Full Mock Certification Exams and Final Readiness Certification
Objective. Learners sit full-length, timed mock exams for all three credentials under realistic testing conditions, review performance data, and receive a written readiness determination that confirms whether each learner is prepared to schedule the live credential exams.
This lesson, its worked examples and its practice questions has not yet been verified by an industry-certified professional or by a certification or approval body. It is a study draft and may contain errors. Do not use it as instructions for work on a job site or on live equipment. Always follow your instructor, your supervising professional, and current official references and regulations.
VoTechWorks program approval and accreditation are still in progress. Credentials are issued only by the certifying bodies named in each program, after their own exams.
Full Mock Certification Exams and Final Readiness Certification
This lesson is the capstone of your exam-preparation course. You will sit full-length, timed mock exams for all three credentials under conditions that mirror the real testing environment as closely as possible. After each mock, you will analyze your results, complete corrective work, and receive a written readiness determination from your instructor. The goal is not just to practice answering questions — it is to arrive at your live exam date with documented evidence that you are prepared.
Why Simulate Real Testing Conditions
Research in instructional design consistently shows that practice under conditions that match the real assessment produces better transfer of learning. That means no notes, no open browsers, no conversations, and a running clock. Sit upright at a desk. Use only approved materials — non-programmable calculator, printed sectional charts for Part 107, and blank scratch paper. Silence your phone. If you find this uncomfortable, that discomfort is useful information: it tells you what to address before the real exam day.
The three credentials you are preparing for use different delivery formats. FAA Part 107 is administered at an FAA-approved testing center as a computer-based test. Esri ArcGIS Pro Associate is delivered online through Pearson VUE or a similar authorized proctoring platform and includes performance-based item types. NSPS CST Levels 1 and 2 are written examinations administered under NSPS guidelines. Your mock exams replicate these formats as faithfully as possible given classroom resources.
FAA Part 107 Mock Exam
You will sit a 60-question mock exam assembled by your instructor from the official FAA knowledge test question bank. Time allowed is 2 hours — the same as the live test. Use a printed answer sheet and a pencil. FAA sectional charts are permitted and you should use them; interpreting airspace depictions under time pressure is a testable skill, not just background knowledge.
Immediately after your answers are scored, complete a question-level post-mortem. For every question you missed, identify the specific Airman Certification Standards (ACS) task code and the relevant regulation or advisory circular. Write a one-page remediation memo that lists each missed item, the correct answer, the ACS task code, and a one-sentence statement of what you misunderstood. This memo serves as a precision study guide — it tells you exactly what to review rather than re-reading everything.
The clearance threshold for this mock is 80% (48 of 60 questions correct). The live FAA Part 107 knowledge test passing score is 70%, so the 80% mock threshold gives you a meaningful safety margin.
Esri ArcGIS Pro Associate Mock Exam
The live Esri ArcGIS Pro Associate exam includes multiple-choice questions and performance-based items. Your 50-question mock simulates performance items as scenario-based multiple choice and drag-the-step sequencing questions. Time allowed is 1 hour 30 minutes.
After scoring, map every missed question to the corresponding Esri exam objective published in the official exam guide. Then open ArcGIS Pro and complete the actual task described by that objective as a corrective exercise. Mapping theory to hands-on execution is especially important here because Esri exams test workflow knowledge — knowing the correct sequence of steps, not just vocabulary. The clearance threshold is 75%.
NSPS CST Level 1 and Level 2 Mock Exams
The CST mocks are administered on separate days to avoid fatigue effects. Each exam follows NSPS timing guidelines. Use a non-programmable calculator for computation questions. After each exam, complete worked corrections on every missed problem. Show all calculation steps in full. Your instructor will review and sign off your corrections to confirm they are accurate before you update your personal tracking spreadsheet. The clearance threshold for each level is 70%.
CST Level 1 emphasizes fundamentals: measurement, basic math, equipment operation, and field safety. CST Level 2 adds coordinate geometry (COGO), traverses, and more advanced instrument use. If you struggle with Level 2 calculation items, return to your traverse and COGO notes before retaking the mock.
The Readiness Determination
Your instructor will issue a written readiness determination after all mocks are scored and corrections are reviewed. Clearance requires meeting all four thresholds simultaneously:
- FAA Part 107 mock: ≥ 80%
- Esri ArcGIS Pro mock: ≥ 75%
- CST Level 1 mock: ≥ 70%
- CST Level 2 mock: ≥ 70%
If you fall below any single threshold, you receive a directed remediation assignment targeting your identified weak areas, then one retake of that mock before the course ends. A retake on one credential does not delay clearance for credentials where you already met the threshold.
Safety and Professional Conduct During Mock Exams
Academic integrity is a professional standard in this trade, not only a school rule. Surveyors and remote pilots certify the accuracy of their work with their license on the line. Using unauthorized materials during a mock exam undermines your own preparation and is inconsistent with the professional ethics required in the field. Treat the mock as you would treat the real exam.
For any exam involving fieldwork or equipment (such as instrument checks during CST practice sessions), standard PPE applies: high-visibility vests near roadways, steel-toed boots on construction sites, and sun protection during extended outdoor sessions. Drone flights conducted as part of exam review must comply with all FAA Part 107 operational rules, including visual line-of-sight, airspace authorization, and pre-flight inspection requirements.
After Clearance: Scheduling Your Live Exams
Once cleared, schedule your exams promptly. FAA Part 107 knowledge tests are available at FAA-approved testing centers; check the FAA website for current scheduling procedures. Esri exams are booked through the authorized proctoring platform listed on the Esri Training website. NSPS CST exams are administered on a schedule published by NSPS; confirm current dates and registration requirements directly with NSPS. Fees and registration details change; always verify with the issuing body before paying.
Key terms10
Materials: FAA Part 107 full-length practice exam (instructor-assembled from official FAA question bank), Esri mock exam (Esri Certification Practice Test or equivalent), NSPS CST Level 1 and Level 2 practice exams, printed answer sheets, non-programmable calculators, stopwatch or exam-room clock, FAA sectional charts (for Part 107), personal tracking spreadsheets, readiness determination form
Check: Instructor issues a written readiness determination: learner is cleared to schedule live exams when mock scores reach FAA Part 107 ≥ 80%, Esri ArcGIS Pro ≥ 75%, CST Level 1 ≥ 70%, and CST Level 2 ≥ 70%; learners below any threshold receive a directed remediation assignment and one retake of that mock before the course ends.
Practice check8
Answer each question, then check it. Nothing is recorded; this is your own practice.
