Chapter 6
Taking the Exam
IN THIS CHAPTER
Searching for an exam session
Registering for a session
Arriving on the Big Day
After your diligent studies, you find yourself easily passing the online exams by a comfortable margin. Now you’re ready to — drumroll, please! — take the exam.
If you’re part of a class or study group, the exam may already be part of the program. In this case, you’re all set; just show up on time. Skip to the last section of this chapter.
If you’re studying on your own, however, read on. This chapter tells you where and when you can take the exam.
Finding an Exam Session
Fortunately for you, finding a schedule of exam sessions in your area is pretty easy. The Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) certified organizations that serve as Volunteer Examiner Coordinators (VECs) are listed on the National Council of VECs (NCVEC; www.ncvec.org) website. (For details on the connection between VECs and licensing exams, see Chapter 4.)
If a VEC in the list is close to you, start by contacting that organization. Many VECs have websites, and all of them have email contacts. Visit the website or send an email that says something like this: “My name is … and I want to take the Technician (or General or Amateur Extra) class license exam. Please send me a list of examination sites and dates. I live in …”
If you don’t see a nearby VEC, or if no exams are scheduled at times or places that are suitable for you, you can find an exam conducted by one of these wide-area VEC organizations:
- ARRL VEC exams: The American Radio Relay League (ARRL) has a VEC that operates nationwide. Search for exams based on your zip code at
www.arrl.org/exam. - W5YI VEC exams: Like ARRL, W5YI (founded by Fred Maia (W5YI)) has a nationwide VEC. You can find a list of certified examiners to contact at
www.w5yi-vec.org/exam_locations_ama.php. - W4VEC VEC exams: W4VEC (the call sign of the Volunteer Examiners Club of America) covers the Midwest and South. For a list of dates and locations, visit
www.w4vec.com. - Laurel VEC exams: The Laurel Amateur Radio Club is based in Maryland but has teams of VEs all across the country. Their exam sessions are listed at
www.laurelvec.com.
If you still can’t find an exam that’s convenient for you, your final option is to write or email VECs at the addresses listed on the aforementioned FCC website and ask for help. The mission of VECs is to help prospective amateurs get licensed. No matter where you live, these organizations can put you in touch with volunteer examiners (VEs; see Chapter 4) so that you can take your exam.
Signing Up for a Session
After you find a session, contact the hosts or sponsors to let them know that you’ll be attending the session and what elements you want to take.
Checking in ahead of time isn’t just good manners, but also can alert you to time or location changes.
Public exams
Most exam sessions are open to the public and are held at schools, churches, and other public meeting places. Nearly all sessions are open to walk-ins — that is, you can just show up unannounced, pay your session fee, and take the exam — but some require an appointment or reservation. Checking before you show up is always a good idea. If you require special assistance to take an exam, definitely contact the sponsor first.
Call or email the session’s contact person to confirm the date, get directions, and tell him or her what exam elements you need to take.
Exams at events
Exam sessions are common at public events such as hamfests and conventions. (See Chapter 3 for information on these events.) These sessions can attract dozens of examinees and often fill up quickly. Some exams are given more than once throughout the day, so you can take more than one exam or spend time enjoying the event.
Under FCC rules, you’re not required to pay an attendance fee for the event if you’re going just to take a license exam, but you may encounter a special entry fee. Don’t be afraid to call ahead and ask, or check the event’s website.
If you attend an event-sponsored exam, it’s a good idea to get to the site early to register. Multiple sessions may be offered, and the exams for different elements may be given only at specific times.
Exam sessions in homes and online
Small sessions may be held in private residences, especially in rural areas and small towns. When I was a VE living in a small town, many new hams in my community passed their exams while sitting at my kitchen table.
You’ll be a guest in someone’s home, so act accordingly.
If you’ll be taking your exam at a private residence, call ahead to ensure that there’ll be room for you at the session and that the VE can prepare to administer the exam you want to take.
