How to Pass the FAA Part 107 Knowledge Test (Study Guide + Score Needed)

To pass the FAA Part 107 knowledge test, you need to score 70 percent, which means answering at least 42 of the 60 multiple-choice questions correctly inside a 120-minute window. Study the FAA's five subject areas, weighted toward operations, regulations, and airspace, and put most of your hours into timed practice questions. Most people who prepare deliberately for 15 to 20 hours pass on the first attempt. There is no penalty for guessing, every question gives three answer choices, and you get your result the moment you finish at the testing center.

This guide breaks down exactly what the FAA tests, the score you need, and a study plan that actually works.

What score do you need to pass the Part 107 test?

You need 70 percent to pass. The test has 60 questions, so 42 correct is the line. Score 41 and you fail. Score 42 and you walk out a passing candidate.

A few details that matter on test day:

• Time limit: 120 minutes for 60 questions. That is two minutes per question, which is plenty.
• Format: Three answer choices per question. Only one is the FAA's "best" answer.
• Scoring: You see your score immediately. The report lists the ACS codes for the areas where you missed questions, which is useful later for recurrent study.
• No partial credit, no penalty for guessing. Never leave a question blank.

The FAA does not curve the test and does not tell you which 42 you got right. You get a percentage and a list of weak topic codes.

What does the Part 107 test actually cover?

The test is built from the FAA's Airman Certification Standards (ACS) for the Remote Pilot certificate (FAA-S-ACS-10). Five areas of operation make up the question pool, and the FAA publishes how heavily each is weighted. Operations, regulations, and airspace together make up the bulk of the exam.

Two things follow from this. First, airspace and sectional chart reading is where most people lose points. You will get questions that ask you to decode the symbols, frequencies, and floor and ceiling altitudes on an FAA sectional chart. Second, weather is a small slice but a tricky one. You need to read a METAR and a TAF and understand how density altitude affects your drone.

Short on time? Weight your studying toward operations, regulations, and airspace.

How hard is the Part 107 test, really?

Harder than people expect, and getting harder. In 2025, 73,914 people took the Part 107 test, and only 82.96 percent passed, with an average score of 79.31 percent, according to FAA Airman Knowledge Test data compiled by aviation journalist Sally French at The Drone Girl. Both numbers were all-time lows, and the pass rate has been drifting downward for several years.

For context, the overall pass rate across all FAA Airman Knowledge Tests in 2025 was 89.56 percent, drawn from 293,516 test takers. So Part 107 sits nearly seven points below the average FAA written test. French does not sugarcoat what that means: "A lower average score means more pilots are flying commercially with shakier foundational knowledge. That's not great for anyone sharing the sky." This is a real aviation exam, not a formality.

The good news: the failure rate is almost entirely about preparation, not aptitude. The source documents are free, the questions follow public ACS patterns, and the math is simple. People fail when they skim a free PDF the night before instead of working through practice questions until the patterns click.

The FAA requires applicants to be "at least 16 years of age" and "able to read, speak, write, and understand the English language," per 14 CFR § 107.61. There is no medical exam. You self-certify that your physical and mental condition is safe for flight.

A 2-week study plan that works

You do not need a month. A focused two weeks, an hour a day, is enough for most people. You can drill the question banks for each block at pilotwrittenprep.com.

1. Days 1–3: Regulations and operations. Read the relevant parts of 14 CFR Part 107 and the FAA's Remote Pilot – Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Study Guide. Learn the operating rules cold: maximum altitude (400 feet AGL), daylight and civil-twilight rules, visual line of sight, and the requirements for flying over people.
2. Days 4–7: Airspace and sectional charts. This is the heavy lift. Practice reading a sectional until Class B, C, D, E, and G airspace, plus floors and ceilings, are automatic. Learn how to request a LAANC authorization for controlled airspace.
3. Days 8–10: Weather and loading/performance. Decode METARs and TAFs. Understand density altitude, center of gravity, and how payload changes flight time and handling.
4. Days 11–14: Practice tests only. Take full 60-question practice exams under a timer. Review every wrong answer until you understand why the right answer is right. Aim to score 85 percent or better before you book.

The single highest-return activity is timed practice questions with explanations. That is exactly how pilotprep is built: you drill realistic questions, see the reasoning, and track which ACS areas still need work. Reading builds understanding. Question banks get you the pass.

The full Part 107 process, step by step

The knowledge test is one step in a five-step path. Here is the whole thing:

1. Confirm eligibility. Be at least 16, able to read and understand English, and in a fit physical and mental condition to fly.
2. Get an FAA Tracking Number (FTN). Create a free profile in IACRA, the FAA's certification system, before you register for the test.
3. Schedule and pass the test. Book at an FAA-approved PSI testing center. The exam fee is about $175, and you pay it for every attempt.
4. Apply for your certificate in IACRA. After passing, complete FAA Form 8710-13.
5. Pass TSA security vetting. The FAA forwards your application for an automatic background check, then issues your temporary certificate. Your permanent card arrives by mail.

One thing people forget: your certificate does not expire, but your privileges depend on recurrent training. You must complete the free online recurrent course every 24 calendar months to keep flying commercially.

Common mistakes that fail people

• Skipping the sectional chart drills. If you cannot read a chart fluently, you give away the easiest points on the test.
• Memorizing answers instead of concepts. The FAA rotates its questions. Learn the rule, not the letter.
• Booking the test too early. Wait until you are scoring 85 percent or better on full-length practice exams. The retest fee and the waiting period are not worth the rush.
• Ignoring weather. It is only seven to ten questions, but they are gettable points once you can read a METAR.

Your next step

Set your test date two weeks out, then work backward through the plan above. Start with one full-length, timed practice test today to find your weak areas, then drill them until they are gone. When you can score 85 percent or better twice in a row, book your slot at a PSI center and go pass it. Start practicing now at pilotwrittenprep.com.

Sources: FAA – Become a Certificated Remote Pilot; 14 CFR Part 107 (eCFR); The Drone Girl – 2025 Part 107 test scores.