The RSGB released a draft syllabus in February 2021 for a brand new type of exam – “Direct to Full”. The aim is that, just like under the last few years of the RAE, newcomers will be able to get their Full licence with just a single exam session.
This page is for discussion of the consultation, and the new syllabus and exam.
Key bullet points
- A single 75-question multiple-choice exam (2.5 hours)
- Available online only, not via clubs
- Theory-only, no practicals
- Pass mark 50/75 (67%)
- As per existing online exams, instant results at the end of the exam, and if passed, callsign typically within a week
- This is in addition to the existing Foundation > Intermediate > Full route
The Consultation
The background to this consultation and a link to the proposed syllabus can be found on the RSGB website: www.rsgb.org/direct-to-full
The consultation ran until Sunday 14 March 2021.
Essex Ham has submitted a response, including feedback from over 1,350 survey respondents. See: Essex Ham Direct-to-Full Response
Interested in exams, and Direct-to-Full?Take part in our 2021 Exam Survey today!
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Why Direct-to-Full?
According to the RSGB, those with a high-level aptitude in STEM disciplines and/or a background in electronics and/or communications may find the current three levels (and practicals) “unnecessarily onerous and off-putting”.
Our survey reveals that 46.3% feel that Foundation licence holders may use this new exam to go straight to Full, bypassing Intermediate. Research by two groups indicates this may be an easier route to a Full licence for many.
Who is Direct-to-Full for?
RSGB has given the example of: “those with a high-level aptitude in STEM disciplines and/or a background in electronics and/or communications”
In a recent Essex Ham net, some other possible options were discussed:
- People in a hurry to hit “full”, or those not interested in the hassle of taking 3 exams.
- Existing Foundation or Intermediate licence holders looking for a more generalised paper than a Full-only paper
- Overseas students looking to get a HAREC licence easily, which can be used to apply for an equivalent licence in their own country
| The subject of the proposed new RSGB “Direct to Full” exam was discussed on the Monday Night Net on the 15th of February 2021. Here are the edited highlights of the discussion. Thanks to everyone who took part. |
By way of background, in the 2018 Exam Standards report, RSGB stated: “Despite efforts to attract new people into the hobby it remains a niche interest, with taking the Foundation level being the only way into the hobby, and the average decline rate runs at ~2.5% per year. This has led ESC to start to consider possible new routes of entry to the hobby. One option under consideration is a single exam providing direct access to advanced.” (ESC Report 2018)
When could this roll out?
In an RSGB announcement in February 2022, the RSGB has confirmed that this will go ahead, but that work on the project has been delayed due to the need to update the existing syllabus first. No timeframe has been provided.
Proposed Exam Structure
Here is a summary of how the questions are broken down:
| Syllabus Topic | # of questions |
| Licence Conditions | 9 |
| Technical Aspects | 10 |
| Transmitters & Receivers | 11 |
| Feeders & Antennas | 8 |
| Propagation | 5 |
| EMC | 12 |
| Safety | 14 |
| Measurements & Construction | 6 |
Direct-to-Full Courses?
Given the number of clubs offering Full training under the current system, it’s likely that very few clubs will run classroom-based Direct-to-Full courses. Online courses would seem the likely route.
Will there be a new book for Direct-to-Full?
The draft syllabus refers to using the existing 3 books. Demand for direct-to-full is expected to be low, so a dedicated book may not be viable.
No Practicals?
As this is an online exam, there are no practicals.
The current route (Foundation>Intermediate>Full) has 7 practicals: SSB QSO, FM Simplex QSO, Antenna adjustment, SWR matching, station setup and a CW/Data appreciation.
39.7% of our survey respondents felt that both routes should have practicals, and 28.5% feeling that neither route should have practicals.
How does this compare to other exams?
| 2020 Three-tier | Proposed Direct-to-Full | 2003 RAE 7650 | |
| Number of exams | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| Exam Duration | 4 hours and 30 minutes (excluding practicals) | 2 hours and 30 minutes | 2 hours and 15 minutes |
| Questions | 130 (26 + 46 + 58) | 75 | 80 |
| Practicals | 7 assessed practicals | None | None |
Your thoughts?
The RSGB Consultation closed on Sunday 14 March 2021, but we’re still listening! Have your say in the comments below…
This is exciting news, I would have preferred this route if it was available couple of years ago when I started into this hobby. now I am already studying towards full licence exam as I am currently 2e0ooe.
It is surely an exciting for the newcomers to the hobby as they don’t have to wait and will not have gaps in between their studies.
Will Essex Ham be running this training and if so can I sign up today!
