Ham exam question

[JMD]

Hello everyone.

I have been studding for my basic licence for the last week using the usual reference sites but I'm wondering if there is a site that narrows the questions down a bit more that what Industry Canada offers.

I know there is 100 questions on the test but they have a pool of probably 800 questions that they use to comprise this test.

Is there any way of narrowing the questions down?? I don't mind a challenge but the list of questions that Industry Canada gives you to study from spans about 107 pages.

Thanks in advance

I'm from just north of Toronto

 

[mciupa]

How about trying the on-line exam generator from Industry Canada ?
You can practice here:
http://strategis.gc.ca/epic/internet/insmt-gst.nsf/en/h_sf05378e.html

 

[JMD]

I have that mciupa but that software pumps out different questions every time you do it

If you take the basic test today........then take another one tomorrow....then another test the questions change each time. (most of the questions not all)

You don't get the same test each time, so you end up studing 5 or six different tests

Its hard enough remembering 100 questions lol never mind trying to remember 500 questions so you can get a desent mark

 

[mikewazowski]

I'm not sure what you're asking.

The IC exams are made up from a pool of hundred's of questions. When I was an examiner, there was 6 different tests available for an examiner.

Bottom line, if you know your theory, who cares what questions they throw at you. You should be able to answer them all.

 

[JMD]

Hi Mike

Yes there seems to be hundreds of questions that you need to study for only 100 test questions, it’s not just a case of knowing your theory and it’s a walk in the park, at lest not for me lol

If they were going to come out with a 100 question test then maybe take them from a pool of 150 or 200 questions max not 500 questions lol it makes it just a bit easier to narrow down the test.

So basically you need to know the total pool of questions to get a good mark ( 80% and above) I don’t mind a challenge but I figured they could narrow it down a little by supplying a more condensed study guide.

If you go onto Industry Canada’s side and download the pdf file of pool questions it spans approximately 107 pages with an average of 8 questions per page.

 

[mrweather]

I understand what you're saying but in all honesty you should really learn and understand the theory first.

The electronics topics aren't that difficult if you have basic high school math. Operational questions are common sense for the most part. And all the regulations questions are simply memorization and regurgitation.

Simple answer: No, there's no easy way to narrow down the list of questions. What you get on test day is what you get!

 

[bpsmicro]

The Basic exam is 100 questions drawn from a pool of 1000. However, it's not a totally random draw because there are a number of "sections" from which a minimal number of questions will be drawn. For example, there will be some electronic theory, some regulation stuff, some antenna theory, etc. Despite what the exam generator tells you, you now need 70% to pass the exam, and 80% if you want to use the HF frequencies.

Go out and buy the "RAC Study Guide for the Basic Exam". You can get it from any ham radio shop, online from RAC.ca and usually at any hamfest. RAC's price is $36.50. It's a great book, but you really do need to know your stuff, not just memorize a handful of questions. Some people get away with that to get their license, but tend not to last very long in the hobby.

Once you're ready to roll, you find an examiner in your area (your local ham club will point you to one). The examiner typically runs the exact same program to generate the 100 questions, but prints them out. Some examiners may just have a "library" of pre-printed exams.

As an aside, I've rather noticed that since digital scanners became popular, the number of available callsigns seems to be diminishing at an increased rate. Makes me wonder how many people are making the minimal effort to get a ham license *purely* to simplify the purchasing of a digital scanner and have no interest in the hobby itself. Pity.

Brad
VE3BSM

 

[JMD]

Thanks Brad and everyone else

I have been doing the on line test via the software from Industry Canada and usually score about 68 to 76. I want a minimum of 85%, not interested in just 70 or 75%

If I don't get it ( 85%) the first time I will continue to write the test until I do no matter how many times it takes

I already have an examiner 10 mins from my house who has already been very helpful

This is the same man who tested my dad 20 years ago for the code (5 to 12 wpm) and my dads friend.

The Ham club is 15 mins form my house also