When Is the Best Time To Take the Test?

Variable test center availability makes it more challenging.

Tuesday, May 09, 2023 at 10:30 AM ET

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When you take your knowledge exam, you should know how to use a mechanical E6-B because some testing centers will not allow an electronic one. [Credit: Shutterstock]

Key Takeaways:

The current computer-based knowledge test system for pilots is largely monopolized by PSI, whose reduced compensation for third-party centers has significantly decreased test site availability, leading to increased travel and logistical challenges for applicants.
Applicants must meticulously plan for the exam, securing appointments, presenting valid government ID and an instructor endorsement (valid for 60 days), and being prepared for potential administrative issues or disruptions at testing centers.
The article discusses the strategic timing for taking the exam, noting its 24-month validity, and emphasizes rigorous preparation through consistent practice tests (aiming for 90%+) and adherence to specific exam procedures for optimal results.

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Did you take a written test or knowledge exam for your private pilot certification? What is the difference, you ask?

The written test was completed using a pencil on a paper exam form. You wrote in or circled the correct answer on the answer sheet. By the early 1990s, you were using a number 2 pencil to fill in bubbles on an answer sheet. By the late 1990s, the only writing you did when you reported for the test was signing in and out of the testing center—everything else was done on the computer—yet pilots still persist in calling it the ‘written test’.