There are I suspect , many hams who don’t want to build there own equipment but would
Like to have the ability to transmit at higher power levels. Why not have an exam for such
People?
Hi Alan,
It is so nice to see another person with this view. I am at an age where my eyesight, shakes, and short term memory prevents me from learning complicated equations, and doing fine soldering. I have recently taken a cover off a 10-12M radio and can honestly say that i can just about see some of the SM components let alone work on them. I don’t care if you call me just an operator, lazy, etc. I want to spend my time at the microphone getting contacts, not at the work desk with a soldering iron. Why can’t they make the building side of the hobby, a license variation. but keep things like wiring a plug correctly, fuse ratings, lightning protection and RF measuring etc. These are common sense requirements and most often needed, instead of resistors, diodes, Transistor, capacitors. If i want a radio fixed, i send it to someone that knows the electronic stuff.It really ****** me off, that this attitude still exists. To put into context with other hobbies:- Do young people know how to fix or replace SM components on computer Mother boards? do Modern DSLR owners know how to strip and replace stuff on their 1500- 3000 pound Nikon/Canon/ Sony cameras. Bet your next paycheck, they don’t. Does everyone that operates a car, know how to strip and rebuild an engine/ gearbox or engine ECU? Why am i being forced to learn something, that i have no interest in. It is suppose to be a HOBBY, Check out the definition of the word “HOBBY” I am interested in the HOBBY for enjoyment and relaxation.I am also a 3rd generation Radio user in my family tree.Great uncle went down with his ship, at “the key” giving SOS and position. My Father got his call sign in 89 and taught Electrical Engineering. Thanks again for having similar thoughts. Rant over.
Hi Graham I feel your pain!! I’m so angry and frustrated at the current system. I’m a operator and proud of it, I would never dream of getting the screw driver out to my pride and joy! I love working portable and taking part in “on the air days” like church’s , railways , lighthouses etc but I can’t use a special call sign unless I get a full licence and I can’t get that unless I’m fully versed in the theory of something I’ve no interest in! I really wish the rsgb would have a complete rethink about how the licence system is set up. Gaining your licence should be a gateway to the hobby for all! And not a massive hurdle for a lot of us! Sorry about that rant but it , also , needed to come out lol
Hi Alan. For me the major problem with the system as it is currently, was having to find a local club and join up so that I could do take my foundation and intermediate exams. Local for me was about 38 miles away, so the only reason I traveled there was for the exams. I never felt like I belonged to the club, it was just a means to an end. I traveled over 120 miles to take my full licence.
From my perspective I think this direct-to-full exam is a great idea and will simplify the unnecessary rigmarole associated with obtaining a licence and should help to revive interest in the hobby.
I know there will be those that consider this to be a retrograde step and may think this somehow belittles their journey to becoming fully licensed radio ham; But this is about the future, not the past. If this great hobby is to grow, it needs to be easier to access to the general public – but definitely not by making the exam less challenging – so I think it’s important to pitch the test at the correct level.
I would jump at this. I have been a 2E0 for a while, operating mainly QRP and data, with some SSB from time to time and I’m currently trying to learn Morse code. I am studying a master’s level pharmacology programme at the moment and work for the NHS. An online course and exam to get me to full would enable me to take my station abroad when we are able to travel again. Because of my work it is hard for me to commit to additional regular learning sessions and this would be an ideal way for me to achieve full licence status
Hi
Sounds a good idea, I have currently intermidiate licence which quite honestly does me fine however I am studying for the full. How would this affect me would I take the old full or the new proposed full. My Main problem is i have no problem with the regulations and proceedures but not coming from an electroronic background lack in electronic skills. This is not a problem for me as I have no intension of building a radio. I would thoughly support a full Licence that allow more power but not the ability to build. (a separate licence for this) I expect some old school may not agree but now days not many new radios you can repair anyhow. Whether I will ever move up to the full remains to be seen, I expect there are many like me. I have however got into Morse wish is not needed ! The more flexable the licences the better.
This is of particular interest to me as I intend to emigrate upon retirement in a few years and only a full licence is transferable abroad.
What a great, forward thinking idea! Having just gained a 2:1 in ICT (containing some highly technical communications elements that were responsible for my interest in this hobby) this is right up my street. Also a great idea to make it an addition rather than a replacement to existing exams for those who do not feel the same.
This is a good idea for people who are technically minded and would like to take advantage of the extra facilities it offers.
However I do think it would have been better to offer an enhanced entry level exam where the Foundation limitations were increased to say 50/100Watts T/X Power as not everyone wants to build their own equipment and would much rather concentrate on the operating side of the hobby as I would.
