A couple of weeks ago, Jeff, WB4WXD, emailed me, commenting on my post, “Do we need CW certificate cops?” We exchanged a few emails, and in one of them he said:
As a VE Liaison for the ARRL, I had a copy of all the code tests on cassette and all the questions on paper. I have converted all the tests to MP3 and all the tests to pdf. I can offer a person a “genuine” test from another time, grade them, and tell them they passed the 5, 10, or 20 wpm code test. (Not that it’s worth anything).
Not worth anything?? Of course it is! Passing the test isn’t going to get you any more privileges, but it’s certainly has historical value, and it could be fun. So, I asked if he could send me the files.
He zipped them all up and I downloaded them from his WeTransfer account. So, I’m now in possession of almost 320 Mbytes of code tests and exam papers. I’m not exactly sure what I’m going to do with them yet. I’m not sure that my web host would be too keen on my uploading all of the files here on KB6NU.Com, but I may bite the bullet and do that. Or, I may upload them to the CWOps website.
In order to be sure that t I wouldn’t get in trouble for doing this, I asked Maria, AB1FM, the ARRL VEC Manager for permission to do so. She replied, “I don’t believe they are copyrighted so it should be okay to post on your website. I would be interested in seeing the digitized version!” So, I sent her one of the tests and exam papers. Maybe I can get the ARRL to post them on their site.
If I’ve piqued your interest at all, here’s one of the 20 wpm code tests:
The way this worked is that a VE would first play the tape and then hand out the test papers. After an applicant was done taking the test, the VE would check the answers and the sheet on which the applicant copied the code. The applicant passed the test if he or she answered seven questions correctly or copied a minute (100 characters) solidly.
So, listen to the audio, then download the test sheet and take the test.
Just for kicks, I took the test myself. Honestly, I couldn’t write fast enough to get 100% copy. There were a couple of times that I had to skip words. I did manage to copy more than a minute solidly, though, and I got all ten questions right, too. So, even though I didn’t have to take the code test when I got my Extra (by that time it was only a 5 wpm test, and I had passed the 13 wpm test when I got my General), I guess I can claim that I’m a 20 wpm Extra after all!
Neat! I’m still struggling to learn to copy CW, and the idea of having the old test to work towards is, honestly, surprisingly motivating.
This is a perfect thing to upload to the Internet Archive, who would be delighted to add it to their collection. It would let everyone else get the full ZIP, or access both the MP3s and PDFs directly online at a site that’s not likely to go down any time soon.
https://archive.org is the place to go; you’ll ned to set up an account, but that’s pretty straightforward. It’d be a great thing to have up there. (And if you’d rather not do it, I’d be happy to take care of it if you can get me access to the materials. My email address will be on this comment, feel free to send me an email that’s just “You can download the ZIP file over here: [link].”)
I passed the 20 WPM Extra Class test just weeks (days?) before the speed was lowered to 5 WPM. Since it took a while for my upgrade to be processed, the effective date looks like I was one of the first 5 WPM Extras.
That was fun, Dan! Thanks for posting. I did about as well as you did on the test. I haven’t written down all the CW I’m hearing in years so did miss some words, but had a couple of 100-character stretches and think I could have answered all questions. I am a “20 WPM Extra” since I took my exam back in the ’70s, and I have an ARRL Code Proficiency certificate for 35 WPM, also from the ’70s, but doubt I could pass that right now. That’s mainly because I can’t write that fast. And though I can type almost 100 WPM…I’m a professional writer so thank goodness for that…I’ve never tried using a keyboard to copy CW.
When I hear grousing about how the CW test should still be required, as it was when they took it, I always ask them if they thought they could pass right now whatever the requirement was for their class of license. I doubt many of them could.
Dah-dah-di-di-dit Di-di-di-dah-dah,
Don N4KC
http://www.donkeith.com
http://www.n4kc.com
Hi Dan,
I upgraded to Extra just before the VEC’s began handling the testing for the FCC in May of 1984. At this point in time, the examinations had been moved from the Federal Courthouse in Detroit to a meeting room at the Ramada Inn in Rochester Hills. Talk about a change in environment!
I successfully passed both the written exam and the 20 WPM code test. At previous General and Advanced exams at the Federal Courthouse the conversation between examiners and applicants was minimal (very reminiscent of the US ARMY), but at the Rochester Hills site one examiner was willing to comment to me that the code test I had just taken was a brand new test and I was the first person he knew of that had aced the test.
