FAA Part 107 Exam Pass Rate and the 10 Topics That Determine If You Pass
The FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate exam has a pass rate around 85%. Here are the 10 topic areas, which ones most candidates fail, and how to study efficiently.
FAA Part 107 Pass Rate
The FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate exam (officially: Unmanned Aircraft General – Small, UAG) has an estimated pass rate of 82-87% based on FAA testing data. This makes it one of the more accessible FAA knowledge tests — significantly easier than the Private Pilot or Instrument Rating written exams. However, candidates who walk in without preparation frequently fail. The most common reason for failure is underestimating the aeronautical chart reading and airspace classification questions, which require specific knowledge that many drone pilots have never been exposed to.
The 10 Topic Areas on the Exam
The FAA Part 107 ACS (Airman Certification Standards) identifies 10 knowledge areas: (1) Applicable regulations — 14 CFR Part 107, LAANC, waivers; (2) Airspace classification and operating requirements — Class A through G, special use airspace; (3) Aviation weather — METARs, TAFs, winds aloft, density altitude; (4) Loading and performance — weight limits, battery considerations; (5) Emergency procedures; (6) Crew resource management; (7) Radio communications — phraseology, frequencies; (8) Determining the performance of small UAS; (9) Physiological factors — visual scanning, fatigue; (10) Aeronautical decision-making and crew resource management. The exam is 60 questions with a 70% passing score (42 correct).
Which Topics Most Candidates Fail On
The consistently hardest topics for Part 107 candidates who are experienced drone flyers but not pilots: sectional chart reading (identifying airports, airspace boundaries, controlled airspace altitudes from VFR sectional charts), METAR and TAF interpretation (decoding weather reports in the standard aviation format), and airspace classification rules (what is allowed in Class B vs. C vs. D vs. E vs. G without authorization). These topics require rote learning of specific systems — you cannot reason your way to the answer without knowing the material. Aviation chart symbology, in particular, is learned by repetition.
How to Study in 2-3 Weeks
Efficient Part 107 prep in 2-3 weeks: Week 1 — read through 14 CFR Part 107 once to understand the regulatory framework, then use a structured study guide or app to cover all 10 topic areas. Week 2 — focus exclusively on the hard topics: print a VFR sectional chart excerpt and practice identifying every symbol, memorize METAR decode order cold, drill airspace classification until it's automatic. Week 3 — take full 60-question timed practice exams daily, review every wrong answer with an explanation. The Drone Prep app has 400+ Part 107 practice questions with chart exhibits and METAR decoding exercises matching the actual exam format.