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Part 107 test prep options, compared honestly
You can pass with free FAA materials alone if you study consistently. Paid options mainly add structure, volume of practice questions and explanations. Sectional Cue is a paid unlock with a free sample, focused on reading sectional chart figures, and it is one tool among several. We sell it, so weigh this comparison accordingly.
What are the main ways to prepare?
| Option | Cost type | Best for | Limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| FAA Remote Pilot sUAS Study Guide, 14 CFR Part 107, AC 107-2A | Free | The authoritative source for every topic | Reading only, no practice questions; the study guide copy is dated 2016 |
| Remote Pilot ACS (Airman Certification Standards) | Free | Seeing exactly which knowledge areas the test is written against | A standards document, not a teaching text |
| FAA testing supplement (FAA-CT-8080-2H) | Free | Seeing the exact chart and weather figures | No explanations |
| PSI sample test | Free | Seeing the question format on the real test platform | PSI says it does not cover the full range of content or difficulty |
| Free chart labs and quizzes from training sites | Free | Extra chart reps | Quality and currency vary; check the date |
| Books and printed study guides | One-time purchase | Reading away from a screen, structured chapters | Editions age; check the publication date against the current rules |
| Video courses and full exam-prep sites | Usually paid | Guided structure, instructor explanations | Price varies; compare what is included |
| Live ground school or instructor-led class | Usually paid | Questions answered by a person, a fixed schedule | Fixed dates and place; the FAA does not require a class to test |
| Question-bank apps | Free tier or paid | High volume of practice on a phone | Check that questions are original, current and explained |
| Sectional Cue (Android, US) | Free sample, US$29.99 one-time | Tapping FAA chart figures to read each symbol, plus original questions that cite the rule | Android only, no iPhone version; practice only, not a pass guarantee |
Sources (checked 2026-11-12): FAA Remote Pilot sUAS Study Guide (FAA-G-8082-22); FAA airman testing supplements (FAA-CT-8080-2H); PSI UAG Information Bulletin (effective 29 Sep 2025).
One fact makes the free route realistic: the PSI bulletin says the UAG test needs no instructor endorsement or other written authorization (checked 2026-11-14). No class or course is required to be allowed to take the test, so every paid option here is a convenience you choose.
What should I check before paying for any course?
Ask whether the rules are current (the UAG test, night flight, operations over people and Remote ID rules all changed in recent years), whether questions are original rather than copied from the FAA or recalled from exams, whether each answer is explained with a source, and whether refunds follow your store's policy. Sectional Cue's questions are original and cited; see sources.
The question about recalled exam items matters for more than quality. The PSI bulletin says copying or communicating examination content is a violation of PSI security policy and existing law, and it can mean invalidated results and possible prosecution (checked 2026-11-14). A product that advertises "real exam questions" is describing material the testing rules say people may not share, so look for original practice items that teach the rule instead.
How current should the material be?
The version of the test matters. PSI's bulletin for the Unmanned Aircraft General - Small test is effective September 29, 2025, and says its content weights came from a 2025 job task analysis (PSI bulletin, checked 2026-11-14). Compare any resource's dates against that. The FAA study guide cover shows August 2016, so it predates the 2021 night and operations over people changes; the rule text in 14 CFR 107.29 says night flight needs a test or training completed after April 6, 2021, so older books and videos can be wrong on night operations. Also look for Remote ID: the FAA recreational page says drones that need registration must broadcast Remote ID as of September 16, 2023 unless flown in a FRIA (checked 2026-11-14).
Worked example
Spotting an old resource in two minutes
Say a video course lists "waiver required for night flights" and never mentions anti-collision lighting. Open 107.29. It lets you fly at night without a waiver if the remote pilot completed the right test or training after April 6, 2021 and the aircraft has anti-collision lighting visible for at least 3 statute miles. The course is out of date on a topic that is a regular test subject, which tells you to check the rest of it against the eCFR before you trust it.
