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Posts : 214 Times Thanked : 6 Join date : 2019-06-29
Subject: 2020 Pass rates Tue Feb 23, 2021 9:46 am
http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2021/february/online-exams-boost-ham-radio-numbers.htm - 90% for Foundation - 87% for Intermediate - 68% for Full. To put those figures into some form of context many many years ago when I took the C&G 2391-10 which was the industry "Standard" exam for electrical contracting the pass rate was 25-35 % so for a hobby with an easy route in ( imo ) the exam difficulty would appear to be about right (# maybe )
Victor likes this post
Victor CT Directors
Call Sign : 26-CT-3228 / M7VIC Posts : 5260 Times Thanked : 339 Join date : 2019-11-10 QTH or Location : Bedford Equipment Used : Various
Subject: Re: 2020 Pass rates Tue Feb 23, 2021 11:49 am
Feels really good to see those numbers!
(Although I would still have a concern about the 300 or so people who didn't achieve Foundation - what were the reasons?)
Really goes to showcase the efforts of those involved in making the online exams a reality and the scores of volunteers providing training courses, let alone the exam invigilators. A very well done to all concerned!!!
I can't see the comparison with an old qualification for someone involved in electrical contracting though. If you are in a trade and responsible for the test, verification, installation or otherwise of an electrical system I'd damn well expect you to be 'competent' and qualified! (I've met some shoddy 'sparks' in my time! )
Whereas the 'Foundation' is really supposed to be an introduction into what can become a very rewarding hobby. If the hobby is not what individuals expect they will soon move onto another interest with not much lost. They can however move further into the hobby should they wish and progress up the qualifications learning as they go and be suitably rewarded for their efforts. Others will be happy to stay at whatever level they attain or satisfied with their achievement and concentrate on exploring the hobby further. (Amateur Radio has so many interest paths!)
Personally I think the move to online examinations has been a fantastic move that will hopefully reinvigorate the hobby. It certainly helped me in that I was no longer hindered by course cancellations, finding a 'good' club, or even indeed limited by my physical disability.
I certainly look forward to exploring my radio interests further, by personal choice, without hindrance and at whatever level I care to choose.
So, to all of you who passed their Radio Amateur exam in the last year at whatever level, I will say once again....
VERY WELL DONE!!
(Even if that was just for mastering an online world of tuition, study and examination - a feat in itself!)
All my best, Victor
Seasick Contributor
Posts : 79 Times Thanked : 1 Join date : 2021-02-19 QTH or Location : Norfolk Equipment Used : Uniden BCT 15X
Subject: Re: 2020 Pass rates Tue Feb 23, 2021 11:58 am
I just missed the multiple choice RAE & had to take a single paper written exam & from what little I have seen of todays exams, my test was much more narrow, but deeper, in the knowledge of that narrow field to pass the exam. Being a written answer, I could chose which few questions I choose to answer, so provided I had done my home work, which I had. It was a reasonably simple test to pass, as all I needed to know was electronics, nothing about interference, operating, etc etc.
Victor likes this post
Seasick Contributor
Posts : 79 Times Thanked : 1 Join date : 2021-02-19 QTH or Location : Norfolk Equipment Used : Uniden BCT 15X
I can't see the comparison with an old qualification for someone involved in electrical contracting though. If you are in a trade and responsible for the test, verification, installation or otherwise of an electrical system I'd damn well expect you to be 'competent' and qualified! (I've met some shoddy 'sparks' in my time! )
Back when I took my exam & even the later multi choice RAE. A RAE was seen as an electrical/electronic qualification. My exam was purely about electronics & transmitter design.
So when I left school, I walked into a higher level apprenticeship, with better money than my friends were getting, as the collage knocked the first year off my apprenticeship.
Victor likes this post
Victor CT Directors
Call Sign : 26-CT-3228 / M7VIC Posts : 5260 Times Thanked : 339 Join date : 2019-11-10 QTH or Location : Bedford Equipment Used : Various
I can see how that happened Nick, especially back in the day.
I took an apprenticeship that led onto an ONC, HNC and ultimate HND in Electronics spending a great career in the sector all thanks to that boyhood fascination of radio.
However, just like how my career disappeared from the British shores the world moves on. The same has happened for Amateur Radio and the days of operators 'having' to build their own equipment were numbered. If someone wishes to pursue that path of interest they can and even the basic electronic theory of todays Intermediate licence can spark the imagination. It's hardly an 'electronic' qualification though.
