GVC Practice Test

GVC Exam at a Glance

What changed for GVC in 2026

• Oct 27, 2026: Delivery changed to CAA-approved RAE(PC) (previously Theory and practical flight assessment at a CAA-approved RAE(PC)).^[3]
• Oct 27, 2026: Number of questions changed to 5 theoretical subjects plus practical flight assessment (previously Theory assessment in 5 subjects plus a practical flight assessment).^[1]
• Oct 27, 2026: Passing score (Practical flight assessment) changed to Fail at 7 minor, 3 major, or 1 safety error (previously Fail at 7 minor, 3 major or any 1 safety error (CAA guide)).^[1]
• Oct 27, 2026: Retake policy (Practical flight assessment) changed to Unlimited attempts; RAE may require further training (previously Unlimited flight assessment attempts; RAE may require more training).^[1]
• Oct 27, 2026: Validity changed to 5 years (previously 5 years from date of issue).^[1]
• Oct 27, 2026: Renewal changed to No GVC issued after 31 Dec 2027; existing valid to expiry; bridging to RPC-L1 available (previously No GVC issued after 31 Dec 2027; existing GVCs valid to expiry; GVC holders can bridge to RPC-L1).^[2]

GVC Study Tips

• Create a structured study schedule at least 4-6 weeks before your GVC exam date.
• Focus on understanding core concepts rather than memorising answers for the General Visual Line of Sight Certificate for Commercial Drones.
• Use our free practice tests to identify weak areas and track your progress over time.
• Review the official GVC exam syllabus to ensure complete topic coverage.
• Take timed practice sessions to build your exam pace and reduce test-day anxiety.

Free GVC Drone Study Tools

Interactive GVC Drone resources on PracticeTestGeeks, free to start:

• GVC Drone flashcards — review key terms and concepts card by card
• GVC Drone study guide — topic-by-topic overview of what the exam covers
• GVC Drone cheat sheet — one-page printable summary for last-minute review

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]

Worked examples: how to reason through GVC questions

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.

Example 1

Question: Which coordinate reference system is most commonly used for UAS flight planning and navigation in the UK?

1. British National Grid (OSGB36) only
2. WGS84 (World Geodetic System 1984)
3. UTM Zone 30N exclusively
4. Maidenhead Locator System

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'.

Example 2

Question: What is the recommended action when a LiPo battery's capacity has dropped to 80% of its original rated capacity?

1. Retire the battery from flight operations — it has degraded beyond safe use limits
2. Continue using it but only for shorter flights
3. Recharge to 100% after every use to recover capacity
4. Store at room temperature to restore original 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.

Example 3

Question: What is an 'Operational Safety Objective' (OSO) in the SORA framework?

1. A financial target for the UAS operator
2. A specific safety requirement that must be met based on the SAIL level
3. A recommendation with no regulatory force
4. A maintenance schedule for the UAS

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.

How to use these practice tests

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.

Ready to Pass the GVC?

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).

Sample GVC Drone Practice Questions

Try these questions from our free GVC Drone practice tests. The correct answer and an explanation follow each question.

1. When planning a flight route for a commercial UAS operation, which of the following should be given the HIGHEST priority?

   • A. Achieving the most dramatic camera angles
   • B. Minimising flight time over uninvolved persons and congested areas
   • C. Maximising the ground area covered per battery
   • D. Following the most direct straight-line path

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.

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.

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.

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.

Take the full GVC Drone practice test

Sources & last verified

1. UK Civil Aviation Authority — number of questions, passing score, retake policy, validity (official source). “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.…” Verified Oct 27, 2026 · source checked Oct 17, 2026.
2. UK Civil Aviation Authority — renewal (official source). “The issuance of the GVC will be discontinued on 31 December 2027. From this date, all remote pilot training and assessment will be conducted under…” Verified Oct 28, 2026 · source checked Oct 28, 2026.
3. UK Civil Aviation Authority — delivery, eligibility (official source). “A GVC trainee must have passed the theoretical assessment and practical flight assessment at a CAA approved RAE(PC).” Verified Oct 27, 2026 · source checked Oct 17, 2026.

How we verify: editorial & fact-checking policy. Report an error: contact us.