Can you take the UK amateur radio exam online?

What you need

• A desktop or laptop running Windows or macOS. Tablets, Chromebooks and Linux machines aren’t supported.
• A webcam, microphone and speakers, and broadband of at least 2 Mbps.
• The TestReach app, installed before the day. Take its practice tutorial to check it works.
• For Intermediate, Full and Direct to Full: a second camera to the side, such as a phone or tablet on the video call.
• Photo ID, and a clean printed copy of the reference booklet for your level (EX307 for Foundation).

How it works, step by step

1. Book and pay on the RSGB website, at least 10 days ahead.
2. About a week before, you get two emails: your login and your exam date and time. The times are in UTC, so in summer they look an hour early.
3. Two or three days before, you join a short video call with your invigilator to check your room and equipment. Don’t skip it, or you may not be able to sit the exam.
4. On the day, you join the call 10 to 15 minutes early, show your ID and turn your camera round the room.
5. You start the exam in TestReach. The invigilator watches the whole time and the session is recorded.
6. When you finish, you see your provisional result and feedback straight away. The RSGB confirms it within about six working days.

House rules

• Nobody else can be in the room. A friend can help you set up, then they have to leave.
• If you’re under 16, a parent or guardian must sit in the room, in view but not helping.
• You can take a toilet break, but you can’t go back to questions you’ve already answered.
• The invigilator can’t explain questions or help with answers.

Prefer not to sit it at home?

Many clubs run exams in person on the same online system. Use the RSGB Course and Exam Finder to look for one near you. Paper exams are used only if you have special requirements or the centre has technical problems.

Just want to listen online?

Lots of people start by listening. Web-based receivers let you tune the amateur bands from your browser, with no radio at all. The RSGB links to its own online receiver and to a list of others around the world. It’s a good way to hear real contacts before your exam.