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!