An Update on the Amateur Radio Licence Exams UK

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An Update on the Amateur Radio Licence Exams UK

The amateur radio licence examinations will need to change to reflect the changes to the licence conditions announced by Ofcom.

The scale of the licence changes will have a significant impact on Section 1 of the syllabus (licensing) and a small impact on Section 7 (operating). Ofcom is currently reviewing representations and will publish its final decision, including the final version of the licence, before 21 February 2024.

In parallel with the Ofcom consultation and representation periods, we have been working on the syllabus and published an early draft on the RSGB web site.

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New Amateur Extra-Class Question Pool Released

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The National Conference of Volunteer Examiner Coordinators (NCVEC) Question Pool Committee (QPC) has released the 2024 - 2028 Extra-Class FCC Element 4 Question Pool and Syllabus to the public. The new Extra-Class Question Pool is effective from 1st July 2024, through 30th June 2028.

The 2024 - 2028 pool is available as a Microsoft Word document and as a PDF. The 10 graphics required for the new Extra-Class Question Pool are available within the documents or separately in PDF and JPG file formats.

“The new pool incorporates significant changes compared to the 2020 - 2024 version. We carefully went over the pool for technical accuracy, relevancy to today’s amateur radio practices, syntax, grammar, style, format, and clarity and redundancy within and between the pools. With these goals in mind, 82 new questions were created, and 101 questions were eliminated, resulting in a reduction [of] the number of questions from 622 to 603. Over 350 questions were modified. We considered a question modified when the knowledge being tested was not changed but wording was improved, or answers or distractors were replaced.”
— ARRL VEC Manager Maria Somma, AB1FM, member of the NCVEC QPC

Somma advised that "the newly revised pool must be used for Extra-class license exams starting 1st July 2024. New test designs will be available to ARRL Volunteer Examiners (VEs) on that date. The ARRL VEC will supply its officially appointed, field-stocked VE teams with new Extra-class exam booklet designs around mid-June."

Extra-class examination candidates preparing for their exams using the 12th edition of The ARRL Extra Class License Manual or the 5th edition of ARRL's Extra Q & A are encouraged to test on or before 30th June 2024. New editions of ARRL licensing publications will be available in May for exams taken on or after 1st July 2024.

RCF funds amateur radio exams for young people

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RCF funds amateur radio exams for young people

This is great news from the Radio Communications Foundation (RCF) that could impact a young person that you know. The RCF is a small charity that seeks to promote radio engineering and amateur radio.

Last year, a number of teachers identified the cost of Foundation exams as a barrier for some young people. The RCF Trustees considered how they might help. Funding exams for every youngster was seen to be unaffordable, and unnecessary, in many cases. As a start, and to help those with greatest need, the Trustees have agreed to fund 60 Foundation exams each year. The funding will be available to anyone who is under the age of 21, in full-time education and needs help with the exam fee.

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