Part 107 Study Guide: 7 Tips to Pass the First Time
In the following list, we cover our top 10 tips to help you prepare for the FAA Part 107 drone test. This list is based on our personal experience after successfully passing the Part 107 test for commercial drone pilots. We also include tips and tricks from the drone pilot community who have successfully passed the FAA Part 107 exam.
1. Know exactly what topics are asked on the FAA Part 107 test
Sure, you probably already know that the Part 107 test covers a bunch of drone-related stuff like airspace classifications and weather. But did you know the FAA actually publishes a list of the exact topics that could be on the test? Knowing these specific topics, like the effects of weather on drones, instead of just the general categories, will make sure there are no surprises on test day. These topics include drone operation best practices, weather effects on drones, how to deal with airports' airspace, and so on.
See full list of topics asked on the Part 107 test >
2. Prioritize studying for topics that appear on the test more often than others
The Part 107 test covers 17 major topics (airport operations, emergency procedures, etc) and 140 subtopics that fall inside the 17 major subtopics. Some topics will show up more often than others. For instance, you will see more questions regarding drone operations than you will see about loading & performance. We recommend you quantify how many hours total you will study, say you will study for 10 hours total. Take each topic’s percentage and multiply it by the number of hours you are studying total. For example if you are studying for a total of 10 hours, you should study 40% x 10 hours = 4 hours on drone operations.
3. Spend more time doing practice questions than reading or watching theory
When prepping for the Part 107 test, it’s more helpful to spend more time doing practice questions rather than just reading through theory. While understanding the concepts is important, practice questions is ultimately how you will be tested. Practice questions simulate the real test-day experience. Practice questions also allow you to study in small chunks as opposed to overwhelming amounts of information about a topic. Practice questions also test your knowledge, unlike reading theory. You will either get the question right or the question wrong. This information tells you how ready you are about a specific topic. You will get a score. Reading long passages only about the different topics on the test does help study for the test definitely, but it doesn't help as much as doing practice questions does. The FAA posted free example questions that are similar to the questions you will see on the real test. We took those questions and provided detailed solutions to help you study.
4. Re-do practice questions you got wrong in the past. Don't just move on.
If you get a practice problem wrong, resist the urge to just glance at the solution and move on. Instead, take the time to understand what went wrong, then tackle the problem again from scratch without peeking at the answer at a later time. Note which question it was that you got wrong and put it in a pile of questions to revisit. Try talking through your process out loud as you work through it. This way, you'll build “muscle memory” for similar problems, so you'll be more prepared if you encounter them on the actual test.
5. Study for at least a full 10 hours over the course of 2 weeks but not all at once.
To effectively prepare for the Part 107 test, aim to study for at least 10 full hours over the course of 2 weeks. Breaking this study time into manageable sessions will help you retain information better and prevent burnout. For instance, you could plan to study for about an hour each day, allowing you to cover different topics and review your progress consistently. This approach not only keeps the material fresh in your mind but also gives you ample time to address any areas where you might need extra practice. By spreading out your study sessions, you’ll be more likely to build a solid understanding of the content and be well-prepared for the test.
6. Let your brain relax the night before the test. Don't cram before the test.
A big mistake people make is they stay up late studying the night before the test. That is a big mistake. Why? Because by doing so, you are not allowing your brain to rest and be at maximum thinking capacity the following day. You will be compromising hours of studying you did days prior to study one topic that might appear as only one of the 60 questions on the test.
7. Stop wasting time over planning, just get started.
Planning is the smart approach to studying, of course, but don't over do it. Don't plan so much to where it's taking time away from you actually practicing. Even not optimal studying techniques over the course of 10 hours will trump 5 hours of optimal studying because you wasted so much time planning.