I still think they have done well to expand the hobby, realise it's a hobby and are far more welcoming to those with a passion for radio whatever their level of so called expertise. I think they have done well to change with the times and technology as well as address certain factors such as RFI etc.
It's not quite there, (still befuddled with having to know the height of the ionosphere in km's?!?!?), but it has evolved nicely.
Seasick likes this post
Seasick Contributor
Posts : 79 Times Thanked : 1 Join date : 2021-02-19 QTH or Location : Norfolk Equipment Used : Uniden BCT 15X
Looking at todays system, it is very much like an apprenticeship, you start very basic & work through to tradesman.
I knew nothing about operating from taking my RAE, we got that by being SWL's. Todays candidates from what I have seen know an awful lot more about interference & operating that I was taught. From what I have seen, I do think todays system is better for the hobby.
Online exams boost ham radio numbers The RSGB has released the statistics for the UK amateur radio exams held in 2020
The figures released cover the whole of 2020 for both in-person and Remotely Invigilated (RI) Online exams. Due to the pandemic in-person exams were only held during the first 10 weeks of the year and there weren't many of them.
RI Online Foundation exams that people can do from home started in mid-April but the RI Online Intermediate exams weren't available until August. Full exams didn't get underway until the end of October. No exams were held in the last two weeks of December.
Note the Exam Candidates figures are for exams booked, there are a number of "no-shows" as circumstances can mean not everyone is able to sit their exam on the day booked.
2020 Exam Candidates Passes Foundation 3087 2774 Intermediate 868 759 Full 378 258
The number of people passing Foundation in 2020 was double that of 2019, this number of newcomers is a return to levels last seen in 2002.
The figures for the Full exam are especially pleasing to see. While free online training courses have been available for Foundation and Intermediate there were no training courses available for the Full exam so candidates had to rely on just self-study of the Full training manual. Although the online Full exam was only available for about 7 weeks of the year the numbers passing were two-thirds of the entire total for 2019.
The RSGB is currently consulting on its proposal to introduce a new Direct To Full exam, details are at https://www.rsgb.org/direct-to-full
Exam Ham report on Direct To Full https://www.essexham.co.uk/direct-to-full.html
Essex ham UK Amateur Radio Exam Statistics page https://www.essexham.co.uk/train/uk-amateur-radio-exam-stats/
ESC reports and statistics for pevious years RSGB exams are available at https://rsgb.org/main/about-us/committees/examination-standards-committee/esc-reports/
Victor CT Directors
Call Sign : 26-CT-3228 / M7VIC Posts : 5260 Times Thanked : 339 Join date : 2019-11-10 QTH or Location : Bedford Equipment Used : Various
We do have to be mindful though that an operator could be far more eminently qualified than their call sign or licence level first suggests.
Indeed, we should address individuals for who they are, not their 'token' assignments.
Let's just hope that the fantastic numbers of newly qualified Amateurs get the warm welcome they deserve on air and embraced for their passionate interest in radio.
(Just as we should embrace others with a radio interest, regardless of what it is.)
53 Prefect Senior contributor
Call Sign : VA3XUK & G6ZGU Posts : 127 Times Thanked : 6 Join date : 2021-02-08 QTH or Location : Coldwater, Ontario Equipment Used : ICOM at the moment Age : 66
Just saw the other day that exam requests in USA are up since covid, Guess all those bored people that have Been putting it off for years, finally knuckled down Ha, who'd of though it!
Victor likes this post
Victor CT Directors
Call Sign : 26-CT-3228 / M7VIC Posts : 5260 Times Thanked : 339 Join date : 2019-11-10 QTH or Location : Bedford Equipment Used : Various
Call Sign : VA3XUK & G6ZGU Posts : 127 Times Thanked : 6 Join date : 2021-02-08 QTH or Location : Coldwater, Ontario Equipment Used : ICOM at the moment Age : 66
Well you know what it is like, you just keep putting it off. Do you know how much energy it took for me to take the Canadian exam? I passed RAE in 1982 in the UK. I just did not want to do it all over again. But here using the call VE3/G6ZGU was driving me bonkers! Buggers don't do reciprocal full term licence here, only 6 months. And you know what? exactly the same as when I took it in UK! Whats the point? Just swop drivers licence, but oh no, bloody exam here for ham radio licence! Ahh well, I passed with honours. So have full privileges. Got the call I wanted too, VA3XUK.
Victor likes this post
Victor CT Directors
Call Sign : 26-CT-3228 / M7VIC Posts : 5260 Times Thanked : 339 Join date : 2019-11-10 QTH or Location : Bedford Equipment Used : Various