Study Strategy and Test-Taking Tips

FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate Exam

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1 Introduction to the FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate

FAA Part 107 Exam Overview Study Strategy and Test-Taking Tips

2 1. Regulations (14 CFR Part 107)

1.1 Applicability and Definitions (Subpart A) 1.2 Remote Pilot Certification (Subpart C) 1.3 Operating Rules Overview (Subpart B) 1.4 Registration and Marking Requirements 1.5 Remote Identification (Part 89) 1.6 Operations Over People (Subpart D) 1.7 Night Operations and Civil Twilight 1.8 Waivers and Authorizations (Subpart E) 1.9 Accident Reporting and Recordkeeping 1.10 Preflight Familiarization and Actions

3 2. Airspace Classification & Requirements

2.1 National Airspace System Overview 2.2 Class B Airspace 2.3 Class C and Class D Airspace 2.4 Class E and Class G Airspace 2.5 Reading Sectional Charts 2.6 LAANC and Airspace Authorization 2.7 TFRs and NOTAMs 2.8 Latitude, Longitude, and Navigation

4 3. Weather

3.1 Weather Theory and Atmospheric Basics 3.2 Wind, Turbulence, and Wind Shear 3.3 Clouds, Visibility, and Fog 3.4 Reading METAR Reports 3.5 Reading TAF Reports 3.6 Weather Hazards for Drone Operations 3.7 Weather Information Sources

5 4. Loading and Performance

4.1 Weight, Balance, and Center of Gravity 4.2 Density Altitude and Performance 4.3 Load Factor and Maneuvering 4.4 Battery Performance and Management 4.5 Performance Calculations and Limitations

6 5. Operations

5.1 Crew Resource Management (CRM) 5.2 Aeronautical Decision Making (ADM) 5.3 Emergency Procedures 5.4 Physiological Factors Affecting Pilots 5.5 Radio Communication and Frequencies 5.6 Airport Operations and Traffic Patterns 5.7 Maintenance, Inspection, and Condition 5.8 Special Operations and Considerations 5.9 Flight Planning and Risk Mitigation 5.10 Sectional Chart Interpretation Exercises

Study Strategy and Test-Taking Tips

Key Takeaways Explain This Topic AI

Most candidates need 2-3 weeks at 2-3 hours per day; study Operations first because it is 35-45% of the exam.

Sectional chart reading, airspace classification, and METAR/TAF decoding are the highest-failure topics — drill them with the FAA-CT-8080-2 supplement.

Use the two-pass approach: answer every easy question on pass one, then return to flagged items, budgeting 2 minutes per question.

Score 85% or higher consistently on timed practice tests before paying about $175 to schedule the real exam.

Choose the safest, most conservative answer on scenario questions, and be cautious of options containing absolute words like always or never.

Last updated: October 2026

Building a Plan That Passes

A first-attempt pass on the UAG test is realistic for almost anyone who studies deliberately. Because a retake costs another about $175 at PSI, the cheapest path is solid preparation the first time. This section gives a timeline, a topic priority order, and proven test-day tactics.

Recommended Study Timeline

Timeline Daily Intensity Best For
1 week 4–6 hours/day Manned-aircraft pilots, fast learners
2–3 weeks 2–3 hours/day Most candidates (recommended)
4–6 weeks 1–2 hours/day Busy professionals, no aviation background

Pilots holding a Part 61 certificate can take a short free online course instead of the full exam, so this chapter assumes you have no prior aviation training.

Study Priority by Content Area

Order your studying by weight first, difficulty second :

Operations (35–45%) — the biggest bucket; study it first and most. Covers crew resource management, aeronautical decision-making, preflight inspection, maintenance, physiology, and operating limitations.

Airspace & Requirements (15–25%) — second-largest and the hardest for non-pilots; sectional charts and class boundaries live here.

Regulations (15–25%) — heavy on exact numbers: 400 ft AGL ceiling, 100 mph (87 kt) max groundspeed, 3 statute miles visibility, daylight/civil twilight rules.

