RSGB Foundation Licence Examination — Information & Free Practice

About RSGB Foundation Licence Examination

RSGB Foundation Licence Examination · GB

Key exam facts

Provider

Radio Society of Great Britain (RSGB) administers the examination; Ofcom issues the UK amateur radio licence.

Format

Multiple-choice knowledge examination, normally online at home with a remote invigilator or in a club; paper arrangements may be made for special educational needs or technical issues.

Exam questions

Total questions: 26.

Time limit

60 minutes answering time at Foundation level; special arrangements may be agreed with RSGB.

Passing score

19 correct answers out of 26; RSGB describes this as 73%.

Exam fee

GBP £35.50 for the Foundation examination. Separate training charges may apply; RCF offers funded exams for eligible under-21 full-time students.

Topics covered

• Licensing conditions and station identification (23.08%)

  • Nature of amateur radio, licence territory and non-commercial purpose
  • Licence types, regional secondary locators and suffixes
  • Licensee details, revalidation and revocation
  • Station identification
  • Operators and supervision; User Service identity and circumstances not examinable
  • Messages and networks
  • Encryption exceptions and Morse code
  • Undue interference, inspection and closedown
  • Required logging
  • Electromagnetic fields
  • Foundation licence Schedule 1

• Technical aspects (11.54%)

  • Fundamental theory: current, conductors, insulators and units
  • Circuits, series current and parallel potential difference
  • Power and P=V×I
  • Resistance, Ohm’s law and parallel current
  • Series voltage sum
  • Polarity
  • Direct and alternating current
  • Sine waves, frequencies, RF and AF
  • Frequency and wavelength
  • Analogue and digital signals
  • ADC, DAC and computing devices
  • Cells, batteries and stored energy

• Transmitters and receivers (11.54%)

  • Transmitter function and modulation
  • AM, FM, SSB and data modulation
  • Sidebands
  • Signal diagrams
  • Simple transmitter block diagram
  • Oscillator frequency setting
  • Microphone amplifier and gain
  • RF power amplifier
  • Matched load
  • Overmodulation and excessive deviation
  • Receiver function and demodulation
  • Receiver block diagram
  • Detector and audio amplifier
  • Software defined radio

• Feeders and antennas (11.54%)

  • Coaxial and twin feeder
  • Feeder loss
  • Baluns
  • Antenna conversion and polarisation
  • Radiation patterns; only dipole and Yagi patterns examined
  • Gain and ERP
  • EIRP
  • Polarisation matching
  • Feed point and impedance
  • Antenna types and dimensions
  • Standing waves
  • SWR meter and faults
  • Antenna matching units
  • RF plugs, sockets and braid connection

• Propagation (7.69%)

  • Radio wave behaviour
  • VHF/UHF and atmosphere
  • Ionosphere and ionisation
  • HF skywave propagation
  • VHF/UHF range and obstructions
  • Weather attenuation
  • Antenna height, gain, path and power

• Electromagnetic compatibility (11.54%)

  • EMC
  • Immunity
  • Transmitter interference
  • Receiver interference
  • Power and modes
  • Routes of entry
  • Chokes and filters
  • Dummy load testing
  • Antenna placement and EMC help
  • RF earth
  • Vehicle installation responsibility
  • Stationary tests
  • Vehicle interference
  • Social aspects and assistance
  • Logs and cooperative testing

• Good operating practices and procedures (11.54%)

  • Listening before calling
  • CQ calls
  • Calling channels and Centres of Activity
  • Optional suffixes
  • Phonetic alphabet
  • Logs and UTC
  • Music and inappropriate language
  • Interference tests
  • Examination band plans
  • Spectrum allocation
  • Repeaters
  • Checking other modes
  • Input devices and PTT
  • RST code
  • Digital voice and data
  • Satellite allocations
  • International recognition

• Safety (11.54%)

  • Electrical hazards
  • Safety earth
  • Mains plug wiring
  • Fuses
  • RCBO protection; differential sensing mechanics excluded
  • Servicing equipment
  • Master switch and electrical accidents
  • Battery hazards and charging
  • Eye protection using tools
  • Tool hazards
  • Soldering safety
  • Antenna erection
  • Ladders
  • Tools at height and hard hats
  • RF heating
  • RF safety guidance
  • Waveguides and high-gain antennas
  • RF contact; handheld exception
  • Lightning
  • Overhead lines and securing antennas
  • Trailing wires
  • Headphone volume
  • Portable operating hazards
  • Safety responsibility

How to prepare

Work through the topics, read the explanation after each answer, and revisit the areas where you miss questions. Use the official outline and reference materials below to guide your study.

These independent practice questions are not actual exam items and do not guarantee a passing result.

Frequently asked questions

Official sources and references

• Radio Amateur Examinations Specification

  Part 1, The Syllabus, p.1.2

• Radio Amateur Examinations Specification

  Part 1, Allocation of Questions, p.1.3–1.4

• Radio Amateur Examinations Specification

  Part 1, Allocation of Questions, p.1.4, Foundation column

• Radio Amateur Examinations Specification

  Cover and Document changes, pp.1.i–1.ii

• Radio Amateur Examinations Specification

  Part 1, The Assessment, p.1.1

• Radio Amateur Examinations Specification

  Part 1, Pass Mark, p.1.4

• Foundation Licence

  The exam

• Booking and paying for your exam

  Exam fees

Confirm current exam arrangements with the exam provider.