Do I need ATP-CTP before taking the ATP written test?

Yes, for the multiengine ATM version. Per FAR 61.156, you must complete the Airline Transport Pilot Certification Training Program — 30 hours of ground and 10 hours of simulator — before you can sit for the ATM knowledge test. The single-pilot ATA test does not require ATP-CTP. PSI will not seat you for the ATM test without the original graduation certificate, so plan ATP-CTP enrollment before scheduling your written.

What is the passing score on the ATP written test?

You need 70% to pass, the same as every other FAA pilot knowledge test. The exam has 125 multiple-choice questions and a 4-hour time limit. You can miss up to 37 questions and still pass. Scores are reported immediately after the test, and you'll receive a knowledge test report listing any subject area codes you missed — your DPE will review those areas during the practical exam.

How long is the ATP written test valid?

The knowledge test report is valid for 24 calendar months from the date of the test under FAR 61.39. You must complete your ATP practical exam within that window or retake the written. Most candidates complete the practical within 30-90 days of the written, but if you're awaiting hours under the 1,500-hour rule, plan your written timing carefully — taking it too early can mean retaking it.

How much does the ATP written test cost?

The PSI test fee is approximately $175 as of 2024. ATP-CTP, which is required before the ATM test, runs $3,500-$5,500 depending on the provider and whether your future employer covers it. Many regional airlines reimburse or front the ATP-CTP cost as part of their hiring agreement. Total out-of-pocket for a self-pay candidate, including study materials, typically lands between $4,000 and $6,000.

What's the difference between the ATM and ATA knowledge tests?

ATM (Airline Transport Multiengine) is the test for pilots seeking an ATP with a multiengine airplane rating — the standard path to the regionals. ATA (Airline Transport Airplane) is for the single-pilot ATP, often used by corporate and Part 135 single-pilot operators. ATM requires ATP-CTP completion under FAR 61.156; ATA does not. Both have 125 questions, a 4-hour limit, and a 70% passing standard.

How many hours do I need before I can take the ATP written?

You don't need any specific flight hours to take the knowledge test itself — but you do need to complete ATP-CTP for the ATM. The 1,500-hour requirement (or 1,000/1,250 for restricted ATP) applies to the certificate issuance under FAR 61.159, not the written. Many pilots take the ATP written well before reaching 1,500 hours, then complete the practical once they hit minimums.

Can I take the ATP written test if I have a Restricted ATP?

Yes. The R-ATP path under FAR 61.160 has reduced hour minimums (1,000-1,250 hours depending on military or aviation degree credentials), but the knowledge test requirements are identical. You still need to complete ATP-CTP, take the ATM written, and pass with 70%. The age minimum drops from 23 to 21 for R-ATP, but everything else about the exam is the same.

What study materials should I use for the ATP written?

Start with the FAA's ATP Airman Certification Standards and the Airplane Flying Handbook. Add the Instrument Procedures Handbook and AC 61-138 for ATP-CTP topics. For drill, use a question bank that pulls from the current FAA test pool and cites the source FAR — old PDFs from 2018 will not cover current Part 117 changes or UPRT additions. Plan 40-60 hours of study beyond ATP-CTP.

ATP Written Test: Complete 2024 Study Guide

The ATP written test (officially the Airline Transport Pilot Knowledge Test) is the gateway exam to the highest pilot certificate the FAA issues. There are two versions — ATM (Airline Transport Multiengine) for crew-required airline operations and ATA (Airline Transport Airplane) for the single-pilot ATP. This guide covers everything you need to walk into PSI with a passing score on the first try.

What the ATP Written Test Actually Covers

The ATP knowledge test is a 125-question multiple-choice exam administered at PSI testing centers. You have 4 hours to complete it, and the passing score is 70%. Unlike the Private or Commercial written, the ATP is heavy on operational, regulatory, and aerodynamic knowledge that mirrors the day-to-day decision-making of a Part 121 crewmember.

The test is built from the FAA's ATP Airman Certification Standards and pulls questions across these domains:

Regulations — Parts 61, 91, 117, 121, 125, 135
Meteorology and weather services — including high-altitude weather, turbulence, icing, thunderstorms
Aerodynamics — high-altitude, swept-wing, transonic flight, Mach effects
Aircraft systems — turbine engines, pressurization, hydraulics, anti-ice
Performance — V-speeds, runway analysis, takeoff/landing performance, weight and balance
Navigation — ETPs, flight planning, oceanic procedures, RVSM
Crew Resource Management (CRM) and threat & error management
Stalls, upset prevention and recovery (UPRT)
Wake turbulence, low-energy states, and automation management

Eligibility Requirements

Under FAR 61.153, to be eligible for the ATP certificate (and therefore to take the practical), you must:

Be at least 23 years old (21 for the Restricted ATP)
Read, speak, write, and understand English
Hold a Commercial Pilot certificate with an instrument rating, or a foreign equivalent
Be of good moral character
Meet aeronautical experience requirements of FAR 61.159 (airplane category)
Complete the ATP-CTP course before taking the knowledge test

The ATP-CTP Prerequisite

This is the single biggest gotcha for self-study candidates. Per FAR 61.156, you cannot take the ATP knowledge test until you've completed the Airline Transport Pilot Certification Training Program (ATP-CTP). This rule went into effect August 1, 2014.

