- You need 70% correct on 100 scored questions to pass the AGI knowledge test.
- The exam allows 2 hours 30 minutes and costs $175 plus tax through PSI.
- FAA 2025 data shows a 97.29% pass rate across 2,694 AGI tests.
- No pilot certificate, medical, or flight hours are required - only the Fundamentals of Instructing test.
The Passing Score You Actually Need
The Advanced Ground Instructor knowledge test requires a score of 70% to pass. Out of 100 scored multiple-choice questions, that means you need at least 70 correct answers. The FAA, through its testing partner PSI, may also insert additional unscored validation questions into the exam, which do not count toward your score but do consume your time. You won't know which questions are scored and which are experimental, so every question deserves your full attention regardless of how it "feels."
This is a fixed, absolute threshold - there's no curve, no adjustment for question difficulty, and no partial credit. Whether you finish with 70 correct or 99 correct, the FAA reports both as "pass." For a deeper look at how difficult that target actually is to hit, see How Hard Is the AGI Exam? Complete Difficulty Guide 2026.
How AGI Scoring Actually Works
Unlike a practical test with a designated pilot examiner grading maneuvers, the AGI exam is entirely computer-scored. You sit for up to 2 hours 30 minutes at a PSI testing center, work through 100 scored questions (plus any unscored validation items), and receive an immediate pass/fail result along with a score report. The report typically flags subject areas where you missed questions, using coded references tied to the knowledge domains rather than telling you exactly which questions you got wrong.
Because the test is multiple-choice and question banks are drawn from a large pool, memorizing specific question-answer pairs from outdated "brain dump" sites is a poor strategy. The FAA periodically revises its question bank, and PSI pulls from current versions. Understanding the underlying regulatory and aerodynamic concepts is what actually protects your score.
Key Takeaway
Treat every subject area equally during prep - the exam doesn't tell you in advance which domains will be tested most heavily on your specific version, so gaps in any one area can quietly erode your 70%.
Domain-by-Domain Weight and Difficulty
The FAA doesn't publish a fixed percentage-per-domain breakdown for AGI, but all 16 knowledge domains are eligible for testing on any given exam. These domains reproduce the commercial pilot knowledge areas found in 14 CFR 61.125(b), with additional material pulled from the knowledge areas referenced in 14 CFR 61.97, 61.105, 61.155, and 61.309. That's a wide net - from basic aerodynamics to lighter-than-air ground training procedures - and a passing score requires reasonable competency across nearly all of it, not mastery of just a few favorite topics.
Domain 1: Applicable Federal Aviation Regulations
Covers commercial pilot privileges, limitations, and flight operations under the FARs. Expect scenario-based questions testing regulatory application, not just rote recall.
- Know which regulations apply to commercial operations specifically, not just private pilot rules
Domain 3: Basic Aerodynamics and Principles of Flight
Tests your grasp of lift, drag, stability, and control surfaces at a level deep enough to teach it, not just recite it.
- Be ready to explain concepts, not just identify definitions
Domain 4: Meteorology
Includes recognition of critical weather situations, windshear recognition and avoidance, and interpretation of aeronautical weather reports and forecasts.
- Practice reading METARs, TAFs, and winds aloft forecasts under time pressure
Domain 16: Lighter-Than-Air Training Procedures
A domain many candidates overlook because it's unfamiliar territory for airplane-focused instructors, yet it's fair game on the exam.
- Don't skip this domain just because it feels niche - missed points here count the same
For the complete rundown of every content area with study guidance for each, see AGI Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 16 Content Areas. If you want a structured, first-attempt-focused approach that ties directly to these domains, the AGI Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt walks through prioritization in more depth.
| Exam Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Scored questions | 100 multiple-choice |
| Unscored questions | May be added for validation, not counted |
| Time allowed | 2 hours 30 minutes |
| Passing score | 70% |
| Test fee | $175 plus applicable tax |
| Minimum testing age | 16 (18 required for certificate issuance) |
Registration, Fee, and Retake Mechanics
The AGI knowledge test is administered by the FAA through PSI test centers, and the fee is $175 plus applicable tax. There's no instructor endorsement required to sit for your initial attempt, which is different from many other FAA knowledge tests. You can register and test at age 16, though the actual AGI certificate can't be issued until you turn 18, demonstrate English proficiency, and pass the Fundamentals of Instructing test (unless you qualify for an exemption).
Notably, there's no pilot certificate, medical certificate, flight experience, or practical test requirement for AGI. That makes the knowledge test itself the single gate you have to clear - which is exactly why hitting 70% matters so much and why understanding the full cost picture matters before you schedule. For a full breakdown of what you'll actually spend from registration through certificate issuance, see AGI Certification Cost 2026: Complete Pricing Breakdown.
If you don't pass on the first attempt, you can retake the test, though you'll pay the $175 fee again each time you sit. There's no cap mentioned in FAA guidance on how many times you can retest, but repeated attempts add up quickly in both cost and lost time. This is one more reason to treat your first attempt seriously rather than treating the exam as low-stakes practice.
