HamTrain is today updating its alert for students and tutors. (12 Aug 2024)
Studying for an exam? Training students for an exam? Please be aware that there are currently a number of issues with the transition to the new exam that may affect you:
Background
Ofcom changed the licence conditions in February 2024, but RSGB exams are lagging behind and we are still teaching the old licence conditions until the new exams start on the 1st of September 2024. We have guidance on this here: Licence changes – Guide for Students.
It’s important that students use the correct material, manuals and mocks depending on whether they’re sitting an exam before or after the changes on 1st September 2024.
July 2024 Exams Alert – Video Summary |
Watch for the following:
1. Exam Booklets: RSGB has only just released the new exam booklets for the exams starting in 3 weeks. This has caused a problem for trainers as we’ve not been able to provide students with the correct study material. We expect old versions of these documents to be floating around, so be careful if studying for an exam after 1st September. The correct exam booklets can now (finally) be found here: RSGB Exam Forms
2. Intermediate Manual: We suggest holding off buying the brand new v1.6 Intermediate manual, as some sections appear to contain the old licence condition information. RSGB is apparently aware of this and addressing it.
3. Foundation Manual: We have reviewed the new v1.6 manual and found several errors, including old licence condition rules, incorrect frequencies and out-of-scope material. We can’t recommend this in its current form.
4. Syllabus Problems: RSGB has announced that licence condition section 1H1 of the new Foundation syllabus is wrong. They have now issued v1.6b of the syllabus, but not all trainers will be aware of this
5. Exam Secrets Book: RSGB is still selling the “New” Exam Secrets book for £18. A new version covering the new exams won’t be out in time for the new exams, we understand, so you may want to consider holding off on this purchase.
6. Mock Tests: There are already several outdated mock papers and websites out there, and the change on 1st September will make matters worse. RSGB has yet to release new mocks, and the ones on the RSGB site are only valid to 31st August. Please choose any mock tests you use carefully.
7. Books in general: RSGB’s training manuals for the new syllabus have only just been released. As above, two of the 3 new books contain several errors. Many retailers are still selling the old version. Recent discussions on Facebook show that several students have purchased out-of-date manuals from the RSGB unaware of the changes. Make sure that any manual you buy covers you for the correct exam.
We’ll be adding any more RSGB exam issues that come up in the coming weeks to this page, so please check back again.
If in doubt, check with your training group to make sure you’re not tripped up by these RSGB issues, or ask a question below.
Notes for our Foundation Online students:
Our courses take into account the upcoming changes. Courses up to and including Course 167 cover the pre-1st September syllabus, but have guidance for those taking a later exam. Courses 168 onwards cover the 1st September exams- No need to worry with our new Foundation Study Guide, as this covers exams before and after 1st September 2024
- Our mocks currently cover the pre-1st September syllabus. From 1st August (and course 168), new mocks will be available for those taking a later exam.
See also: Syllabus v1.6 – Guidance for Students
Got any comments or questions on this student alert? Please add them below.
