Preparing for the FAA UAS Practice Test: What You Need to Know

Taking the Part 107 exam has gotten complicated with all the conflicting study advice flying around online. As someone who went through the process and now helps other pilots prepare, I learned everything there is to know about what the FAA actually tests you on. Today, I will share it all with you.

Why the Part 107 Test Matters

The Part 107 exam — officially called the Remote Pilot Certificate test — is what stands between you and legally flying a drone for commercial purposes. The FAA designed it to make sure you actually understand the aeronautical knowledge that keeps everyone safe up there. We’re talking airspace classifications, weather impacts on flight operations, and the specific regulations that govern UAS operations.

Without this certificate, you’re limited to recreational flying under the Exception for Limited Recreational Operations. If you want to do anything commercial — real estate photography, inspections, mapping, you name it — you need Part 107.

Key Areas to Focus On for the Exam

The test covers a lot of ground, but some topics carry more weight than others. Here’s where I’d spend the most study time.

Airspace Classification

This is the big one. You need to know Class B, C, D, E, and G airspace cold — what each one looks like on a sectional chart, what the dimensions are, and what authorization you need (if any) to fly in each. Special use airspace like MOAs, restricted areas, and TFRs come up regularly on the exam too. If you can read a sectional chart and correctly identify every airspace boundary, you’re in solid shape for about a quarter of the test.

Weather Effects

Weather questions trip up a lot of candidates. You need to understand how temperature, pressure, humidity, and wind affect drone flight. The test will ask you to interpret METARs (current weather observations) and TAFs (terminal area forecasts), so practice reading those coded formats until they feel natural. Visibility requirements and cloud clearance minimums for different airspace classes show up frequently.

Regulations and Standards

Probably should have led with this section, honestly, because the regulations form the backbone of the entire exam. Know the Part 107 rules inside and out — visual line of sight requirements, the 400-foot AGL ceiling, nighttime operations requirements, and what to do during an in-flight emergency. Registration requirements and maintenance obligations also appear on the test.

Loading and Performance

This section borrows heavily from manned aviation concepts. You’ll see questions about how weight distribution affects flight characteristics, what density altitude does to performance, and how loading impacts battery consumption and maneuverability. The physics aren’t complicated, but you do need to understand the basic relationships.

Study Resources

There’s no shortage of study material out there. Here’s what I’d actually recommend based on what worked for me and the people I’ve helped prepare:

• Official FAA Study Materials: The FAA publishes a free study guide and sample questions. Start here — everything on the test comes from FAA source material.
• Online Courses: Platforms like Udemy and Coursera have structured Part 107 prep courses. The video format helps if you learn better visually.
• YouTube Tutorials: Free video walkthroughs can break down tricky concepts like reading sectional charts or decoding METARs.
• Practice Exams: Take as many practice tests as you can find. The format familiarity alone is worth the effort.

Tips for Taking the Test

Having a game plan going in makes a real difference. Here’s the approach that tends to work best.

Practice with Sample Tests

I can’t overstate how much practice exams help. Beyond just learning the material, they teach you how the FAA phrases questions — and that phrasing can be tricky if you’re not used to it. After each practice round, go back and study the questions you missed. Spending extra time on weak areas is more productive than reviewing topics you already know well.

Time Management

You get 120 minutes for 60 multiple-choice questions, which works out to two minutes per question. That’s generous for most questions, but chart interpretation problems can eat up time if you’re not practiced. My advice: answer the straightforward questions first, flag anything that requires deep thought, and circle back with your remaining time.

Focus on Charts and Diagrams

Sectional chart questions are where most people either shine or struggle. You’ll need to identify airport symbols, airspace boundaries, obstacles, and remote flight corridors. Practice with actual sectional charts — the more familiar you are with the visual layout, the faster you’ll work through these questions on test day.

Stay Current on Regulations

The UAS regulatory landscape shifts regularly. The FAA issues NOTAMs, advisory circulars, and rule updates that can affect test content. Check the FAA’s UAS page periodically during your study period to make sure you’re not studying outdated information.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

A few patterns show up consistently among candidates who don’t pass on their first attempt.

Rushing Through Details

Some questions hinge on a single word or a specific number. Read each question and all four answer choices completely before selecting anything. The difference between a right and wrong answer is often in the details.

Not Enough Practice Reps

Reading the study guide once isn’t enough for most people. The candidates who pass comfortably are the ones who took dozens of practice tests and reviewed their mistakes each time. Repetition builds the recall speed you need on exam day.

Relying on One Source

Don’t limit yourself to a single textbook or course. Different resources explain concepts from different angles, and sometimes a topic that made no sense from one source clicks immediately from another.

What Certification Opens Up

That’s what makes the Part 107 certificate endearing to us drone operators — it legitimizes your work and unlocks real career opportunities. Photography, aerial surveying, precision agriculture, cinematography, infrastructure inspection — these industries are actively hiring certified remote pilots. The certification signals to clients and employers that you know what you’re doing and that your operations are legal.