FAA private pilot knowledge test has 60 multiple-choice questions;
• Each question has three choices;
• The duration of the exam is 2.5 hours, and you have 2.5 minutes to answer each question correctly.

Prepare well for the exam and be smart while taking the exam.

If you followed the steps I describe in this article, you will indeed find many familiar questions in the FAA knowledge test.

1. Don’t spend time on the questions you can’t answer;
2. Finish answering the questions that you find easy;
3. Then come back to the difficult questions.

To answer the questions you know, will consume less time. You will have extra time to think and answer the difficult ones.

Follow my instructions, and you will find no questions difficult. Even for the most unfamiliar question, you can analyze and answer.

Typically, out of three questions, there is always one choice that you can immediately eliminate.

Eliminate the most obvious wrong choice, and you will be left with two choices.

Conclusion:

You may wonder: Why do you need to pass the exam with a better score?

Once a student pilot passes the FAA private pilot written exam with excellent scores, the check ride becomes easier for the pilot.

There are two reasons for that:

1. You have adequate knowledge on aeronautical subjects, and can answer check pilot’s question quickly;
2. Likewise, when the check pilot sees your excellent score in the written exam, they avoid asking too many questions.

If you follow all the instructions in this guide, you will not only ace your written exam but you will be overall a better pilot.

I will help student pilots remove all their confusion on online ground school vs. classroom.

You will know in which aspects online ground school is better than a physical classroom.

I pointed out various reasons: Why online ground schools are better than physical ground school?

First, understand these:

• The FAA doesn’t require student pilots to take physical ground school for a private pilot license knowledge test.
• Student pilots require only an endorsement from a certified flight instructor to take the exam.

The endorsement is a proof that a student pilot is knowledgable and ready to take the PPL knowledge test.

Do online ground schools have authorization from FAA?

Online ground schools are legit.

However, online ground schools don’t need authorization, the flight instructors need. Only FAA certified flight instructors can endorse you for a knowledge test after you complete the course.

So what are the main differences?

The central difference between an online ground school and a physical ground school is you don’t have the opportunity for group studying, online.

In the traditional classroom setup, you can discuss with your classmates of problems and some students just need discussion to remember multiple subjects.

But taking an online ground school, you are on your own with a lifetime access to the course.

That is beneficial for many student pilots.

• You can pause, play and rewind through various videos at your own pace;
• Multiple resources available, and practice tests will aid determine your progress;
• Fail a mock test, and retake the exam, to clarify a subject.

Unlike conventional ground school, student pilots in online ground school can repeat these tasks every time they need to.

Likewise, different kinds of online ground school courses are available to fit students need.

• Some are designed in a conventional whiteboard style training;
• Others are a blend of animation with a whiteboard explanation.
• Some instructors focus on teaching in a real-life environment.

Why did I say online ground schools are legit?

FAA certified flight instructors create online ground school courses and can give you an endorsement for a private pilot license exam.

Like I mentioned earlier to take an exam all you need is an endorsement.

You need to study adequately before requesting for an endorsement. Without passing the practice tests in the online course, your CFI won’t sign your endorsement.

After you pass all the practice tests with at least a 70% score, the instructor will know you are ready to take the exam.

Some online ground school promises a full refund of your money if you don’t pass the exam during your first take.

That true is:

Online ground school instructors are confident enough before signing you off an endorsement.

If you don’t understand a subject, yet decide to sit for the FAA knowledge test and fail, no flight school will give you a refund.

Perhaps this is a solid technique for online ground school owners to attract more student pilots to their courses.

Regardless, in the end, all that matters is how good are you at absorbing knowledge.

No matter where you take your ground course: Online or in a traditional classroom, ultimately, it all depends on your effort to pass the exam.

Is the online ground school enough to pass the PPL exam?

Once you complete the online ground course, and pass all the exams, the online ground school instructor has to endorse you so that you can take the PPl exam.

Most online ground school promises about endorsing you and that is true.

So if you take the course alone and pass the exam you are ready to take the exam with your endorsement.