With the exception of my Novice exam, all of my amateur testing was done before the FCC. I have a number of local ham friends who, along with myself, look upon the trips to the FCC to be sort of a ‘rite of passage’ in our voyage from Novice to Amateur Extra. This is the stuff that stories are made of.
73,
Larry, WB8R
Hi Dan,
I’m coming up on my 2 year license anniversary and I realize I got my ticket the easy way. However, I now enjoy working CW pretty much exclusively and hope to keep improving my skills along the way.
I was able to pass the sample test you posted for both copy and 100% comprehension, but I bet the amateurs who had to take that test in front of actual FCC examiners dealt with a much more stressful situation than I did sitting in comfort at my own kitchen table. Also, wasn’t there a sending component to the code exam? Before getting licensed, I thought copying was the tough part of CW. After being on the air however, I found that proper sending technique was
actually much more difficult than one would expect. Especially when QSO’s entailed more than call sign, RST, QTH and 73.
Thanks for posting the sample, and I for one would be interested in viewing some of the old Extra written exam samples as well, if they still exist anywhere!
73,
Tom, KE8HUM
Hahahaha. I know that my 13wpm test was the old kind where we had to get 65 characters in a row but I can’t remember whether the 20wpm was 100 characters (1 min perfect copy) or if it had already been changed to a multiple choice exam by then. In any case, it was stressful! At 13wpm, I could hear my heartbeat better than the FCC recording. In Oklahoma City ant Tulsa, , I was always really sorry for the poor lonely FCC examiner that had to grade the room full of hopefuls.
I did all of the exams and the 20wpm CW on one afternoon in 1995 somewhere in Kensington (UK). At that point I am pretty sure it was just a multiple choice, although I copied and wrote down the whole of the text. Sadly, I let AA1EG and then K1NS lapse, I really must re-sit the Tech exam and get a new call. I passed the UK 12wpm test at Humber Radio back in 1973 – Neil G4DBN
10/10 woohoo!
Only normal for a guy who calls himself ” 99% CW “.
I must say I read the questions in advance (NOT the answers) so I knew where I had to focus on.
We had to learn at 12 WPM, only one test and only one license. We had to copy random characters grouped by five, like A5C9? AX4/7.
I was one of the last to get on HF after a mandatory CW test.
For me CW is the reason I keep on loving the hobby. I would soon lose interest without that mode.
73
For my General/Advanced, back in 1971, we high-schoolers had to travel from Murfreesboro, Tennessee (try THAT on CW as a 5 WPM Novice) to Nashville, 30 miles away, to the 1717 West End Building, the federal building where all the federal tests were given (mail person, etc). The FCC traveled quarterly from the Atlanta field office to give exams there.
I had gotten my Novice the previous August (coming up on 50 years licensed), had studied the ARRL General Class license book and 13 WPM code. Had to copy one solid minute from the paper code tapes the FCC used, in a large room with about 40-50 other folks, that echoed something fierce. I passed somehow, and the examiner asked me if I wanted to take the Advanced as well as the General written tests (no extra charge). I said, yes, and somehow managed to pass both, in spite of the fact that I had never studied for the Advanced. I’ll never know how close I came to failing it, either, since the FCC never told anyone in those days how you scored.
I held on to that Advanced class for over 30 years, only upgrading to a 20 WPM Extra about 15 years ago. That was, of course, the 10-question multiple choice exam in front of volunteer examiners, in a college classroom.
Took me a long time to get around to the xtra exam. Phase angles and such (blank stares from others), but had it down pat. At the VE session I failed, but I knew the material so annted up another $14 and retook it. Failed again. Now I was frustrated and was not going to let this get the better of me. Threw another $14 on the table and failed again. It was the dead of winter and was putting my artic coat on when one of the examiners said I could still try the code, so just for giggles and grins sat down, coat on, and was given the test by the SM of Indiana at the time. Copied maybe 50%, but just enough letters here and there to take educated guess at multi-choice and passed! Month later plowed through the written and could not wait to jump in the car and say “QRZ de N9DHD/AE” on 2 meters! Last year took Level II with K0AD and enjoying cw contesting more than ever. Work with Rufz and Morse Runner almost every day! 73, de K8TS
I never got around to taking the Extra until after the 20 wpm requirement went away, but your post let me prove to myself that I could have passed it. Thanks for sharing this, Dan!
– Gordon KM6I (previously KC8ES, WB8YVI, Ann Arbor 1979-1996)
Wow, this was so much fun to take the test. I passed the multiple choice with 100% but my copy was pretty embarrassing to look at on paper – but I managed to find the answers so I guess that is what counts :)