ATP-CTP requires:

30 hours of academic ground training
10 hours of flight simulation training (6 hours in a Level C or higher full flight simulator, plus 4 hours in a flight training device)
A graduation certificate from an authorized provider

The graduation certificate is what unlocks the test. PSI will not seat you without it.

ATP Written Test At-a-Glance

Item	ATM (Multi)	ATA (Single-Pilot)
Questions	125	125
Time allowed	4 hours	4 hours
Passing score	70%	70%
Cost (PSI)	~$175	~$175
ATP-CTP required?	Yes	No
Validity of test results	24 calendar months	24 calendar months
Typical use case	121/135 crew ops	Single-pilot 135, corporate

Note: ATP-CTP is only required for the multiengine ATM test under FAR 61.156. The single-pilot ATA does not require ATP-CTP, but most candidates take ATM because that's what the regional airlines hire for.

How Hard Is the ATP Written?

The FAA national pass rate for the ATP knowledge test hovers around 90% — but that's misleading. The high pass rate reflects who's taking it: candidates with 1,500+ hours, an ATP-CTP graduation certificate in hand, and usually airline-funded prep. If you walk in cold, expect a fight.

The questions themselves are harder than the Commercial in three ways:

Performance charts dominate. Expect multi-step problems involving runway analysis, climb gradient requirements, and weight-balance computations. A single question can take 4-5 minutes.
Regulations are layered. You need to know not just Part 91, but how Part 117 (flight and duty limits) and Part 121 (operating requirements) interact.
Conceptual depth in aerodynamics. Mach tuck, coffin corner, Dutch roll, swept-wing stall behavior — these get tested with scenario-based questions, not definition recall.

A Study Plan That Actually Works

Most candidates pass after 40-60 hours of dedicated study beyond ATP-CTP. Here's a sequence that works:

Weeks 1-2: Foundation

Re-read the ATP ACS cover-to-cover (yes, all of it)
Knock out the regulations: Parts 61, 91, 117, 121
Build flashcards on V-speeds, ICAO flight plan codes, oceanic procedures

Weeks 3-4: Performance and Weather

Drill takeoff and landing performance problems until they're automatic
Master high-altitude weather: jet streams, CAT, turbulence reporting
Work every weather chart and PIREP question in the bank

Weeks 5-6: Aerodynamics and Systems

High-altitude aerodynamics, including coffin corner and Mach effects
Turbine engine theory, EPR/N1 management
Pressurization, anti-ice systems, hydraulics

Final week: Full-length practice tests

Take at least three full 125-question simulated exams
Review every missed question against the source FAR or AC
Stop new material 48 hours before test day

Test-Day Logistics

Bring two forms of ID, one with a photo
Bring your ATP-CTP graduation certificate (originals only — PSI will not accept emailed copies)
A non-programmable calculator is allowed; an E6B and plotter are provided or permitted
Scratch paper and pencils are provided
Results print immediately; you'll get a knowledge test report with codes for any missed area code that the DPE will review on the practical

Under FAR 61.39, your knowledge test report is valid for 24 calendar months from the date of the test. If you don't complete the practical in that window, you take the written again.

Common Failure Points

In order of frequency, candidates lose points on:

Climb gradient and obstacle clearance math — confusing feet-per-NM with feet-per-minute
FAR 117 duty time interpretation — augmented vs. unaugmented crew, table A vs. table B
Holding pattern entries with wind correction
High-altitude weather — particularly tropopause behavior and jet stream identification
Wake turbulence avoidance distances behind heavy/super aircraft

How GroundScholar Helps With This

GroundScholar's ATP track is built from the current ACS and the live FAR/AIM. Every question maps to its source citation, so when you miss a Part 117 rest-period question, you see the exact rule — not a paraphrase. The adaptive engine rebuilds your weak-area drill set after every session, which matters when you have 40+ hours of material to compress into evenings and reserve days.

For ATP candidates specifically, the platform also includes a mock oral simulator that runs you through the same scenario chains a DPE will use — high-altitude emergencies, dispatch decisions, and CRM judgment calls. The pass-prediction model tells you when you're actually ready, not just when you've memorized the bank.

Ready to Pass on the First Try?

The ATP is the last written test you'll ever take. Don't grind it out with stale rote-memorization apps that recycle 2015 questions. Practice against current ACS questions, get instant FAR-cited explanations, and walk into PSI knowing your weak areas are closed.

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