The General Visual Line of Sight Certificate for Commercial Drones is a professional certification assessment in United Kingdom. Thorough preparation is essential to demonstrate your knowledge and competency in this field.
Our comprehensive collection of free GVC practice questions covers all exam domains and topics. Use these detailed study materials to build confidence and improve your test performance.
Numbers in brackets link to the official sources listed under Sources & last verified. Dates that have passed are removed automatically.
| Item | Detail | Source · Verified |
|---|---|---|
| Number of questions | 5 theoretical subjects plus practical flight assessment[1] | UK Civil Aviation Authority · Oct 27, 2026 |
| Passing score (Practical flight assessment) | Fail at 7 minor, 3 major, or 1 safety error[1] | UK Civil Aviation Authority · Oct 27, 2026 |
| Retake policy (Practical flight assessment) | Unlimited attempts; RAE may require further training[1] | UK Civil Aviation Authority · Oct 27, 2026 |
| Validity | 5 years[1] | UK Civil Aviation Authority · Oct 27, 2026 |
| Renewal | No GVC issued after 31 Dec 2027; existing valid to expiry; bridging to RPC-L1 available[2] | UK Civil Aviation Authority · Oct 28, 2026 |
| Delivery | CAA-approved RAE(PC)[3] | UK Civil Aviation Authority · Oct 27, 2026 |
| Eligibility | Flyer ID required; no minimum age[3] | UK Civil Aviation Authority · Oct 27, 2026 |
Important: The GVC examination requires thorough understanding of all core subject areas. Review the official UK exam guidelines and ensure you meet all eligibility requirements before scheduling your test date.
Interactive GVC Drone resources on PracticeTestGeeks, free to start:
According to UK Civil Aviation Authority, “A GVC trainee must demonstrate a level of knowledge appropriate to the privileges granted in the following subjects: Air law. Aircraft general knowledge. Human performance. Meteorology. Operational procedures.”[1]
Prepare for the GVC - General Visual Line of Sight Certificate (Drone) exam with our free practice test modules. Each quiz covers key topics to help you pass on your first try.
These are practice questions written for this site, not questions from the real exam. Each explanation shows why the right answer is right and why the others are wrong.
Question: Which coordinate reference system is most commonly used for UAS flight planning and navigation in the UK?
Answer: B. WGS84 (World Geodetic System 1984)
Explanation:
WGS84 is correct because it is the global datum that satellite navigation receivers use and that aviation charts and airspace definitions are built on. British National Grid is a national mapping system, so it is not the common reference for flight planning, and the word 'only' makes that option wrong. UTM Zone 30N is a map projection rather than the datum itself, and 'exclusively' rules it out. Maidenhead Locator is a grid system used in amateur radio and has no role in drone navigation. Rule to remember: when a question asks for the standard reference for aviation or GNSS positions, choose the worldwide datum. Be wary of options that use absolute words such as 'only' or 'exclusively'.
Question: What is the recommended action when a LiPo battery's capacity has dropped to 80% of its original rated capacity?
Answer: A. Retire the battery from flight operations — it has degraded beyond safe use limits
Explanation:
Retiring the battery is correct. At 80% of rated capacity, a LiPo cell is degraded enough that voltage can sag under load, which risks a sudden loss of power in flight. Flying shorter sessions does not remove that risk, because the weakness shows up under load, not only in duration. Recharging to full after every use does not restore lost capacity, since the loss is permanent chemical ageing. Storing at room temperature does not reverse it either. Good storage slows further wear but cannot undo it. Rule to remember: capacity loss in a battery is a retirement decision, not something you can fix with charging or storage habits.
Question: What is an 'Operational Safety Objective' (OSO) in the SORA framework?
Answer: B. A specific safety requirement that must be met based on the SAIL level
Explanation:
An Operational Safety Objective is a specific safety requirement that must be met, and the level of robustness it needs depends on the SAIL level. Each one addresses an area of risk, such as pilot competency, aircraft design or maintenance. It is not a financial target, because SORA is a safety risk framework and has nothing to do with business goals. It is not an optional recommendation, because the objectives must be satisfied to the required level once the SAIL is set. It is not a maintenance schedule, although maintenance is one area an objective can cover. Rule to remember: SAIL sets the level, and the OSOs are the requirements you must show you meet at that level.
Start with the official material. Read the CAA's GVC pages on the regulatory library so you know the 5 theory subjects and how the practical flight assessment is marked. Ask your chosen RAE(PC) what the theory format and pass mark are, since those details are not set out here.
Next, take the general set at /gvc-drone-commercial/ without notes to see where you stand. Then work through the topic sets in order of weakness. Meteorology, UK drone legislation, human factors, battery and equipment care, and emergency procedures line up most closely with the CAA subjects. Our sets also cover wider commercial and specific category topics such as SORA, PDRA and BVLOS, so treat those as extra reading and not as part of the GVC list.
After each set, read every explanation, including the ones for questions you got right. Write down the rule behind each miss in one line and review those lines before your next session.
Our questions are written by us and are not real exam questions, so use them to check understanding, not to memorise answers. Leave time to practise the flying itself with your provider, because the practical assessment is judged on errors, not on knowledge alone.
Join thousands of candidates who have used our free practice tests to prepare for the General Visual Line of Sight Certificate for Commercial Drones. Start practising today and build the confidence you need to succeed. Practice with the free GVC Drone practice test on PracticeTestGeeks (7 questions with answer explanations).
Try these questions from our free GVC Drone practice tests. The correct answer and an explanation follow each question.
When planning a flight route for a commercial UAS operation, which of the following should be given the HIGHEST priority?
Answer: B. Minimising flight time over uninvolved persons and congested areas
Safety is the overriding priority in flight planning. Routes should be planned to minimise overflying uninvolved persons, congested areas, and sensitive sites. This reduces the ground risk and is a key element of the operator's duty of care and SORA compliance.
How should a remote pilot respond if an uninvolved person enters the operational area during flight?
Answer: B. Assess the risk, manoeuvre the UAS away from the person, pause or abort the operation if necessary, and have a crew member warn them
The pilot should dynamically assess the risk, manoeuvre the UAS away from the uninvolved person to maintain safe separation, and if necessary pause or abort the operation. A crew member or observer should be tasked with approaching the person to warn them of the drone operation. The response should be proportionate to the risk level.
What does the GVC qualification enable a remote pilot to do under UK drone regulations?
Answer: C. Fly in the Specific category under PDRA01 and applicable standard scenarios
The GVC (General VLOS Certificate) is a competency certificate that enables remote pilots to fly under PDRA01 (and applicable standard scenarios) within the Specific category. It does not grant unrestricted airspace access or BVLOS privileges.
A commercial drone operator collects aerial footage of a construction site containing workers' faces. What data protection obligation arises?
Answer: A. The footage contains personal data — the operator must have a lawful basis, inform workers (transparency), and secure the footage appropriately under UK GDPR
Identifiable facial images of workers constitute personal data under UK GDPR, even in a commercial/professional context. The operator must have a lawful basis (often legitimate interests for site documentation), must be transparent about data collection (usually via site briefings or signage), and must store the footage securely.
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