General Class Practice Test & Lessons (2023–2027 Pool)
Upgrade to General and open up the HF bands.
About the General exam
The General license adds most of the HF bands, where you can talk across the country and around the world. The exam (Element 3) is 35 multiple-choice questions, and you need 26 right (74%) to pass. Questions come from the official 2023–2027 pool of 423 questions, in use through June 30, 2027.
Learn each topic in short lessons, answer the real exam questions as you go, and see why every answer is right, including the math worked out. Smart Drill keeps bringing back what you miss, and the readiness check tells you when to book your exam. The first lessons and 30 questions are free.
All 35 General question groups
The real exam asks one question from each group. Open a group to see its official questions, the correct answers, and why each one is right.
- G1AGeneral privileges on HF10
- G1BAntennas, beacons and what you may transmit11
- G1CPower limits and special rules8
- G1DVolunteer Examiners, upgrades and remote operation12
- G1EThird parties, automatic control and interference11
- G2ASideband and phone operating12
- G2BFrequency courtesy, emergencies and RACES11
- G2CCW operating and Q signals11
- G2DVolunteer Monitors, maps and good habits11
- G2EDigital modes on HF15
- G3AThe Sun and HF propagation14
- G3BMUF, LUF and skip12
- G3CIonospheric regions, scatter and NVIS11
- G4AReceiver and transmitter controls13
- G4BTest equipment13
- G4CInterference, grounding and bonding12
- G4DSpeech processing, S meters and sideband edges11
- G4EMobile and solar power11
- G5AReactance, impedance and resonance12
- G5BPower math, RMS and decibels14
- G5CTransformers and combining parts14
- G6ABatteries and components12
- G6BFerrites, ICs and connectors11
- G7APower supplies and schematic symbols13
- G7BAmplifiers, oscillators and logic11
- G7CTransmitter and receiver building blocks14
- G8AModulation types14
- G8BMixing, bandwidth and intermod13
- G8CDigital protocols and displays15
- G9AFeed lines and SWR11
- G9BDipoles, verticals and wire antennas12
- G9CYagi antennas11
- G9DSpecial antennas12
- G0ARF exposure12
- G0BElectrical and tower safety13
General exam questions, answered
How many questions are on the General exam, and what's a passing score?
35 questions, one from each of the pool's 35 groups. You need 26 correct (74%) to pass.
Do I need a Technician license first?
You need to pass the Technician exam (Element 2) before or at the same session as the General exam (Element 3). Many people take both on the same day.
Are these the real exam questions?
Yes. Every question comes word for word from the official question pool written by the NCVEC Question Pool Committee, which is public domain. The real exam picks one question from each group, so studying the whole pool covers everything that can be asked.
Which question pool is on the General exam now?
The 2023–2027 General pool, 423 questions, used on exams through June 30, 2027. Withdrawn questions are removed, through the NCVEC's February 4, 2026 corrections.
How much does it cost to upgrade?
The FCC charges a $35 application fee for a new license, paid to the FCC after you pass. Upgrading to General or Extra later has no FCC fee. The volunteer examiner team also sets a small session fee: often around $15, and some sessions are free.
Where do I take the exam?
Exams are given by Volunteer Examiner (VE) teams, in person at club sessions or online over video. Use the ARRL exam session finder to find one near you. Find an exam session