The FAA has launched its 2025 Airman Information Take a look at information, and if you happen to’re searching for a feel-good story in regards to the state of drone pilot preparedness in America, you received’t discover it right here. Not solely are scores on the Small Unmanned Plane Common (UAG) Information Take a look at — the examination required to fly commercially beneath Half 107 — nonetheless lagging behind each different main FAA take a look at, they really bought worse final yr.
The truth is, common Half 107 scores in 2025 noticed all-time lows. Not coincidentally, 2025 additionally gave us the bottom total Half 107 take a look at move fee. In 2025, simply 82.96% of Half 107 test-takers handed, clocking a median rating of simply 79.31%.
2025 additionally gave us an all-time excessive of individuals trying to take the Half 107 take a look at — 73,914 aspiring pilots complete (up from about 67,500 in 2024, and practically double the roughly 40,000 who tried in 2020).
In different phrases, extra individuals than ever are pursuing their drone license — and but each the typical rating and the move fee ticked down yr over yr.
A historical past of Half 107 take a look at scores
2025 was the bleakest yr but for Half 107 take a look at scores, however they’ve really been falling for years. In 2024, only a smidge extra individuals handed, with the typical rating at 79.95% (vs 2025’s 79.31%) and the typical move fee at 84.20% versus 2025’s (82.96%).
To be clear, 79.31% is technically a passing grade (the minimal is 70%). However it’s not a very good one. It’s a C+. And scores have been largely trending downward yearly. Right here’s how they appear, primarily based on FAA information:
| 12 months | Take a look at-Takers | Avg Rating | Cross Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 16,263 | 81.09% | 90.07% |
| 2017 | 41,074 | 82.65% | 93.02% |
| 2018 | 40,985 | 83.05% | 93.03% |
| 2019 | 45,892 | 82.99% | 92.23% |
| 2020 | 39,455 | 83.56% | 93.36% |
| 2021 | 53,681 | 81.20% | 87.63% |
| 2022 | 57,049 | 80.31% | 85.68% |
| 2023 | 63,935 | 81.22% | 87.07% |
| 2024 | 67,576 | 79.95% | 84.20% |
| 2025 | 73,914 | 79.31% | 82.96% |
The Half 107 take a look at went reside in mid-2016, which explains why the test-taking fee was a lot decrease them. For the file, I took the take a look at in October 2016. I handed the Half 107 take a look at with a rating of 90%, and I studied nearly completely through the use of the Drone Pilot Floor College on-line course.
The Half 107 examination is the preferred FAA take a look at — and the worst-performing
Of the 293,516 individuals who took an FAA Airman Information Take a look at of any type in 2025 (that features industrial airline pilot, upkeep or transport pilot exams, amongst others), the general move fee was 89.56%. The Half 107 examination’s 82.96% move fee falls effectively wanting that benchmark. And the typical rating of 79.31% is decrease than nearly each comparable take a look at on the listing.
Take the Airplane Non-public Pilot take a look at: 44,657 individuals took it in 2025, with a median rating of 81.64% and a move fee of 89.56%. The Airplane Instrument Score take a look at noticed 27,143 takers put up a median of 86.15% with a 94.38% move fee. Even the Aviation Upkeep Technician exams (notoriously powerful exams overlaying plane programs) have comparable or higher move charges regardless of requiring deep technical data.
The gold customary? The Navy Competence Teacher take a look at, the place 1,028 test-takers averaged a 96.02% with a 99.22% move fee. (Granted, that inhabitants is… just a little self-selected.)
So what’s happening?
The expansion in take a look at quantity is sort of definitely a part of the story. As drones turn out to be extra mainstream — whether or not for actual property pictures, building web site mapping, content material creation, or supply — extra individuals with various (or no) aviation backgrounds are pursuing their Half 107. Which means the test-taking pool contains everybody from seasoned pilots including a credential to complete newcomers who’ve by no means thought of airspace classification of their lives.
Extra test-takers from a wider vary of backgrounds means extra variability in preparation. That variability tends to drag averages down. It’s not essentially that drone pilots are getting dumber (although with phrases like AI-driven mind rot being thrown round, who is aware of?).
Both manner, the drop in scores must be semi-concerning. The Half 107 take a look at exists for a cause: it ensures that industrial drone operators perceive airspace guidelines, climate patterns, and security procedures. A decrease common rating means extra pilots are flying commercially with shakier foundational data. That’s not nice for anybody sharing the sky.
What you are able to do about it (to your personal Half 107 take a look at rating, at the least)
You may’t management what 73,000 different individuals rating. However you’ll be able to be sure you’re not the one dragging down the typical. Listed below are the fundamentals:
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