This page is for aviation maintenance candidates preparing for the FAA Aircraft and Powerplant knowledge tests. It lists the test format, scoring, retake and timing rules from official sources, then links to free practice sets by topic, with worked answers and a study plan. The questions are written by us with AI tools and are not real exam questions.
Numbers in brackets link to the official sources listed under Sources & last verified. Dates that have passed are removed automatically.
| Item | Detail | Source · Verified |
|---|---|---|
| Number of questions (Airframe (AMA) knowledge test) | 100 questions[1] | Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), U.S. Department of Transportation · Oct 22, 2026 |
| Number of questions (General (AMG) knowledge test) | 60 questions[1] | Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), U.S. Department of Transportation · Oct 22, 2026 |
| Number of questions (Powerplant (AMP) knowledge test) | 100 questions[1] | Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), U.S. Department of Transportation · Oct 22, 2026 |
| Time limit | 2 hours per knowledge test[1] | Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), U.S. Department of Transportation · Oct 22, 2026 |
| Passing score | 70% on each knowledge test[2] | Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), U.S. Department of Transportation · Oct 22, 2026 |
| Retake policy | Wait 30 days, or retest sooner with a signed instructor statement[2] | Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), U.S. Department of Transportation · Oct 22, 2026 |
| Validity | Valid until surrendered, suspended or revoked (no expiration)[2] | Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), U.S. Department of Transportation · Oct 22, 2026 |
| Renewal | No renewal required[3] | ecfr.gov · Oct 25, 2026 |
| Delivery | Computer-based knowledge tests at PSI test centers; oral & practical tests with an FAA Designated Mechanic Examiner[4] | psiexams.com · Oct 22, 2026 |
| Testing window | All required tests must be passed within 24 months[5] | ecfr.gov · Oct 22, 2026 |
According to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), U.S. Department of Transportation, “AMA Aviation Maintenance Technician Airframe 100 N/A 2.0 70”[1]
The A&P certificate is issued by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), U.S. Department of Transportation. It covers the General, Airframe and Powerplant areas of aviation maintenance. Candidates sit computer-based knowledge tests at PSI test centers, then complete oral and practical tests with an FAA Designated Mechanic Examiner.
The General test (AMG) has 60 questions. The Airframe test (AMA) and the Powerplant test (AMP) each have 100 questions. Every knowledge test allows 2 hours, and the passing score is 70% on each one.
If you fail any part of the knowledge or oral and practical tests, you may apply for retesting after 30 days. You can retest sooner if you present a signed instructor statement. All required tests must be passed within 24 months.
Once issued, the certificate has no renewal requirement. It stays valid until it is surrendered, suspended or revoked.
Eligibility rules, such as training or experience, and current fees are not covered here. Check the FAA mechanic certification page and the federal regulations on mechanic certification, and confirm scheduling details with PSI.
The content areas below are copied from the official A&P content outline published by Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), U.S. Department of Transportation. The right-hand column shows which of our practice sets covers it.
| Official content area | Practice on this site |
|---|---|
| General[7] | A&P General Aircraft Maintenance Practices... Practise maintenance practices, regulations, weight and balance, and the documentation that goes with inspection work. |
| Airframe[7] | A&P Airframe Systems & Components Work through structures, sheet metal repair, hydraulic and pneumatic systems, fuel systems and electrical systems. |
| Powerplant[7] | A&P Powerplant Systems & Components Practise reciprocating and turbine engine systems, propellers, induction and turbocharging, and overhaul concepts. |
Prepare for the A&P - Aircraft and Powerplant Certification exam with our free practice test modules. Each quiz covers key topics to help you pass on your first try.
These are practice questions written for this site, not questions from the real exam. Each explanation shows why the right answer is right and why the others are wrong.
Question: What is the purpose of the turbocharger in an aircraft engine?
Answer: B. To compress intake air for better performance at altitude
Explanation:
The correct answer is that a turbocharger compresses intake air for better performance at altitude. Exhaust gas spins a turbine, the turbine drives a compressor, and the compressor raises the pressure and density of the air going into the cylinders. Thin air at altitude then does not cost the engine as much power.
Reducing engine noise is not its job. Filtering exhaust gases describes a different function, since a turbocharger uses the exhaust energy rather than cleaning it. Lubricating the propeller has nothing to do with induction air. Rule to remember: a turbocharger is a forced induction device that uses exhaust energy to restore intake air density.
Question: Which of the following is defined as the weight of the airframe, engines, all permanently installed equipment, and unusable fuel? It does not include the crew, passengers, or usable fuel.
Answer: C. Standard empty weight
Explanation:
Standard empty weight is correct. It includes the airframe, engines, permanently installed equipment and unusable fuel, and it also counts hydraulic fluid and full engine oil. Crew, passengers and usable fuel are left out.
Licensed empty weight is close but wrong, because it counts only undrainable oil rather than full oil. Useful load is the weight of the pilot, passengers, baggage and usable fuel, so it sits on the other side of the ledger. Maximum takeoff weight is a limit for the start of the takeoff run, not a description of what the empty aircraft weighs. Rule to remember: empty weight terms differ in what fluids they include, and useful load is whatever the aircraft can carry beyond empty weight.
Question: What is the function of a hydraulic fuse in an aircraft system?
Answer: A. Automatically shut off fluid flow if flow rate exceeds a preset limit due to a line break
Explanation:
A hydraulic fuse automatically shuts off fluid flow when the flow rate goes above a preset limit, which usually means a line has broken. That protects the rest of the system from losing all its fluid through one rupture.
Filtering large particles is the work of a filter, not a fuse. Maintaining constant system pressure is done by a pressure regulator or relief valve. Preventing backward flow is the job of a check valve. Rule to remember: match each hydraulic component to the problem it solves. A fuse reacts to excessive flow, a regulator to pressure, a check valve to flow direction and a filter to contamination.
Start with the FAA material for the test you are about to take, so you know what each area covers. Then use the practice sets to find weak spots rather than to collect scores.
Keep in mind the 24 month window for passing all required tests when you plan the order of your tests.
The General test (AMG) has 60 questions. The Airframe test (AMA) and the Powerplant test (AMP) each have 100 questions. Each knowledge test gives you 2 hours. The FAA testing matrix lists these figures, so check it before you schedule in case anything has changed.
You need 70% or greater on each knowledge test. After you have passed the knowledge tests, you make an appointment with a Designated Mechanic Examiner for the oral and practical tests. The FAA mechanic certification page describes this sequence.
If you fail any part of the knowledge or oral and practical tests, you may apply for retesting 30 days after the date you failed. You may apply sooner if you present a signed statement from an instructor. The FAA mechanic page gives the exact wording of this rule.
No, but all the required tests must be passed within 24 months. The federal regulations on mechanic certification set that period. Plan your testing order so the last test falls inside the window, and check the regulation or the FAA if your situation is unusual.
No renewal is required. The FAA says the certificate is valid until it is surrendered, suspended or revoked, and the federal regulations say the same. This is different from many other credentials, so you do not need a renewal cycle once you hold the certificate.
No. The questions and explanations on this page were written by us with AI tools and are not taken from the real tests. They are meant to help you practise the topics and find gaps. Use the FAA handbooks and your training as your main source.
How we verify: editorial & fact-checking policy. Report an error: contact us.