They have an enhanced level exam for 50 watts it is called the intermediate
Regards Richard G7OED
I would prefer to go down this route, so I hope it gets accepted and when a course becomes available, would sign up as soon as possible.
At last have the RGB woken up! This should make this more appealing and strightforward, however looking at the syllabus there still seems to be lots on electronics and formulae, why? I have not used these since 1980’s when I passed my RAE, but yet todays topics – Internet, routers, WiFi, TCP/IP, fibre appears not to be covered. So many HAM now have hot-spots based on Linux and pi-star – nothing again yet this is now an essential part of our communcation mode. Great idea but syllabus still dated and not rellavent to today.
Great idea that the RSGB will manage to mess up completely.
As long as the bank of questions is kept a secret I will have no faith in the questions, previously invigilators could be queried and badly written questions could be queried under the online only system they can fulfill their wildest fantasies and write a load of nonsense questions to show how clever they are.
Richard G7OED
I got my Foundation licence with the online exam, and you still have an invigilator; you do the exam with them monitoring via your webcam, and available by voice if you want to raise issues with them.
About time!
Wouldn’t have been of any use to me, as I needed the progressive hand-holding approach of the existing three-tier system as I have no real background in radio. That said, I have no interest in electronics per se, so there was a lot of stuff in the current intermediate and full syllabuses (syllabi?) that I just had to learn which was boring and of no use beyond the exam hall.
I was however, acutely aware that there are many people with loads of experience that were most definitely put off by having to sit the three existing exams.
Never let it be said that the RSGB is 20 odd years behind the times and as pig-headed as a pig. At least they’ve finally succumbed to reason.
I can see this is a way forward for those with the understanding and wanting to follow the route to try and stop the decline in users.
On the other hand, you have a technically minded person, who has very little practical skills coming into the hobby at full status.
Will the hobby then pull back as people take over the airwaves with very little understanding of etiquette and correct equipment set up.
Just my thoughts.
I’ve recently passed my foundation, but wouldn’t want to jump in, just because I could, and get my full licence.
I have my full licence but would have preffered a direct rout, I feel that with modern day setups the building of your own radio is a dying art,although i spend time refurbishing old radios.
to keep the hobby up to date then yes a more direct route would be a step forward
Oooh Going to upset some “old men in sheds”!!
Hi, Tony, as one of the old men in a shed I have to reply to your coment, I have always welcomed any foundation or intermeadiate guys, its a good way of getting in on the ground floor so to speak, and in fact I have helped a couple of guys progress but what I do object to is the guys who want to stay at the foundation level and treat it as CB, or just can`t be bothered to get the books out to take the step up to a full licence, As you know there are many guys out there with full licences old and new are only to willing to help. I think they should have brought in a time limit for the Foundation and Intermeadiate. Some Countries don`t reconize those two licences.
This was sent with the best of intentions and my best regards.
I would fully support this idea! I am an Avionic Software engineer by trade and completed a craft apprenticeship many years ago. My academic qualifications are City & Guilds, Telecommunication Technicians. OK so it was a lot of valve theory etc but the apprenticeship taught me transistors, IC’s etc. I realise things have moved on with SDR’s etc but basic theory hasn’t really changed. I agree with the comment Alan Sim made about power restrictions at foundation level. I feel 10 Watts is rather mean particularly if you only operate at home. Time you’ve factored in feeder loss etc I suspect up to half the power is lost. I don’t have the room to install HF aerials, masts etc and struggle at my location to get out particularly on 2m. Sorry for the long post and I realise everyone’s situation is different.
I do not know why the exams are always tinkered with….It may not improve the number of new hams coming into radio, only existing ones, but having done all three exams I have had a place to operate at and at 2e0 level it gives me enough scope ,not interested in power and this is not really what radio is about. I really believe that ham radio if gradually finding itself hard to stay in the modern world. one does not need when a super mobile phone can do do much more
Gosh that is a good idea…ever wondered why we are going around in circles ? ….
Does this mean that the on the air experience that is gained by having a staged route to a full licence will be lost? If so, is that a good thing?
How are they going to upgrade their skill sets now ?
What is needed in advance teachiing of any kind primarily is more use of good manners and the riddance of Snobby purists showing a little sympathy and patience to other less informed operators .. and rid the hobby of this superior attitude that some mature operators exercise and NOT take the hobby so serious , afterall that is what it is Just a HOBBY . When are the members of the amateur fraternity going to recognise this as such.. and technical advancement secondary…. Un-necessary in my view..Manners maketh man, This said I do not tar all with the same brush…
I think this is not only a good idea, but is long overdue. When I started the exam process back in 2016 the first question I asked was could I go straight to the Full exam, answer no. I have worked in electronics all my life and was somewhat surprised to be forced to go through the 3 exams, although its fair to say it didn’t do me any harm plus I also enjoyed the journey and had my memory refreshed on subjects I hadn’t touched on for many years.