Exam sessions may now be proctored (administered) by a team of VEs monitoring the exam by online video. There must be licensed amateurs on-site to do the actual handling of forms and to grade answer sheets. If you are unable to find an exam session within a reasonable distance of your location, contact one of the VECs about the possibility of a “remote session.” Not all the VECs conduct remote sessions, though, so you may have to contact more than one.
Getting to Exam Day
In the so-called Good Old Days, exam sessions for the higher-class licenses were conducted in federal office buildings by FCC employees. I vividly recall standing in line with dozens of other hams, waiting for my shot at a new license. Some of us drove for hours to reach the FCC office, nervously reviewing the material or listening to Morse code tapes between swallows of coffee. Inside, a steely-eyed examiner watched as we scratched out the answers.
These days, exams are certainly more conveniently offered and the examiners are friendlier, but you’ll still have some nervous anticipation as the day arrives. The best way to do well, of course, is to be prepared — for all aspects of the exams, not just the questions. The more you know, the less you have to worry about.
For some advice on getting ready for the big day, see the nearby sidebar “Taming the test tiger.”
What to bring with you
Be sure to bring these items with you to the exam session, whether you’re licensed or not:
- Two forms of identification, including at least one photo ID, such as a driver’s license or employer’s identity card
- Your Social Security number
- A couple of pencils
- A calculator
- (Optional) Scratch paper (but it must be completely blank)
If you don’t have these forms of ID or a Social Security number, contact the exam session administrators for acceptable alternatives.
If you already have a license and are taking an exam to upgrade to a higher class, you also need to bring the following:
- Your current original license and a photocopy
Any original Certificate of Successful Completion of Examination (CSCE) you have and a photocopy (see Chapter 7 for a sample CSCE form)
Note: The CSCE is your record of having passed an exam for one or more of the license elements. If you’ve just passed the Technician exam (Element 2), you have to wait for the FCC to grant you a call sign before you get on the air. For any other license changes, the CSCE allows you to operate immediately with your new privileges.
- (Optional) Your FCC Federal Registration Number (FRN) as a substitute for your Social Security number (see Chapter 7 for why you might want to do this)
You aren’t permitted to use any kind of online device or computer during the exam unless you have a disability (and you must first coordinate the use of supporting devices with the session administrators).
What to expect
Each exam session involves three basic steps:
Register for your exam.
When you arrive at the exam session, sign in with your name, address, and call sign if you already have one. The session administrators review your identification and documents. Finally, pay your exam fee. (As of mid-2017, VECs can charge up to $15.)
Take the exam.
When you start depends on how many people have signed up ahead of you and how many different classes of exam are being given. In a small session, you may start immediately; in a larger session, you may have to wait a while until your turn comes.
As explained in Chapter 5, the exams questions are multiple-choice. You receive a pamphlet containing the exam questions and an answer sheet for recording your choices. Follow the instructions for filling out the answer sheet and get ready to start.
Each exam takes 15 to 45 minutes. The session may be organized so that everyone starts and stops together, or exams may be taken continuously. The VEs will explain the process for your session.
- Complete your paperwork (which I talk about in Chapter 7).
What to do after the exam
When you’re done with your exam, follow the administrator’s instructions for turning in your paper, sit back, and try to exhale! Depending on the size of the session, you may have to wait several minutes for the administrator to grade your answer sheet. At least three VEs have to verify the grades on all exams. Passing requires a score of 75 percent or better. (That’s 26 questions on the Technician and General exams and 37 on the Extra.)
In all probability, because you studied hard and seriously, you’ll get a big smile and a thumbs-up from the graders. Way to go! You can finally, truly relax and move on to the next stage.
If you didn’t pass this time, don’t be disheartened. Many sessions allow you to take a different version of the exam, if you want. Even if you don’t take the second-chance exam again right away, at least you know the ropes of a session now, and you’ll be more relaxed next time.
Don’t let a failure stop you. Many hams had to make more than one attempt to pass their license exam, but they’re on the air today!