FAA Ground Instructor — Basic (BGI) knowledge test
The knowledge test for a basic ground instructor rating — 80 questions on private-pilot knowledge and the rules for teaching it on the ground.
About the exam
A basic ground instructor (BGI) rating lets you give ground training in the aeronautical knowledge areas for the sport, recreational and private pilot certificates, give the ground training for those pilots' flight reviews, and recommend applicants for their knowledge tests (61.215(a)). It suits ground-school teachers, aviation educators and pilots who want to teach in the classroom. There's no practical test — you earn the rating with the BGI knowledge test, plus the Fundamentals of Instructing (FOI) test unless you're exempt.
The test has 80 multiple-choice questions in 2 hours 30 minutes, each with three answer choices (A, B, C), and you need 70% to pass. It's taken on computer at a PSI test center with a photo ID and an FAA Tracking Number (FTN) from IACRA; the testing matrix lists no instructor endorsement for a first attempt and a minimum testing age of 16 (the certificate needs 18). Sectional excerpts, performance charts and weather products come from the FAA instructor and ground instructor testing supplement (FAA-CT-8080-5H). FOI is a separate test; you're exempt if you already hold a flight or ground instructor certificate, hold a state teaching certificate for grade 7 or higher, or teach at an accredited college or university (61.213(b)).
Our practice covers every area with original questions at the private-pilot level plus the ground instructor rules, with step-by-step worked solutions for every calculation — wind triangle, density altitude, weight and balance and weight shift, crosswind components, time, speed, distance and fuel. The FAA's ground instructor tests can include questions about other aircraft categories; ours are airplane-based. Add flashcards for regulations, airspace and weather codes, worked case walkthroughs, illustrated guides to aerodynamics, instruments and airspace, and timed practice tests at the real length — 80 questions in 2 hours 30 minutes — with a score.
How we track your progress
Every blueprint domain moves through five levels as you study:
- Not startedNo questions answered in this domain yet.
- Getting startedFirst questions answered — not enough yet to judge.
- DevelopingAt least 5 answered and 50% or better on your recent questions.
- ProficientAt least 15 answered and 70% or better on your recent questions.
- Exam readyAt least 25 answered, 80% or better recently, and holding up on hard questions.
The exam blueprint
No ground instructor ACS — 14 CFR 61.213(a)(4)(i): the aeronautical knowledge areas of 61.97, 61.105 and 61.309 (recreational, private and sport pilot) — Private-pilot-level regulations and airworthiness, weather, cross-country navigation, airspace, performance and weight & balance, systems, human factors and airport operations, plus ground instructor privileges and teaching. Domain weights are QuizMe estimates — the FAA does not publish them. Tap a domain to see its topics.
1 Pilot Qualifications, Airworthiness and Regulations about 15% (est.) of the exam
67 practice questions in this domain so far
2 Weather Information about 15% (est.) of the exam
67 practice questions in this domain so far
3 Cross-Country Planning and Navigation about 15% (est.) of the exam
66 practice questions in this domain so far
4 National Airspace System about 12% (est.) of the exam
53 practice questions in this domain so far
5 Performance, Limitations and Weight & Balance about 14% (est.) of the exam
60 practice questions in this domain so far
6 Aircraft Systems about 8% (est.) of the exam
33 practice questions in this domain so far
7 Human Factors and Aeronautical Decision-Making about 6% (est.) of the exam
27 practice questions in this domain so far
8 Airport, Night and Emergency Operations about 5% (est.) of the exam
27 practice questions in this domain so far
9 Ground Instructor Privileges and Teaching about 10% (est.) of the exam
30 practice questions in this domain so far
What you get when you access this exam
Free with your QuizMe account.
Questions built on the knowledge areas
Every question is original and tagged to a private-pilot knowledge area or ground-instructor rule — three choices like the real test, with described sectional excerpts, performance charts, loading graphs and weather products.
Hints and worked solutions
Reveal the rule, reference or formula behind the question when you're stuck. Every answer has the full rationale, and every calculation is solved step by step.
Adaptive practice
Questions steer toward your weakest areas, weighted like the real test, and get harder as you get stronger.
Timed practice tests
Full-length tests at the real pace — 80 questions in 2 hours 30 minutes — with a pacing indicator, full review and a percent score against the 70% pass mark.
