June 30, 2009

To All Test Center Managers/Examiners,

FCC Adopts New Question Pools for Elements 1, 3, and 8

On June 25th, the FCC announced the adoption of new question pools for Commercial Elements 1, 3, and 8. These 3 question pools cover basic radio law and operating practice; electronic fundamentals and techniques required to adjust, repair and maintain radio transmitters and receivers; and ship radar techniques. These pools are used to develop written examinations for some of the most important FCC Commercial Radio Licenses that can be earned by radio operators and maintainers engaged in professional maritime and aviation radio positions.

These new pools use an entirely new approach to the examinations as the new pools use Key Topic areas (sub-element sections) for question selections to make sure that every exam covers all of the important areas with which a license applicant should be familiar. These new questions pools reflect changes in FCC rules and in technology and techniques that have occurred since the current pools were released nearly 13 years ago.

The current Element 1 Question Pool contains 170 total questions and is not subdivided into any Sub-element topics. The current exam contains 24 questions taken at random from the 170 questions in the pool.

The new Element 1 Pool contains 144 total questions, subdivided into 4 Sub-elements. The questions grouped into a total of 24 Key Topics. Each Key Topic contains 6 questions, with one exam question taken from each Key Topic. The Proposed new Element 1 written examination will consist of 24 questions, with a passing score of 18 correct.

Of the total 144 questions in the new Element 1 Question Pool, 18 (12.5%) are new questions. These new questions reflect FCC rules changes made since the current pools were released nearly 13 years ago.

The current Element 3 Question Pool contains 916 total questions and is subdivided into 8 sub-elements. The current written examination consists of 76 questions taken at random from the 8 sub-elements based on a formula of so many questions taken from each sub-element.

The new Element 3 Pool contains 600 total questions, subdivided into 17 sub-elements, with the questions grouped into a total of 100 Key Topics. Each Key Topic contains 6 questions, with one exam question taken from each Key Topic. The proposed new Element 3 written examination will consist of 100 questions, with a passing score of 76 correct.

Of the total 600 questions in the new Element 3 Question Pool, 229 (38%) are new.

The current Element 8 Question Pool contains 321 total questions and is not subdivided into sub-elements. The current written examination consists of 50 questions taken at random from the 321 questions in the pool.

The new Element 8 Pool contains 300 total questions, subdivided into 6 sub-elements, with the questions grouped into a total of 50 Key Topics. Each Key Topic contains 6 questions, with one exam question taken from each Key Topic. The proposed new Element 8 written examination will consist of 50 questions, with a passing score of 38 correct.

Of the total 300 questions in the proposed Element 8 Question Pool, 53 (9%) are new questions.

New ComExam Software is under development now with an expected release date before December. The software will be released on hardcopy CD by mail to all active Test Center Mangers that have given exams in the last 2 years. If you have not been active in commercial testing prior to that time you should contact our office to discuss your status as an examiner should you wish to resume offering commercial examinations.

Work is underway now on a complete revision of the GROL-Plus book that will contain the new question pools, along with answer explanations that will help students understand the theory and practice underlying the correct answer to each question. Master Publishing, Inc., which publishes the current GROL-Plus book, anticipates that the new edition of the book will be ready by late September. “This updating of the commercial question pools is overdue,” notes author Gordon West. “The current pools were adopted by the FCC in 1995, and changes in technology and operating practice make the current pools somewhat obsolete.“These new pools reflect all of the current changes to commercial radio operation, technology, and maintenance,” he adds. “This will make the exams more relevant to current practice and more useful in measuring the qualifications of license applicants.”

In the FCC Public Notice, 6/25/2009 -DA 09-1417, which can be found on the FCC web site at http://wireless.fcc.gov/commoperators/index.htm?job=home the FCC authorizes a 6 month transition period for COLEMs (Commercial Operator License Examination Managers) to move from the current pools to the new pools. This means that it is possible to use the new pools immediately, or continue to give valid examinations using the current pools during the transition period.

It is the intention of NRE to continue giving exams from the existing pools until after new study materials are available. This will allow applicants to have adequate time to properly prepare for the new examinations. All COLEMs must begin using only the new question pools effective December 26, 2009.

Until then, NRE will be using the current pools for the examinations given to applicants.

Thank you for your continued efforts supporting the FCC Commercial Licensing System of National Radio Examiners.

Sincerely,

Larry Pollock
National Radio Examiners