The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has released information regarding the upcoming changes to the Commercial Pilot Written Examination (CPWE).
These changes include increasing the number of questions and changing the format of the test.

This change was announced last year and is now being implemented.
As a result, pilots who wish to renew their license or apply for a new license will need to take the updated CPWE. Pilots should expect to spend approximately three hours taking the test.
The new exam will be given in two parts: Part I and Part II. Each part consists of 50 questions, with each question worth one point.
The pilot must score at least 70% on both parts to pass the exam. In this article, we look in closer detail at the commercial pilot written exam and how many questions you might find. Let’s jump in.
What Is The Commercial Pilot Written Exam?
The FAA requires all pilots to have an Airline Transport Pilot Certificate before they can operate any type of aircraft.
This certificate includes the knowledge necessary to fly a single-engine airplane under instrument flight rules (IFR), as well as multiengine airplanes such as jets and turboprops.
To earn your private pilot certificate, you must first complete a ground school course that covers topics including aerodynamics, weather, navigation, instruments, preflight procedures, and more.
Once you’ve completed the ground school portion, you’ll then need to take the written exam. You may also be required to take a practical test before receiving your private pilot certificate.
The FAA requires that all pilots hold a current medical certificate to fly. The medical certificate allows doctors to certify that the pilot is physically fit to fly.
It does not require that the pilot receive treatment. If you are planning to become a pilot, it’s important to check with your doctor to make sure you’re medically qualified to fly.
The FAA also requires that all pilots hold either a Class 1 Medical Certificate or a Class 2 Medical Certificate to obtain their airman’s physical.
A Class 1 Medical Certificate is valid for five years while a Class 2 Medical Certificate is valid for 10 years.
The Commercial Pilot Written Exam
The FAA requires that pilots holding class 1 or 2 medical certificates take a written test known as the Commercial Pilot Written Exam (CPWE).
The exam tests a pilot’s ability to read, understand, analyze, interpret, and apply safety regulations about aviation.
Administered in two 50 quotations sections, you will have 3 hours to complete both.
How To Prepare For The CPWE

To prepare for the CPWE, you will want to practice answering sample questions from the actual exam. In addition, you should review the information covered in the study guides you can find online.
Once you feel confident about how well you know the material, you can begin preparing for the real thing by practicing the techniques discussed below.
Practice Reading Comprehension
Reading comprehension is an essential part of the exam. This means that you will need to be able to answer questions based on what you see on the page.
Practice reading at least three pages of text every day. Read the same passage over and over again until you can answer most of the questions correctly.
You may want to write down any words or phrases that you don’t understand so that you can look them up later.
When you finish reading a passage, ask yourself if you understood everything that was said. If you didn’t understand something, try rereading the passage.
Sometimes, simply looking back at the text helps you remember what you did and didn’t understand.
Practice Analyzing Information
To pass the CPWE, you must be able to analyze information quickly and accurately. Therefore, you must learn how to do this effectively.
One way to improve your ability to analyze information is to practice using the following strategies:
- Use the “What” and “Why?” questions to determine whether you fully understand the material presented in the passage.
- Write out the main ideas of the passage before starting to read it.
- Make sure that you understand the relationship between the different parts of a passage.
- Remember that there are always more details than you can cover during a single reading session.
Practice Writing Essays
Writing essays requires you to think critically about the subject matter. It also requires you to organize your thoughts into coherent paragraphs.
Writing an essay is similar to writing a research paper. As such, you should start by brainstorming several possible topics. Then, choose the topic that seems likeliest to lead you to the best sources of information.
After choosing a topic, you should make a list of all the key terms related to the topic. Next, create a table of contents that lists the major sections of your essay.
Finally, you should outline the structure of your essay. Start with a thesis statement and then work backward through each section of your essay.
Practice Logical Reasoning
The logical reasoning portion of the exam tests your ability to apply basic logic to problems.
You will need to be able not only to recognize when two statements contradict one another but also to explain why they do.
For example, if you are asked about the difference between the statements “All men are mortal” and “Some men are immortal,” you would need to say that the first is true because no man is immortal.
You will also need to be able to identify fallacies in arguments. A fallacy occurs whenever someone makes a mistake while trying to prove their point.
Common examples include confusing correlation for causation, assuming that everyone agrees on a definition, and arguing from authority rather than evidence.
Final Thoughts
We hope that these tips have been helpful to you as you prepare for the commercial pilot written examination. We wish you good luck!
Passing the CFI-Pilots written test is very difficult. You may find it useful to study for the exam by taking a free online course.
This article provides you with some valuable advice on studying for the exam and as long as you keep studying and practicing, you should be on your way to passing in no time! Happy flying!
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