Which option fits which learner?
| If you are... | A sensible mix | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Disciplined and short on money | FAA study guide + ACS + testing supplement + free chart lessons + the PSI sample test | Everything on the test is covered by free official sources; you supply the practice discipline |
| Better at hearing than reading | A video course for week 1 to 3, then free or paid practice questions | Spoken explanations help first exposure; questions test whether it stuck |
| Weak on sectional charts | Free chart lessons, then a tool that lets you tap each symbol on FAA figures | Airspace and chart reading is 20 percent of the test |
| Someone who needs deadlines | A live class or a set study calendar | Fixed dates create the habit; the test does not require it |
| A Part 61 pilot | None; use the free FAA course instead of the test | Part 61 pilots with a current flight review skip the UAG test |
Worked example
Costing two routes
Say the PSI test fee is F, whatever PSI shows when you book. Route one uses only free FAA material and the free PSI sample test, so the total is F. Route two adds a one-time paid practice tool at US$29.99, so the total is F plus US$29.99. The test fee is the same in both. A route costs more only by what you add, and whether it earns that back depends on whether it gets you to study on days you would otherwise skip. Do not count a retest as free: another try means another booking and a 14-day wait, so spend on whatever raises your odds of passing the first time.
Where does Sectional Cue fit?
Use it for chart reading and mixed practice after you read the FAA guide. The app has 1150+ questions, tap-to-read cues on FAA figures, and timed 60-question rehearsals on the published test weighting. The first free chart lessons and about 152 questions are on this site and in the app at no cost. It is Android only, it is an independent product from Certloom Learning with no FAA or PSI affiliation, and it does not replace reading the FAA sources. If you are on an iPhone, the free options in the table are your path.
How do I judge a practice question?
A good question asks about one rule or one chart reading, has exactly one best answer, and tells you the source after you answer. A weak one tests trivia or your memory of a wording. Check three things on any bank. First, can you tell why each wrong choice is wrong? Second, does the explanation cite a rule, chart cue or handbook page you can open? Third, does it include chart figure questions that use the FAA figures, since reading a figure is a different skill from knowing a definition? Run a few from the free tier before paying; if the free sample feels thin on explanations, the paid part will too.
What does a balanced plan look like?
| Week | Free official source | Optional paid or practice add-on |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Part 107 rules in the study guide and eCFR | Rule-focused practice sets |
| 2 | Chart chapter, testing supplement figures, free chart lessons | Tap-through chart practice |
| 3 | Weather, loading, operations chapters | Video explanations or mixed sets |
| 4 | PSI sample test, review of your error log | Timed 60-question rehearsals |
See the study plan for the weighting behind this order, and the two-week plan if you are short on time.
Which marketing claims should I question?
- "Pass guaranteed." No product can promise your FAA result. Look at the refund terms in writing and see what a refund requires from you.
- "Real exam questions." See the PSI security rule above; sharing exam content is prohibited, so ask where the items came from.
- "Updated for the latest test." Ask for the date and what changed. The PSI bulletin in force when we checked is effective September 29, 2025.
- "Thousands of questions." Volume helps only if the explanations are good and the questions are not near-duplicates of each other.
- "Works on every device." Confirm it runs on the phone, tablet or computer you will use before you buy.
None of these is a reason to avoid paid material. They are questions to ask before you spend, and the free official sources in the table let you judge the answers. A quick test: pick three rules you already know from the eCFR, find them in the product, and see whether it states them the same way and cites them. If it cannot, move on to a different tool.
Related guides
- How to study for the Part 107 test
- Free sectional chart practice
- Part 107 test day: cost, ID, what to bring and retakes
- A two-week Part 107 study plan, day by day
- All Part 107 guides
Study the charts on your phone
Sectional Cue has 1150+ original questions with explanations, 27 FAA figures you can tap to read, and timed 60-question rehearsals. About 152 questions and three chart lessons are free.
Sources
- FAA Remote Pilot sUAS Study Guide (FAA-G-8082-22), checked 2026-11-14
- FAA airman testing supplements (FAA-CT-8080-2H), checked 2026-11-14
- PSI UAG Information Bulletin (effective 29 Sep 2025), checked 2026-11-14
- 14 CFR 107.29 (eCFR), checked 2026-11-14
- FAA: Recreational Flyers and Community-Based Organizations, checked 2026-11-14
How this page was made: written by Certloom Learning from the sources above, with the rules checked against the current regulation text. Practice items are original questions from the app's reviewed bank. Spot an error? certloomlearning@gmail.com.