Flashcards, walkthroughs and guides
Flashcards for regulations, airspace minimums and weather codes, worked case walkthroughs that reason through harder questions step by step, and interactive illustrated guides you explore hotspot by hotspot.
Progress in every area
Each area moves from Not started to Exam ready, so you know exactly what to study next.
Test at home or at a center
The BGI test is scheduled and taken through PSI, the FAA's knowledge-testing provider. Create a profile in IACRA to get your FAA Tracking Number (FTN), then choose a PSI test center and time. Remote testing is not offered for FAA airman knowledge tests.
At a PSI test center
- Book through PSI's FAA scheduling site; the fee is paid to PSI, not the FAA — about $175 at PSI (confirm when you book).
- Bring a current government-issued photo ID that meets FAA identification rules, and your FAA Tracking Number (FTN).
- The center gives you the FAA-CT-8080-5H testing supplement with the charts and figures; some questions show images on screen.
- You may use an FAA-approved flight computer (E6B) and calculator under the test center's rules; PSI's testing system also includes an on-screen E6B.
Before you book
- The testing matrix lists no instructor endorsement for a first attempt at BGI — check the current matrix before you book.
- You must be at least 16 to take the test; the ground instructor certificate itself requires age 18.
- Plan for FOI too unless you're exempt: current flight or ground instructors, state-certified teachers for grade 7 or higher and accredited college or university teachers don't take it (61.213(b)).
- If you retake after a failure, bring the failed test report and an endorsement from an authorized instructor who gave you the additional training.
Exam-day game plan
How to walk in ready — and how to pace 80 questions in 2 hours 30 minutes.
Pacing checkpoints
Our timed test uses the real length and time — 80 questions in 2 hours 30 minutes — as one block of single-answer, three-choice questions. Figures that the real test shows from the FAA-CT-8080-5H testing supplement or as embedded images are reproduced as described text, tables or simple diagrams — not the official FAA charts.
The week before
- Take one full-length timed practice test 4–7 days out, then shorter sets and rest.
- Rehearse the calculations until they're routine: wind triangle, density altitude, weight shift, load factor and crosswind.
- Review the ground instructor rules: what basic, advanced and instrument ground instructors may teach and endorse (61.215) and the 12-month recent-experience rule (61.217).
- Confirm your PSI appointment, your FTN, your ID and the flight computer and calculator you'll bring.
During the test
- Pace yourself at under 2 minutes a question — sectional and performance-chart questions take longer, recall questions much less.
- For chart questions, check the figure number and read the legend, units and notes before you start computing.
- Watch the exact regulatory wording — 'within the preceding 90 days', 'calendar months', 'solo' versus 'PIC'.
- With three choices, eliminate the one you know is wrong first; your odds jump to 50–50.
- Mark hard questions, answer every one and come back if time allows — there's no penalty for guessing.
Keep your head
- A few nerves sharpen focus. If you freeze, take three slow breaths and reread the question.
- You need 56 of 80 — a few tough chart questions won't sink you.
- Missed topics show up as codes on your report — a study list for your own teaching, not a black mark.
After you test
- You get your Airman Knowledge Test Report at the test center; it shows your score and the codes of any knowledge areas you missed.
- There's no practical test for a ground instructor rating — you apply through IACRA with your passing BGI report (and FOI, unless you're exempt), and an FAA office or authorized certifying official issues the certificate. Confirm how long your report is accepted when you apply.
- To use your ground instructor privileges you must meet the recent-experience rule (61.217): within the preceding 12 calendar months, work as a ground or flight instructor, complete an approved flight instructor refresher course, or get an endorsement from an authorized instructor.
Official sources and further reading
- FAA Airman Knowledge Testing Matrix ↗Official question count, time, minimum age and the authorization each test requires.
- 14 CFR 61.213 — Ground instructor eligibility ↗The knowledge areas each ground instructor test covers and the FOI exemptions.
- Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge (FAA-H-8083-25C) ↗The FAA's core reference for the private-pilot knowledge the test covers.
Ready to start?
430 questions and scenarios across the blueprint — and growing.
QuizMe is not affiliated with or endorsed by the FAA or PSI. All questions are original. Details are summarized from FAA sources (ACS, testing matrix, 14 CFR); rules and policies change — always confirm at faa.gov. Estimated scores are rough guides.