A&P Airframe Written Test: What It Covers and How It Leads to the Oral

October 26, 2026 · Primary sources checked October 25, 2026

AMA is the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) code for the airframe and powerplant (A&P) Airframe written test: 100 questions and a 70 percent minimum passing score in the FAA Airman Knowledge Testing Matrix dated September 25, 2026. At most two hours are allowed to finish it. Once you pass the knowledge tests that apply to you, the FAA mechanic FAQ says you must make an appointment with a designated mechanic examiner (DME) for the oral and practical (O&P) tests.

FAA Airman Knowledge Testing Matrix (September 25, 2026) — printed 6, PDF 6; AMT table, AMA row · Become a Mechanic Frequently Asked Questions (updated June 9, 2026) — How much time am I allowed to complete the Aviation Mechanic knowledge tests?; HTML, printed/PDF pages not applicable · Become a Mechanic Frequently Asked Questions (updated June 9, 2026) — How do I test for an FAA Aviation Mechanic certificate?; HTML, printed/PDF pages not applicable

Fifteen subjects make up Section II

The governing rule is in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR): 14 CFR 65.75(a) points the written test at the Airman Certification Standards (ACS) knowledge subject areas for the rating sought. Section II (Airframe) of the ACS, FAA-S-ACS-1, lists 15 subjects, A through O.

14 CFR 65.75 — §65.75(a); HTML, printed/PDF pages not applicable · FAA-S-ACS-1 (November 1, 2021) — printed iv, PDF 4; Table of Contents, Section II

• A. Metallic Structures
• B. Non-Metallic Structures
• C. Flight Controls
• D. Airframe Inspection
• E. Landing Gear Systems
• F. Hydraulic and Pneumatic Systems
• G. Environmental Systems
• H. Aircraft Instrument Systems
• I. Communication and Navigation Systems
• J. Aircraft Fuel Systems
• K. Aircraft Electrical Systems
• L. Ice and Rain Control Systems
• M. Airframe Fire Protection Systems
• N. Rotorcraft Fundamentals
• O. Water and Waste Systems

FAA-S-ACS-1 (November 1, 2021) — printed iv, PDF 4; Table of Contents, Section II · FAA-S-ACS-1 (November 1, 2021) — printed 34, PDF 39; Section II, Subject I

For subject I, the ACS table of contents uses a different title, “Communications, Light Signals, and Runway Lighting Systems”; the list above uses the title printed on the subject page. Use the list as a study outline, not as actual test questions or a forecast of how many questions each subject gets.

FAA-S-ACS-1 (November 1, 2021) — printed iv, PDF 4; Table of Contents, Section II · FAA-S-ACS-1 (November 1, 2021) — printed 34, PDF 39; Section II, Subject I

Airframe codes begin with AM.II, followed by the subject letter and an element number, and every subject is divided into K (knowledge), R (risk management), and S (skill) elements. Per the ACS, K and R elements also get evaluated in the knowledge testing phase of the airman certification process.

FAA-S-ACS-1 (November 1, 2021) — printed A-2, PDF 66; Integrated ACS framework · FAA-S-ACS-1 (November 1, 2021) — printed 25, PDF 30; Section II, Subject D

Some examples from the Airframe outline:

• Airframe Inspection (Subject D) asks you to understand inspection requirements under 14 CFR part 91 (AM.II.D.K1) and requirements for complying with airworthiness directives, or ADs (AM.II.D.K3).
• Landing Gear Systems (Subject E) includes brake assembly servicing and inspection (AM.II.E.K7) and, as a risk element, “operation of retractable landing gear systems around personnel” (AM.II.E.R6).
• Hydraulic and Pneumatic Systems (Subject F) includes fluid and seal compatibility (AM.II.F.K8) and the risk element “relieving system pressure prior to system servicing or disassembly” (AM.II.F.R1).

FAA-S-ACS-1 (November 1, 2021) — printed 25, PDF 30; Section II, Subject D · FAA-S-ACS-1 (November 1, 2021) — printed 26, PDF 31; Section II, Subject E · FAA-S-ACS-1 (November 1, 2021) — printed 28, PDF 33; Section II, Subject F

Scoring and time on AMA

The AMA row in the matrix gives 100 for the number of questions, “2.0” for allotted time, and “70” as the passing score. A score of 70 is the floor under 14 CFR 65.17(b), the minimum passing grade for each test. Seventy is a cutoff, not a measure of how many people pass. Validation questions, which the matrix says any test may include, are unscored, sit outside the 100, and are answered within the allotted time.

FAA Airman Knowledge Testing Matrix (September 25, 2026) — printed 6, PDF 6; AMT table, AMA row · 14 CFR 65.17 — §65.17(b); HTML, printed/PDF pages not applicable · FAA Airman Knowledge Testing Matrix (September 25, 2026) — printed 2, PDF 2; Validation Questions

Scored under 70? Our guide to retaking a failed A&P written covers the 30-day rule and what to bring.

