GPC Practice Test

This page is for candidates preparing for the FAA Private Pilot Glider knowledge test. Practice Test Geeks uses GPC as its page label and provides free practice sets covering navigation, glider operations, weather, and emergency procedures. Use the topic map, worked explanations, and study plan to identify gaps in your understanding. Our practice content is written with AI tools; these are practice questions, not real FAA exam questions.

GPC Exam at a Glance

What the GPC is and how it works

According to Federal Aviation Administration, “PGL 056 Private Pilot Glider 60 14 2.5”^[1]

The FAA Private Pilot Glider knowledge test is part of the certification process. Passing the required knowledge test is an eligibility requirement; it does not by itself establish that you have met every requirement for a glider rating. The FAA testing material identifies this knowledge test as PGL.

The test is computer-based and delivered at authorized testing centers. It contains 60 questions, and the passing score is 70%. You receive an Airman Knowledge Test Report upon completion. Keep that report available when planning the next steps in your application.

The supplied eligibility requirements include being at least 16 years of age for a glider rating and being able to read, speak, write, and understand English. The certificate age requirement should not be treated as a statement about every stage of training. Consult the official electronic Code of Federal Regulations eligibility provision for the full requirements.

PSI lists a fee of $175.00 per voucher, plus applicable tax, so the total payment can vary with tax. Check PSI's FAA Testing Programs page before purchasing. The required knowledge test must fall within the 24-calendar-month period preceding the month you finish the practical test. Consult the official electronic Code of Federal Regulations practical-test prerequisites when planning that timing. Retake conditions are not established by the verified facts provided here; check current FAA guidance before arranging another attempt.

GPC content outline and where to practise each area

The content areas below are copied from the official GPC content outline published by Federal Aviation Administration. The right-hand column shows which of our practice sets covers it.

Worked examples: how to reason through GPC questions

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.

Example 1

Question: During a winch launch, the cable breaks at an altitude of 300 feet. There is insufficient runway remaining to land straight ahead, but the wind is calm. What is the correct recovery procedure?

1. Pull up to trade speed for altitude before turning back.
2. Immediately initiate a steep 180-degree turn to land downwind.
3. Push the stick forward to establish a safe airspeed, then perform a modified, abbreviated circuit to land into the wind.
4. Deploy full airbrakes and perform a stall to land with minimal forward speed.

Answer: C. Push the stick forward to establish a safe airspeed, then perform a modified, abbreviated circuit to land into the wind.

Explanation:

C has the correct initial action, but its landing instruction is too definite. Lowering the nose to regain safe airspeed addresses the immediate loss of launch energy. A shortened circuit depends on the glider, site, available height, and landing options; 300 feet alone does not establish that it is safe. Calm wind also makes the instruction to land into wind unhelpful. A is wrong because pulling up further reduces airspeed. B prescribes a steep turn before establishing safe flight and assessing options. D deliberately calls for a stall, sacrificing control. Remember the principle: establish safe airspeed, then use the applicable launch-failure procedure and available landing options. This question needs revision before use as a scored item. See the FAA Glider Flying Handbook.

Example 2

Question: If the static port on a glider becomes blocked during flight, how will the altimeter and airspeed indicator be affected?

1. The altimeter will be unaffected, but the airspeed indicator will read zero.
2. The altimeter will freeze at the altitude where the blockage occurred, and the airspeed indicator will be inaccurate.
3. Both instruments will read zero.
4. The altimeter will indicate a continuous climb, and the airspeed indicator will read higher than actual.

Answer: B. The altimeter will freeze at the altitude where the blockage occurred, and the airspeed indicator will be inaccurate.

Explanation:

B is correct: trapped static pressure prevents the altimeter from responding normally to altitude changes and makes the airspeed indication inaccurate. The existing explanation reverses the airspeed errors: with the pitot source functioning, a blocked static source causes underreading in a climb and overreading in a descent relative to the blockage altitude. A is wrong because the altimeter is affected and the airspeed indicator does not necessarily read zero. C is wrong because trapped pressure does not make both instruments read zero. D is wrong because the altimeter does not indicate a continuous climb. Remember to distinguish a static-source blockage from a pitot blockage; they produce different indications. See the FAA flight instruments chapter.

Example 3

Question: Under the Canadian Aviation Regulations (CARs), what is the minimum age requirement to be issued a Pilot Licence - Glider?

1. 14 years old
2. 18 years old
3. 16 years old
4. 15 years old

Answer: C. 16 years old

Explanation:

The supplied answer key selects C, but this question concerns Canadian licensing. It should be excluded from an FAA-focused scored practice set until its Canadian rule and terminology have been checked against the relevant official source. The verified FAA fact is that an applicant must be at least 16 years of age for a glider rating. That does not establish the answer to a question expressly asking about Canadian Aviation Regulations. A, B, and D differ from the supplied key, but the FAA evidence cannot explain why they are wrong under Canadian law. The rule to remember is to identify the licensing authority and the specific credential before applying an age requirement; matching ages do not make different licensing systems interchangeable.

How to use these practice tests

Start with the GPC practice test to find topics that need attention. For each uncertain answer, write down the underlying issue: an unfamiliar term, a misunderstood instrument, a missed condition, or a regulation you need to check. Treat correct guesses as review items too.

Choose a linked topic set from the content map. After answering, explain why your choice fits the question and why the alternatives do not. Compare the explanation with the relevant FAA handbook material or regulation. If a question gives a fixed emergency response without enough context, flag it for review instead of memorizing it. Keep Canadian licensing material separate from FAA preparation.

Return to missed topics after reviewing the source, and check whether you can explain the principle without relying on remembered wording. Include postflight procedures in your reading because this page has no dedicated set mapped to that area.

Before test day, check the FAA's current testing guidance and PSI's booking instructions. Confirm the test you are scheduling, the voucher cost including applicable tax, and how your knowledge-test timing fits your planned practical test.

Sources & last verified

1. Federal Aviation Administration — number of questions, delivery (official source). “PGL 056 Private Pilot Glider 60 14 2.5” Verified Oct 26, 2026.
2. psiexams.com — exam fee (official source). “$175.00 per voucher (plus applicable tax)” Verified Oct 26, 2026 · source checked Oct 26, 2026.
3. Federal Aviation Administration — passing score (official source). “PGL Private Pilot Glider 60 14 2.5 70” Verified Oct 26, 2026.
4. ecfr.gov — validity (official source). “Pass the required knowledge test: (i) Within the 24-calendar-month period preceding the month the applicant completes the practical test, if a knowledge test is required;” Verified Oct 26, 2026.
5. ecfr.gov — eligibility (official source). “Pass the required knowledge test on the aeronautical knowledge areas listed in § 61.105(b) of this part.” Verified Oct 26, 2026.
6. Federal Aviation Administration — score release (official source). “You will be given an AKTR (score report) upon completing your airman knowledge test.” Verified Oct 26, 2026.
7. Federal Aviation Administration — other (official source). “airport and gliderport operations” Verified Oct 27, 2026.

How we verify: editorial & fact-checking policy. Report an error: contact us.