Weather (11–16%) — METAR/TAF decoding and how density altitude and wind affect flight.

Loading & Performance (7–11%) — smallest bucket; center of gravity and load effects are conceptually simple.

The Highest-Failure Topics

These five topics account for a disproportionate share of missed questions:

Sectional chart reading — airspace shading (blue/magenta), airport symbols, Maximum Elevation Figures, and latitude/longitude.

METAR and TAF decoding — for example, METAR KORD 121755Z 27009KT 1SM BR OVC003 02/01 A2980 means Chicago O'Hare, the 12th at 1755 Zulu, wind 270° at 9 kt, visibility 1 statute mile in mist, overcast at 300 ft, temp 2°C / dewpoint 1°C, altimeter 29.80 inHg.

Airspace classification — which classes require LAANC or ATC authorization (B, C, D, and surface E) versus none (uncontrolled Class G).

Density altitude — high temperature, high humidity, and high field elevation degrade lift and propeller efficiency.

Aeronautical Decision Making (ADM) — scenario questions rewarding the conservative, safety-first choice.

Study Techniques That Work

Active recall: After a section, close the book and write what you remember. Recall beats re-reading.

Spaced repetition: Review a topic the next day, then 3 days later, then a week later, to push it into long-term memory.

Sectional chart drills: Download free FAA sectionals and practice locating Class C shelves, MEFs, and obstacles. The supplement gives you excerpts, but you must already know the legend.

METAR/TAF flashcards: Code abbreviations (BR, OVC, SM, KT, Z) recur on nearly every exam — make a deck.

Test-Taking Strategies

Strategy How To Apply It

Two-pass method Pass one: answer everything you know fast. Pass two: return to flagged items. Captures easy points first.

Elimination Cutting one wrong option raises odds from 25% to 33%; cutting two gives 50%.

Use the supplement Decode charts and METARs element by element — the FAA-CT-8080-2 booklet is provided for a reason.

Watch absolute words Options with always, never, all, none are frequently (not always) wrong; FAA answers usually carry conditions.

Time management 2 hours / 60 questions = 2 min each; cap any first-pass question at 3 minutes. Most finish 30–60 min early.

Scenario rule of thumb: When two answers both look legal, pick the one that is safer or more conservative — declining a risky flight, adding margin, or seeking authorization. The FAA almost always rewards the cautious choice.

A Two-Week Sample Schedule

If you have no aviation background, this proven sequence fits the 2-3 week / 2-3 hours-per-day plan:

Days Focus Goal
1–4 Operations Master CRM, ADM, preflight, physiology, and operating limitations
5–7 Airspace & sectional charts Read class boundaries, shelves, MEFs, and use LAANC concepts
8–9 Regulations Memorize 400 ft, 100 mph, 3 SM, registration, and waiver rules
10–11 Weather Decode 20 METARs and 10 TAFs without notes
12 Loading & Performance Center of gravity, load effects, density altitude
13–14 Full timed practice tests Score 85%+ twice before booking the exam
Why Practice Tests Are Non-Negotiable

Knowing the material and answering FAA-style questions are different skills. FAA stems are often worded to test whether you can apply a rule to a specific situation, not just recite it. Three full timed exams do three things: they expose weak topics while you still have time to fix them, they train your two-pass timing, and they build familiarity with the supplement so chart and weather figures feel routine. If a practice score sits below 85%, do not schedule — the roughly $175 retake fee makes an extra week of study the cheaper choice.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Mistake Why It Hurts Fix
Rushing weather questions Coded reports demand methodical decoding Decode each element separately

Ignoring the supplement Chart questions are near-impossible without the excerpt Practice the legend before exam day

Overthinking scenarios The FAA wants the safest answer When unsure, choose the conservative option
Saving regulations for last Reg numbers need spaced repetition Start regulations early

Studying without timed tests Knowing material ≠ test performance Take at least 3 full timed practice exams; target 85%+ before booking