A Domain-Focused Study Timeline
Generic study techniques only help if they're mapped to the actual AGI content. Rather than a one-size-fits-all weekly template, allocate time based on domain complexity and how far each subject sits from typical ground-instructor background knowledge.
Regulatory Foundation
- Domain 1 (Applicable Federal Aviation Regulations) and Domain 2 (NTSB accident reporting requirements)
- Build a reference sheet of commercial pilot privilege and limitation regulations
Aerodynamics and Weather
- Domain 3 (basic aerodynamics) and Domain 4 (meteorology, windshear, weather reports)
- Practice interpreting real weather products daily, not just textbook examples
Performance and Navigation
- Domains 6-10: weight and balance, performance charts, limitations, charts, and navigation facilities
- Run practice weight and balance problems until calculations feel automatic
Systems, Judgment, and the Overlooked Domains
- Domains 11-16: decision making, aircraft systems, maneuvers/emergencies, night/high-altitude ops, National Airspace System procedures, and lighter-than-air training
- Don't shortchange Domain 16 just because it's unfamiliar - it's still fair game for scored questions
Use spaced repetition for regulation-heavy domains where recall matters most, and reserve active problem-solving practice for the calculation-based domains like weight and balance and performance charts. A full-length timed practice exam in your final week, taken under the same 2 hour 30 minute constraint as the real test, is the single best predictor of readiness.
Who This Passing Score Actually Matters To
The 70% threshold isn't just a bureaucratic hurdle - it's the line between being able to legally provide Part 61 ground training and knowledge-test recommendations, and not. AGI privileges cover ground training and recommendations across nearly all pilot certificate and rating levels, with the notable exception of instrument-rating subjects. That's a meaningful scope: flight schools, FBOs, and independent ground school operators regularly look for AGI holders to teach ground courses without needing a flight instructor certificate.
Because no flight experience or pilot certificate is required, AGI attracts career changers, aviation enthusiasts without a pilot certificate, and current CFIs looking to formalize ground instruction credentials. If you're weighing whether the certification fits your goals, Is the AGI Certification Worth It? Complete ROI Analysis 2026 and AGI Salary Guide 2026: Complete Earnings Analysis both dig into that decision, while AGI Jobs covers where holders typically find work.
Key Takeaway
Remember that exercising AGI privileges after certification requires qualifying instructional activity, an approved refresher course, or a proficiency endorsement within the preceding 12 calendar months - passing the test is the start, not the finish line.
Common Ways Candidates Lose Points
Most candidates who fall short of 70% aren't undone by one impossible question - they lose small amounts of ground across multiple domains. A few recurring patterns show up:
- Treating Domain 16 as optional. Lighter-than-air procedures feel disconnected from typical airplane-focused instruction, so candidates under-study it and lose easy points.
- Skimming regulatory language. Domain 1 and Domain 2 questions often hinge on precise wording in 14 CFR references - approximate knowledge isn't enough.
- Rushing weight and balance and performance chart problems. These calculation-heavy questions (Domains 6-8) take longer per question, and poor time management here eats into the 2 hour 30 minute limit.
- Underestimating aeronautical decision making questions. Domain 11 questions can be scenario-based and less black-and-white than regulatory recall, catching candidates who only memorized facts.
- Not simulating real test conditions. Studying only in short, interrupted sessions doesn't prepare you for sustained focus across 100 questions.
Running through realistic multiple-choice questions on our AGI practice test platform is one of the most direct ways to identify which of these patterns applies to you before test day, since it mirrors the scored-question format you'll actually face at PSI.
Before you schedule, it also helps to know exactly when you can test and how far in advance to plan around the Fundamentals of Instructing requirement - AGI Exam Dates 2026: Testing Windows, Deadlines & Scheduling covers scheduling logistics in detail, and a quick pass through the AGI Cheat Sheet 2026: One-Page Review of Must-Know Facts the night before can reinforce the numbers that matter most, including this 70% threshold.
FAQ
You need 70% correct on the 100 scored multiple-choice questions. Any unscored validation questions included in your test don't count toward this score.
Yes, 70% is the standard FAA passing threshold used across ground instructor knowledge tests, including AGI and Basic Ground Instructor exams.
With 100 scored questions and a 70% passing requirement, you can miss up to 30 questions and still pass, though aiming for a larger margin is safer given unscored questions mixed in.
No. No instructor endorsement is required for an initial attempt at the AGI knowledge test, unlike some other FAA certifications.
The AGI certificate itself does not expire, but exercising its privileges requires qualifying instructional activity, an approved refresher course, or a proficiency endorsement within the preceding 12 calendar months.
Understanding exactly what 70% requires - and which of the 16 domains tend to trip candidates up - turns the AGI knowledge test from a vague obstacle into a manageable, domain-by-domain preparation plan. Work through realistic scored-format questions on our practice platform to confirm you're consistently clearing that threshold before you pay for your PSI appointment.