The exam at a glance
| Questions | 60 multiple choice (3 options each) |
| Time limit | 2 hours |
| Passing score | 70% (you can miss up to 18) |
| Where | In person at an FAA-approved (PSI) testing center |
| Cost | About $175 per attempt (set by the testing vendor) |
| Prerequisites | 16+, read/write/speak English, obtain an FAA Tracking Number (FTN) |
| Keeping it current | Free online recurrent training every 24 calendar months |
Always verify: fees and procedures come from the FAA and its testing vendor, so confirm current details at faa.gov/uas before booking.
What's actually on it
| Category | Approx. weight | What it really tests |
|---|---|---|
| Regulations | 15–25% | Part 107 operating rules: altitude and speed limits, visual line of sight, waivers, accident reporting |
| Airspace & requirements | 15–25% | Reading sectional charts, airspace classes, LAANC authorization. The section that fails people |
| Weather | 11–16% | METARs/TAFs, density altitude, how weather affects small aircraft performance |
| Loading & performance | 7–11% | Center of gravity, load factor in turns, battery and payload effects |
| Operations | 35–45% | Crew resource management, emergency procedures, physiology, maintenance, night operations |
The three things that fail first-time takers
- Sectional charts. Nothing in consumer drone flying prepares you for reading aviation charts. Expect several questions that hand you a chart excerpt and ask what airspace sits over a point. Drill these until they're boring.
- METAR/TAF decoding. Raw weather text like
KAUS 121753Z 18011KT 10SM SCT025 BKN250 28/17 A3002is on the test. Learn the format once and it's free points. - Memorizing numbers loosely. 400 feet AGL, 100 mph groundspeed, 3 statute miles visibility, 500 feet below / 2,000 feet horizontal from clouds. The test loves swapping these in plausible wrong answers.
A 3-week study plan
- Week 1: Regulations & Operations. The rules are logical once you see the pattern (safety of the national airspace first). Start with Smart Quiz sessions to map your baseline, then drill Regulations until you're above 80%.
- Week 2: Airspace & Weather. The technical core. Learn the airspace classes, then drill chart questions and METAR decoding every day. This week decides your result.
- Week 3: Simulate. Full 60-question timed simulations every other day. Review every miss with the AI tutor until the explanation makes sense. Book the real test for the day your readiness score goes green.