The Practical Test and the ACS
What the checkride is, how the Airman Certification Standards define it, and how it is graded.
The practical test (the "checkride") is the final step for a pilot certificate or rating: an oral exam followed by a flight, given by an FAA examiner (a DPE). What you'll be tested on is published, in detail, in the Airman Certification Standards (ACS).
What the ACS is
The ACS replaced the older Practical Test Standards. For each Area of Operation (preflight, takeoffs, navigation, emergencies, etc.) it lists three things you must demonstrate:
- Knowledge — what you must understand (tested mostly in the oral).
- Risk management — the hazards you must identify and mitigate.
- Skills — the maneuvers you must fly, each with a measurable completion standard (e.g. "maintain altitude ±100 ft").
How it's graded
There is no score — each task is satisfactory or unsatisfactory. You pass by meeting every standard. The examiner can stop the test the moment a task is failed, but more often continues so you only have to re-test the deficient areas.
Preparing
Work directly from the ACS for your certificate: it is the syllabus, the grading sheet and the study guide in one. Pair it with the relevant FAA handbooks and your aircraft's POH, and fly the maneuvers consistently to standard before the test. See common checkride busts and the oral exam.
---
*Reference and training only — not for navigation. Always consult the current AIM, FAR/AIM, your aircraft’s POH/AFM, official weather products and a certificated flight instructor.*