The FAA Part 107 exam, explained
The FAA Part 107 knowledge test — officially the Unmanned Aircraft General – Small (UAG) exam — is what you pass to earn a Remote Pilot Certificate. Here's exactly what it covers, how it's scored, and how long it takes to get ready.
60
questions
multiple choice, 3 options each
120 min
time limit
about 2 minutes per question
70%
to pass
42 of 60 correct
$175
exam fee
paid at a PSI test center
What the exam covers
Every test pulls questions from a large FAA database, structured around five areas and weighted per the current PSI Applicant Information Bulletin (effective 29 September 2025), which replaced the blueprint in FAA-S-ACS-10B — the FAA declared that table obsolete in its August 2025 Airman Testing Community Advisory, while confirming the topics themselves did not change. The areas are still the ACS areas UA.I–UA.V. Much of it is general aviation knowledge, not just drone mechanics.
Regulations UA.I
48% of the examThe rules of Part 107 — certification, the 400 ft AGL limit, visual line of sight, Remote ID, operations over people, night operations, waivers, and accident reporting.
Airspace & Requirements UA.II
20% of the examReading sectional charts, identifying controlled vs. uncontrolled airspace (Classes B, C, D, E, G), airspace boundaries, and getting authorization via LAANC. Often the section pilots find hardest.
Weather UA.III
5% of the examHow weather affects sUAS performance, plus decoding standard aviation weather reports — METARs (current) and TAFs (forecasts) — and concepts like stability, fronts, and density altitude.
Loading & Performance UA.IV
2% of the examHow weight, balance, and center of gravity affect flight, load factor, stalls, and how temperature/altitude (density altitude) change performance.
Operations UA.V
25% of the examAeronautical decision-making, crew resource management, preflight checklists, emergency procedures, radio/airport awareness, physiology, and maintenance — the largest share of the exam.
Weighting transcribed from the PSI Unmanned Aircraft General–Small (UAG) Applicant Information Bulletin, “Test Specifications”, effective 2025-09-29. The bulletin states: “The percentage of items allocated to each content area on the UAG examination was determined by the industry-wide job task analysis study completed in 2025.”
How long it takes to study
The FAA sets no study-hour requirement, and requires no documented training before you sit the test. How long it takes depends on what you are starting from — so the useful question is not how many hours you have put in, but whether you are scoring consistently across every content area.
Prior aviation experience
The drone-specific deltas
Airspace, weather and chart reading will already be familiar. What is new is Part 107 itself — Remote ID, the four categories for operations over people, the sUAS operating limits, and the waiver list.
Starting from scratch
Charts and weather take longest
Sectional symbology and weather decoding are procedures rather than facts, so they take repetition to settle. Consistency beats cramming.
A plan that works
Study in short daily sessions rather than long occasional ones, and save the last stretch for full-length timed practice exams. Aim to consistently score 85% or higher on practice before you spend the $175 to test for real — which is exactly the bar Checkride107's readiness gate holds you to.
Build the knowledge — and prove you're ready
FAA Part 107 exam prep: 464 questions cited to the FAA source, timed sims weighted to the current blueprint, and a readiness gate. Free to start.
Not affiliated with or endorsed by the FAA. Always verify specifics against the current FAR/AIM and FAA Airman Certification Standards.