Is the Part 107 test hard? What to expect (2026)
The Part 107 knowledge test isn't a trick exam, but it isn't a formality either. It tests aviation knowledge most drone hobbyists have never needed: airspace, sectional charts, aviation weather reports and the regulations themselves. People who fail usually skipped chart reading and weather.
The format
| Questions | 60 scored multiple-choice questions, plus 5 unscored ones you can't tell apart |
|---|---|
| To pass | 42 of 60 correct (about 70%) |
| Time | 2 hours |
| Where | In person at an FAA-approved testing center (PSI) |
| If you fail | Wait 14 calendar days, then pay and retest |
What makes it hard
The FAA's list of knowledge areas (14 CFR §107.73) covers regulations, airspace and flight restrictions, weather sources and effects, loading, emergency procedures, crew resource management, radio procedures, performance, drugs and alcohol, aeronautical decision-making, airport operations, maintenance and preflight, and night operations.
The parts that catch people:
- Sectional charts. You'll read airspace boundaries, obstruction heights (MSL vs AGL) and airport information from FAA chart excerpts in the testing supplement.
- Weather reports. Decoding METARs and TAFs:
14021G26KTmeans wind from 140° at 21 knots, gusting 26. - Exact numbers. 87 knots, 400 feet AGL, 3 statute miles visibility, 500 feet below and 2,000 feet horizontally from clouds, 10 days to report an accident.
How to prepare
Learn the rules from the source, drill your weakest topic until you're above 70%, then take full timed mock exams. The FAA's own Remote Pilot Study Guide is free.
Take the free test
Sources
- Test format and passing score: Drone Launch Academy
- Knowledge areas: 14 CFR §107.73
- Retest wait: 14 CFR §107.71
- FAA Remote Pilot Study Guide
Rules change. Check the current regulations before you rely on any of this. Not affiliated with the FAA.