TORQUED TO PASS

Guide

What the codes on your A&P score report mean

Your FAA knowledge test report lists a code like AM.I.A.K1 for each question you missed. Here’s how to read them and turn them into a study plan.

What the codes are

Your Airman Knowledge Test Report (AKTR) lists an ACS code for each question you missed. Each code points to one specific item in the FAA’s Aviation Mechanic General, Airframe, and Powerplant Airman Certification Standards (ACS). [1]

The code tells you the topic you missed. It does not show the question or your answer.

How to read a code

The FAA’s own example is AM.I.A.K1: [1]

AMThe ACS: Aviation Mechanic
ISection: I = General (II = Airframe, III = Powerplant)
ASubject: A = Fundamentals of Electricity and Electronics
K1Element: knowledge item 1, electron theory

The last part tells you the kind of element: K for knowledge, R for risk management, and S for skill. Knowledge and risk management elements are evaluated during the knowledge testing phase. [2] Some knowledge items have lettered sub-items, such as AM.I.A.K7a (Ohm’s Law). [2]

The General test subject codes

CodeSubjectExample element
AM.I.AFundamentals of Electricity and ElectronicsAM.I.A.K1 Electron theory (conventional flow vs. electron flow).
AM.I.BAircraft DrawingsAM.I.B.K1 Drawings, blueprints, sketches, charts, graphs, and system schematics, including commonly used lines, symbols, and terminology.
AM.I.CWeight and BalanceAM.I.C.K1 Weight and balance terminology.
AM.I.DFluid Lines and FittingsAM.I.D.K1 Tubing and hose materials, applications, sizes, and fittings.
AM.I.EAircraft Materials, Hardware, and ProcessesAM.I.E.K1 Materials commonly used in aircraft and their general application.
AM.I.FGround Operations and ServicingAM.I.F.K1 Aircraft towing procedures.
AM.I.GCleaning and Corrosion ControlAM.I.G.K1 Aircraft cleaning procedures.
AM.I.HMathematicsAM.I.H.K1 Areas of various geometrical shapes.
AM.I.IRegulations, Maintenance Forms, Records, and PublicationsAM.I.I.K1 Privileges and limitations of a mechanic certificate.
AM.I.JPhysics for AviationAM.I.J.K1 Matter and energy.
AM.I.KInspection Concepts and TechniquesAM.I.K.K1 Measuring tools, including calipers, micrometers, and gauges.
AM.I.LHuman FactorsAM.I.L.K1 Safety culture and organizational factors.

Subjects and example elements from FAA-S-ACS-1. [2]

Why the codes matter after you pass

The codes follow you to your oral and practical test. The examiner asks for your test reports before planning your test, and every weak area shown by the codes on your report is retested during the oral portion. [2] The FAA’s companion guide says you should expect to be questioned on the topics associated with the codes on your report. [1]

How to turn your codes into a study plan

  1. List every code from your report.
  2. Group them by subject letter (the third part). Several codes in one subject show a weak area worth a full review.
  3. Look up each code in the ACS [3] to see the exact topic, for example AM.I.C.K1 is “Weight and balance terminology.”
  4. Read the matching chapter of the Aviation Maintenance Technician Handbook – General (FAA-H-8083-30B), or the regulation for subject I.
  5. Practice questions on that exact topic until you get them right consistently, and practice explaining the topic out loud, since that’s what the oral test asks of you.

Every Torqued to Pass practice question is tagged with its ACS code, so you can study the exact codes on your report.

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Sources

Checked October 31, 2026.

  1. FAA-G-ACS-1, Companion Guide to the Aviation Mechanic General, Airframe, and Powerplant ACS (Change 2, September 2024), pp. 12, 20–21: https://www.faa.gov/training_testing/testing/acs/amt_acs_companion_guide.pdf
  2. FAA-S-ACS-1, Aviation Mechanic General, Airframe, and Powerplant Airman Certification Standards (November 1, 2021), Section I and Appendix 1 (pp. A-1, A-2): https://www.faa.gov/training_testing/testing/acs/Aviation_Mechanic_Certification_Standards.pdf
  3. FAA Airman Certification Standards page: https://www.faa.gov/training_testing/testing/acs