How hard is the Remote Pilot, Small UAS (Part 107) written test?
The most-taken written in the country, and the one whose pass rate is sliding most clearly as the crowd grows. It ranks 4th-hardest of 7 exams in this index.
The test at a glance
Four numbers that tell you what you are walking into.
Down 2.9 points vs 2023. 4th-hardest of 7.
Mean score of everyone who sat it in 2024.
Up 71% since 2020.
Aviator IQ's read of the pass rate.
60 questions70% to pass (42 correct)~2 hr at the testing centerBuilt from FAA-G-8082-22
The Part 107 written is built on sectional-chart reading, and the FAA's chart excerpts are small and busy. Aviator IQ lets you zoom into the official sectional figures, so airspace questions come down to knowledge, not squinting.
How the Part 107 is trending
Pass rate, average score, and test volume by year. Flip between them.
The lighter final bar is the preliminary 2025 figure, which the FAA has not yet finalized. Source: FAA Airman Knowledge Test statistics.
Our read on it
The volume tab tells the real story: Part 107 has become one of the busiest tests the FAA gives. 73,914 people sat it in 2025 (preliminary), up 87% from 39,455 in 2020. Commercial drone work went mainstream, from real-estate photography to roof and tower inspection, and every paid operation needs someone holding this certificate.
A flood of casual, first-time applicants pulls the averages down: 84.2% pass, 80.0% average score. Plenty of people treat it as a formality and wing it. It is not a hard test, but it is not a giveaway either. The points go missing in the airspace and weather sections, which is exactly where the unprepared get caught.
Where it ranks
Every dot is one FAA written test, placed by its pass rate. The Part 107 is highlighted; the dashed line is the average across all 7.
The topics you are most likely to miss
These are the ACS codes the FAA reports missed most on the Part 107. Try a sample question, then read why the wrong answer is so tempting.
Declaration of Compliance (DoC)
79% miss itA Declaration of Compliance is a document the drone's manufacturer files with the FAA to say a specific model meets an operational category's requirements, most often the categories that allow flying over people or over moving vehicles. See the full breakdown.
The 10 questions people miss most
These are the topics that trip up the most Part 107 candidates, written as example questions you can try. Answer each one for an instant breakdown of why the wrong choice is so tempting, then take a full Part 107 practice test under real test conditions.
On a sectional chart, a soft magenta (shaded) circle around an airport marks the floor of:
To operate a small drone in Class C airspace, a remote pilot must first:
A METAR reports BKN008. The broken cloud layer is at:
“It won't happen to me” is an example of which hazardous attitude a remote pilot should guard against?
On a hot day at a high-elevation site, a small drone will:
Under current Part 107 rules, routine operations at night are permitted when the remote pilot:
Operating near a non-towered airport, a remote pilot should:
If a small drone loses its command-and-control link, the remote pilot should have:
Adding a payload that shifts the drone's center of gravity beyond limits will most likely:
Wind flowing over and around buildings and terrain tends to create:
What to watch for
The habits that cost people points on this exam, drawn from the topics they miss most.
- Declaration of Compliance (DoC): Candidates mix up the paperwork. They tie the DoC to the pilot's certificate or to registration, because Part 107 has several documents and they blur together.
A DoC is the manufacturer's proof the drone qualifies for a category. It is not about you.
Common questions
Other exams in the index
See how the Part 107 compares to the tests candidates take alongside it.
Sources & data notes
- FAA Airman Knowledge Test Statistics (hub)Annual and quarterly Airman Knowledge Test volume, pass rate, and average score by test code. Last verified Sep 15, 2026.
- Airman Knowledge Test annual statistics, 2019 to 2025Per-exam volume, pass rate, and average score. Calendar-year reports 2019 through 2025 (2025 preliminary). Last verified Sep 15, 2026.
- Frequently Missed Knowledge Test ACS CodesFAA Safety Analysis Branch quarterly report: the most-missed ACS code per test code, with percent missed. Last verified Sep 15, 2026.
- Airman Certification Standards (ACS) documentsPlain-English topic and Area/Task definitions for each ACS code (Private FAA-S-ACS-6, Commercial FAA-S-ACS-7, Aviation Mechanic FAA-S-ACS-1). Part 107 (UAG) follows the PSI UAG Applicant Information Bulletin, the current test blueprint that supersedes the FAA-S-ACS-10 blueprint. Last verified Sep 15, 2026.
- Pass rates, volumes, and average scores are the FAA's published figures. Difficulty rankings and threat levels are Aviator IQ's analysis of that public data, not official FAA ratings.
- Aviator IQ is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or associated with the Federal Aviation Administration.
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