Have been only flying for recreation, but have just finished the part 107 course and scheduled for my FAA UAG pilot certification test on the 26th of July.
Here is the Best Advice I can offer for preparing and taking the Part 107 Exam…
I Aced the Exam (Scored 100%) so I am not blowing "prop wash" at you…
If you read through the various posting from the members who recently taken the Part 107 Exam, you will note that many remark that the questions were framed differently from the way the Practice Exams and quizzes are worded…
They tell how they took the practice exams over and over again until they scored in the 90's… You know what that proves, they memorized the questions and that answers… Don't keep taking the exams over and over again. Review the lessons, you do not need to review each and every lesson nor the entire video.
Shotgun the review, jump all over the place, the questions on the exam are not going to be nice and neatly clumped together…
In the days leading up to the Exam, I would go through the various lessons, just to keep the information fresh. When I was ready for the exam, I did not keep going over the Pre-Exams over and over again. All you will accomplish is memorizing the questions and answers and if a similar question crops up on the Exam, you will likely jump at the answer that was similar to the Pre-Exam's answers.
Before the Exam, if possible, drive to the testing site just so you know where it is located and the parking situation. On the day of the exam, get there early, find a place to park and turn on some music to chill out (no Top Gun Maverick soundtracks…). Do not sit in the parking lot cramming, you would not be there if you were not prepared, the cramming will only confuse you.
I also went to Harbor Freight and bought one of their $1.99 magnifying glasses, it's Good Quality and large enough to see the sectional maps…
Leave all your junk in the car (phone, pager, watch, pencils, pens, etc…), But DO NOT Forget your ID, without it, you cannot test. They are very unforgiving about that…
Before you get out of the car, take a deep breath and relax. Again, leave your cell phone in your car; you cannot have it with you during the exam.
I brought some paper towels with me to use in the facilities before the exam and wash and dry my face and hands (who wants to use toilet paper to dry off…).
You have two-hours to take the exam (so much time…). When the exam starts, there are 5-questions that do not count, perhaps to calibrate the exam or to ensure you read English… Maybe just to let you cool your jets… Who knows…
You will be provided with paper, pencils, a copy of the AKT Supplement, and a magnifying glass (the one I was provided I think came out of a cereal box…). I am glad I brought my own… If you bring your own, it cannot have any electronics in it.
The testing monitor will explain everything to you; ask questions if you have any, remember, you are paying $175 for this exam…
Before you even start the exam, take one of those pieces of paper and tear off a piece and place it in the AKT on page 1-1, so the Legend is easy to find. The Legend is basically a Cheat Sheet, it contains the answers to so many questions, use it even if you are positive of the answer, check it. You do not want to miss a question because you become over-confident.
Remember that immediately after the Legend is the complete directory for the Chart Supplement (so in case they ask how far an airport is from a city, the answer is right there.).
Even though I knew my airspace inside and out, I checked it against the legend; knowing something too well might lead you to be over-confidence.
Final note about pages numbers in the AKT; remember, page numbers and figure numbers are close, but do not match. For example, Figure 25 is on page 24, don't confuse the two.
Now breath, you have two-hours and that is an awful long time.
When you do start the exam, read every question twice, I was lucky and I was the only one in the exam room and I read those questions aloud two times, it really makes a difference when you can also hear the question…
Then when you are positive of what the question is asking, try to answer it in your head and if your answer is there in the options, you probably are correct!
If you draw a complete blank, you can "mark" the question to come back to it later. Do that, a following question just might be phrased to actually answer that other question.
If you do not have any idea what the answer is, look for the most obviously wrong answers and eliminate them, then you have a better chance of getting it right…
As for going back over your exam after you are finished, I do not recommend it. It has been established that you will only "Second Guess" yourself and your original answer was your best bet.
As I wrote, I read every question two times and I still finished the exam in about 45-minutes…
It takes about 3 weeks to get the certificate.
Good Luck and remember, all Part 107 Licenses look the same; mine did not come with Gold Trim…
Good Luck!
Still new to drone flying but advancing rapidly. Started with an EXO Ranger and was not impressed with that so upgraded the the DJI Mini 4 Pro. Night and day difference for sure. Have been only flying for recreation, but have just finished the part 107 course and scheduled for my FAA UAG pilot certification test on the 26th of July. Not sure how much commercial work I will do, but just wanted to be prepared for it if I do.