Typically ground school will ask for a little charge to sign you off.

However, the cost of an online ground school is a lot reasonable than a physical ground school.

Why online ground schools are cheaper than physical classroom course?

To answer this question you must realize that maintaining a flight school is very expensive. There are many other costs in a flight school other than renting a hangar.

Having a classroom and teaching students in a conventional setup is costly.

To cover all the cost flight school owners prepare PART 161 packages for flight training.

In that, the ground school is also included.

To make a profit flight schools certainly have to design a complete course where the cost of ground school is structured and designed to make it look like a necessity.

On the contrary, online ground school operate online, mostly using a team of flight instructors through online platforms.

Online ground school owners only have to pay one time cost to create all the essential content for students.

A team of certified flight instructors, frequently update the contents to keep it most relevant according to the time and FAA requirements.

Any student pilot purchasing an online ground school will have access to the content and resources from the comfort of their room.

Online ground school owners don’t have to rent a hangar or any kind of physical classroom.

The cheaper price for online ground school seems like a red flag for many student pilots.

There are quite a few online ground school that are excellent and have good reviews.

RELATED: Best online pilot ground school courses.

It is always wise to choose an online ground school because whatever you will learn in a flight school classroom, you can learn the same thing in an online ground school.

Especially, if you are going to take your PPL exam, then I suggest purchasing an online ground school is better than physical classroom courses.

Lastly, the FAA doesn’t require student pilots to have proof of physical ground school or online ground school.

All they want is an endorsement from a certified flight instructor which you can get from an online ground school, at lesser expenses.

Bigger benefits for students who like to group study.

There are different kinds of student pilots:

• Some like to study independently;
• Some like to enroll in a flight school conventional classroom course;
• Others prefer online ground school.

All kinds of student pilots can take the private pilot license exam as long as they have an endorsement for taking the exam.

I can’t tell much about the independent student pilots, but one thing I can assure that they like to study at their own pace and doesn’t require help from others.

Student pilots that intend to study in a group discussion or like to brainstorm to understand a topic better, it is best for them to enroll in a physical ground school.

But those taking the online ground school also have similar opportunities.

If you are having any kind of trouble understanding a topic then you can post your question in the discussion forum within the course.

There are hundreds if not thousands of other student pilots in an online course forum. They will reply to you and you can discuss about your difficulties.

Likewise, the online ground school flight instructors regularly check the forum and answer the student pilots questions.

And instructors will suggest you which section of the video tutorial discusses the specific topic so that you can go back and re-watch the video.

How expert are the online ground school flight instructors?

Well, many student pilots have concerns about the flight instructors in online ground school.

No one wants to buy a course from inexperienced flight instructors.

Most popular online ground school instructors are veteran flight instructors.

The instructors in online ground school may be more experienced than your average flight instructor in your flight school.

But there are several online ground school training and not all the instructors are veterans.

For example, think of King School’s online ground course.

• King School is instructing and training pilots for the last 40 years.
• Their online ground school has excellent reviews from decades ago.

Likewise, the ground school training by Rod Machado.

• Rod Machado is a pilot and a flight instructor with over 30 years of experience.

RELATED: Best online pilot courses review.

Imagine learning from such an experienced flight instructor at your convenience.

Conclusion:

Every student pilot has their studying style. You have to choose a course that is most suitable for you and the language is understandable.

Regardless, of physical classroom or online ground school, it is ultimately your effort that will help you to become a better pilot and acquire your private pilot license.

Certified flight instructors can guide you and show you what to study but they can’t spoon feed you all the knowledge.

Different online courses are designed to suit different students taste.

You can purchase an online ground course and if you think it is not the right one for you can ask for a refund vs. in the flight school classroom, you cannot ask for a refund if you don’t like the instructor’s teaching style.

Both online ground school and physical classroom have their pros and cons but I believe, the online ground school has more pros versus a physical classroom.

Go here to read the reviews of online pilot courses I think is best for Student pilots to prepare for the private pilot license knowledge test.