Part 107 Pass Rate Falls Again: What the FAA’s 2025 Test Data Shows (and How to Pass)

The Part 107 pass rate fell again in 2025. According to the FAA’s annual Airman Knowledge Test statistics, 82.96% of Unmanned Aircraft General – Small (UAG) tests were passed in 2025, down from 84.20% in 2024. Back in 2020, the figure was 93.36%.

Meanwhile, more people are taking the test than ever. Below we break down the real FAA numbers (as of October 2026) and explain why scores keep slipping. Then we lay out a study plan that keeps you out of the failing column. If you’d rather follow a structured path, our online Part 107 test prep course is built around the same plan.

The Part 107 pass rate by year (FAA data, 2016–2025)

The FAA publishes test volume, pass rate and average score for every airman knowledge test each year. Here’s the UAG test, which is the exam behind your Remote Pilot Certificate:

*2016 was a partial year, since Part 107 was brand new. Also note that these are tests, not people. A pilot who fails and retakes the exam shows up twice.

The pattern is clear. From 2017 through 2020, before the test was expanded, roughly 92–93% of tests were passed. Since 2021, however, the Part 107 pass rate has stayed below 88%. In fact, 2025 was the lowest year on record.

2024 vs. 2025: more test takers, fewer passes

Here’s how the two most recent years compare, side by side:

• Volume: up 6,338 tests, from 67,576 to 73,914 (about 9% growth)
• Pass rate: down 1.24 points, from 84.20% to 82.96%
• Average score: down from 79.95% to 79.31%
• Tests not passed: roughly 10,700 in 2024 and 12,600 in 2025 (our math from the FAA’s volume and pass rate)

For context, the FAA’s 2025 total across all airman knowledge tests was an 89.56% pass rate. In other words, the drone test is now well below the average for FAA written exams.

That average score matters too. Because the passing line is 70%, a 79% average leaves less than a 10-point cushion. As a result, a few shaky topics can sink you. That’s exactly why a falling Part 107 pass rate should change how you study, not just how nervous you feel.

What the FAA data doesn’t tell you (the honest take)

These reports are useful, but they have limits. Before you read too much into any single year, keep these in mind:

• Counts are tests, not unique people, so retakes are mixed in.
• No split between first attempts and second attempts
• Nothing on how anyone prepared, or whether they studied at all
• No explanation for the cause of any change

So treat the trend as a warning light, not a diagnosis. Even so, a decline that has lasted five years is hard to wave away.

Why the Part 107 pass rate keeps falling

The FAA doesn’t publish a reason for the decline. However, its own documents point to a few likely factors, and our experience training pilots fills in the rest.

1. The test got bigger in 2021

On April 6, 2021, the FAA added three topics to the UAG test: operations over people, Remote ID and night operations. The updated Airman Certification Standards (FAA-S-ACS-10B) took effect the same day. The Part 107 pass rate dropped from 93.36% in 2020 to 87.63% in 2021, and it hasn’t recovered since. Of course, timing alone doesn’t prove cause. Still, the drop lines up with the year the test got harder.

2. Operations over people is the most-missed topic

The FAA also publishes the most frequently missed knowledge areas by ACS code. In three straight reports, the top UAG miss was UA.I.E.K13, Declaration of Compliance, part of the operations-over-people rules:

• July 2023–June 2024: 75.87% missed
• October 2023–September 2024: 76.34% missed
• July 2024–June 2025: 78.58% missed

That’s a narrow, rule-heavy topic, and it’s getting missed more often, not less. So if you skimmed the four categories of operations over people, go back.

3. More first-timers, thinner margins

Test volume nearly doubled between 2020 and 2025. In our experience, a lot of new candidates try to cram from free question banks and memorize answers. However, that approach falls apart when a question is worded differently than the one you memorized. With a 79% average, there isn’t much room for guessing.

4. Chart questions are about to get less predictable

Starting October 26, 2026, the FAA will add image-based questions from current sectional charts that aren’t in the printed testing supplement. Therefore, memorizing supplement figures won’t help with those. We cover the details in our post on the Part 107 test changes on October 26, 2026.

How to pass anyway (a study plan that beats the trend)

The test format hasn’t changed: 60 questions, 2 hours and a 70% passing score, according to the FAA’s testing matrix. What changes your result is how you prepare. Here’s the plan we recommend:

1. Learn the rules, not the answers. Part 107 regulations show up throughout the test. When you understand why each rule exists, you’ll handle any wording.
2. Drill operations over people. Know all four categories, what a Declaration of Compliance is, and who is responsible for what. It’s the single most-missed area in the FAA’s reports.
3. Don’t skip Remote ID and night rules. Both arrived in 2021, so older study materials may not cover them. Our Remote ID rules guide covers the basics.
4. Read charts as a skill. Practice on current sectionals you’ve never seen. Our guide to airspace classes for drone pilots is a good place to start.
5. Take timed practice tests. Start with our free Part 107 practice test, then retake it until you’re scoring well above 70% consistently.
6. Review every miss. Then study the traps in our list of common Part 107 test mistakes.

In short, aim for mastery, not a passing guess. If you’re scoring 90% or higher on quality quizzes, you’re in good shape. That’s how you stay on the right side of the Part 107 pass rate.

What happens if you fail (and how to bounce back)

Failing isn’t the end, but it costs time and money. According to the FAA’s testing matrix:

• A 14-day waiting period applies before you can retest.
• No instructor endorsement is required to retest.
• Your failed Airman Knowledge Test Report must come with you to the testing center.

You’ll also pay the testing fee again. For the full cost picture, see our drone license cost breakdown. On the bright side, your failed test report lists ACS codes for the topics you missed. Use it as your study list for round two, and then retest once you’ve closed those gaps.

FAQ (quick answers for test takers)

What is the Part 107 pass rate in 2025?
The FAA reports an 82.96% pass rate for the UAG test in 2025, across 73,914 tests. The average score was 79.31%.

Is the Part 107 test getting harder?
The FAA expanded the test in April 2021 with operations over people, Remote ID and night operations. Pass rates have been lower every year since. Additionally, new chart-image questions start on October 26, 2026.

How many times can you take the Part 107 test?
The FAA’s testing matrix doesn’t list a retake limit. However, after a failure you must wait 14 days before retesting.

What should I do after I pass?
Follow the steps in our guide on how to get your Part 107 license, from IACRA to your temporary certificate.

Pass the Part 107 the first time with Drone U

The Part 107 pass rate is falling, but you don’t have to be part of that statistic. Drone U has 10+ years of in-person drone training and 14+ years of online drone education, and we’ve built our course around the topics the FAA data says people miss.

Ultimately, the FAA isn’t grading on a curve. Prepare like the test is harder than you expect—because, by the numbers, it is.

Enroll in Drone U’s Part 107 course for $147 (regularly $197). You get on-demand video lessons, FAA-aligned quizzes (score 90%+ and you’re ready), a downloadable study guide, access to the private Drone U community, lifetime access and a 14-day money-back guarantee.

Training a team? We also prepare whole crews for the Part 107. Explore our Enterprise Drone Programs, or book a consultation to build a plan for your organization.

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