But whatever happens I think we should retain the 3 tier system as I know a number of people who enjoy the hobby and will never use 400 watts or the other privileges that come with a full licence. They are perfectly happy doing what they do at either 10 watts or 50 watts.
Love the idea to be able to take an exam to get to the full Licence without the practical side , I am a 2E0 and love being able to communicate with others on the radio as a hobby, not really tech. minded in the building ect but have a fair knowledge of the basics for which I feel is what I need to enjoy this hobby.
I certainly would be interested in this format to obtain a full licence, it is not all about power outage but gives you more access to further enhance where and how you can operate in the aspects that you can only do with a full licence.Roll on the exam!! if it comes to fruition.
This would make this an easier route to a full licence for me as work always gets in the way. Many thanks M6TOW
Yes I am in for this route to full licence
This is a great idea, rather like the old RAE. I have been most reluctant to take the Foundation Exam because of the tedious process of the three stages. The current paradigm of Restrictions has further exacerbated the length and frustration of the whole process. The Foundation Course is in places, a bit basic. I learned my Ohm’s Law over 50 years ago and probably don’t need to revise this, although I found that some of the propagation stuff was good to revisit. So for anyone with a science or technology background (I believe that the modern parlance is STEM) this single stage approach would be ideal. I would sign up for it tomorrow. Bring it on.
As a 6 month foundation ticket holder i think this is a great idea i love 2m and 70cm but hf is almost dead to me due to location and space, the tiered approach is ok but like most younger hams working on radio whilst fascinating is not the reason we like radio, we want to operate with understanding of regs and safety but knowing how to strip and repair or build equipment i feel is outdated .
In this modern service based world where the repair is nearly always a specialist subject and personally of little interest. getting the best from legal equipment and antenna is all most of us foundation guys want, so if getting more people interested then the full online course is great idea but the idea of getting a ton of knowledge im unlikely to use is off putting .
i suggest two full exams, 1 for operation only and a plus if you want too build and service.
I also agree more emphases should be put the ethic of radio use as many people still dont have any manners or time for us newbies who whilst trained still make the odd mistake
This would be good for me – I need a full to swap out for French licence, until then I can’t transmit. That said, I’m having a go at the full French course in the hope I can understand and pass it. I agree with other comments – I have no wish to construct a radio, but would like to know more about internet/data etc and happy to be confined to a commercially produced set up if I didn’t have to do all the electronics. If direct to Full was alongside the 3-tier system, surely everyone would be happy?
I would like the option to exam on operating procedure. Like a previous commentator, my eyesight cant read normal sized values, never mind surface mounted. I dont have smt soldering equipment, I am more interested in talking to other people in the worldrather than trying to remember formulas used only in the exam and then forgotten. I learned W=VI (or P=VI) and V=IR many years ago. I dont even use them very often. Power loss / gain, freqency / wavelength etc I have never used since the exam. If I need them or any other, I would look them up. I know we have a formula sheet, but having to rember which does what, why cant they be identified. I am currently a 2W, by the time covid has gone I will be older and forgotten what I did learn for adbanced. An operating procedure licence would be a better idea.
Ian
75 multiple guess questions! with no penalty for giving a wrong answer,
why not be honest and just sell the licences
Steve G4WWK
The RAE was “multiple guess” from 1979 to 2003. It was 80 questions with no penalty for a wrong answer, wasn’t it? What solution would you propose?
I would be supportive of the one exam approach. I decided not to no wait and I sat all three exams in Jan-22. I felt that the process is unnecessary to split into 3 (i.e. can’t sit one before passing the others etc which I consider over bruecractic for what you are attempting to achieve), but I expect it will upset some who believe the exam is a badge of honour, or in some way fixes a road map for education – which I don’t. An exam is just an exam, and provided it is respected and proves that you are competent, then its just meaningful as anything gone before.
The current approach of 3 exams has its place. I would not support the removal of the 3 exam route either! But, I would note its logical that the new route is used as the Full test and replaces the final exam of the 3 route system. (one less exam for the administrators), and whilst your at it, why not let candidates sit the intermediate level immediately as well. The learning process for many is not quite as linear as the current assessment scheme is forcing on people, which seems to be pandering to historic expectations. Exams are check points at the start of a very long development road. Each successive exam opens up enhanced privileges, but should (in my view) never be used as a barrier.
Rob M0JWU.