Which authorization lets you sit for AMA?

For a first certificate, the testing matrix says the authorization for the Airframe test also covers the General (AMG) test: an FAA Form 8610-2 application marked AIRFRAME and ORIGINAL ISSUANCE, or a school document showing graduation from an Airframe curriculum. An application with ADDED RATING marked tells the proctor that AMG is not required. If you are adding Airframe to a mechanic certificate that already carries the alternate rating, FAA Order 8900.1, in its section on administering mechanic oral and practical tests, says you are not required to retake the General section of a knowledge or skill test. Tell the testing center whether you seek an initial certificate or an added rating, and have it check the authorization you actually present.

FAA Airman Knowledge Testing Matrix (September 25, 2026) — printed 6, PDF 6; acceptable forms of authorization · FAA Order 8900.1, Vol.5 Ch.5 Sec.11, CHG 929 (September 17, 2024) — printed 10, PDF 10; 5-5-11-5E6)d)

Outside the school route described next, the Order says an applicant for an Airframe rating must present a knowledge test report for both the General and the Airframe written tests at the oral and practical. A certificated maintenance school can show the FAA that a student is prepared and has made satisfactory progress; 14 CFR 65.80 then lets that student sit the O&P in the last subjects of training, even before every written section is passed. The General written test guide covers that route along with the early-General option.

FAA Order 8900.1, Vol.5 Ch.5 Sec.11, CHG 929 (September 17, 2024) — printed 8, PDF 8; 5-5-11-5E3)f)1–3 · 14 CFR 65.80 — §65.80; HTML, printed/PDF pages not applicable

Your report and the Airframe oral

You receive a report of the written test, per 14 CFR 65.75(b). According to the ACS, any knowledge area shown as deficient by the ACS codes on your Airman Knowledge Test Report (AKTR) is retested on the oral.

14 CFR 65.75 — §65.75(b); HTML, printed/PDF pages not applicable · FAA-S-ACS-1 (November 1, 2021) — printed A-1, PDF 65; Evaluator Responsibilities

How to read your knowledge test report · What to expect on the Airframe oral

Our advice: give Airframe systems a spoken pass early

Build a study sheet around the Airframe subjects rather than one undifferentiated list. What follows is our own study approach; the FAA does not require it.

• Move between structures, inspection, and aircraft systems so that familiar question wording does not become your only cue.
• After reviewing a topic such as landing gear, close the source and explain the concept you just studied, then check the page.
• Use the complete applicable ACS subject to find omissions; a short list of weak codes is a priority list, not the whole Airframe outline.

Testing for both ratings? The Powerplant written test guide covers AMP, and the most-missed ACS codes page shows which codes the FAA reports as frequently missed.

Practicing the oral with DMEReady

DMEReady lets you rehearse the A&P oral with a voice examiner run by artificial intelligence (AI): you speak your answers in a phone or computer browser, and it follows up the way a DME would. The examiner is AI, not a human DME; it is not a written-test question bank, and it does not cover hands-on practical skills. Your first drill is free and needs no sign-up, and each session ends with a report showing covered and missed topics, what complete answers include, and which FAA handbook pages to read. DMEReady is an independent tool, with no FAA affiliation or endorsement.

Fees are covered separately in our DME exam cost guide.

Primary sources

• FAA Airman Knowledge Testing Matrix (September 25, 2026)
• Become a Mechanic Frequently Asked Questions (updated June 9, 2026)
• Mechanic Test Generator FAQs (May 22, 2023)
• FAA-S-ACS-1 (November 1, 2021)
• 14 CFR 65.79
• 14 CFR 65.75
• 14 CFR 65.80
• 14 CFR 65.17
• FAA Order 8900.1, Vol.5 Ch.5 Sec.11, CHG 929 (September 17, 2024)

Before the oral

The FAA’s Mechanic Test Generator (MTG) FAQ says at least four Airframe oral questions are randomly generated, even if you scored 100 percent on the written. On top of those, each distinct code you missed on the report adds one more oral question. The count goes by codes missed, not by the number of written questions missed. An applicant who passed the written with 70 percent could get the maximum, which the FAQ gives as 34 Airframe oral questions. Turn each weak Airframe code into an answer you can say without options in front of you, then check it against the FAA source.

Mechanic Test Generator FAQs (May 22, 2023) — unnumbered page, PDF 3; Oral-related Questions · Mechanic Test Generator FAQs (May 22, 2023) — unnumbered page, PDF 4; Oral-related Questions

Practice Airframe answers out loud

About this guide: drafted with AI from the FAA sources listed on this page and checked claim by claim against them. Not reviewed by an A&P mechanic or DME. How we make our guides