You just brought back some memories, Bill. Way back in the early '60s I
had a couple of those Ameco Study Guides.

I took some of those early tests (the ones before 1984) but I find it
hard to remember their level of difficulty sufficiently to make a
reasonable comparison. I took the first of them as a pre-teen, a few in
the mid-70s, and then re-took the whole smear in 1988.

While I remember that the tests for Novice and General were of the
multiple guess kind in the '60s (albeit at an FCC Field Office), I could
swear that I remember that drawn circuit diagrams were required at least
for the Extra written exam, if not the Advanced. This from the study
guides that I had for the tests.

Of course, it's absolutely true that a test can be made harder by the
depth that the test goes into, but breadth can also make for a hard
test. What I remember of the tests I went through back in the 60s was
flying through them all, acing the Novice and missing 2 questions on the
General.

Code has never been a problem for me. The only problem I would have with
a 5 wpm test is that it's too slow. For me, the 13 wpm is too slow. I
find 15 wpm a slow minimum comfortable speed, with 25 at optimum. This
is for me, and I realize that others don't find it so and never will.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Bill Sohl wrote:
"KØHB" wrote in message
ink.net...

"N2EY" wrote

|
| Since the actual tests used before 1984 are not available, who is to
say if
| they were "harder" or "easier"?
|

Those of us who took them.

The material today is somewhat more difficult, since it covers a much
broader range of technology than the 1960's stuff.


Hans is correct. The late 50's Tech was the same as General.
Additionally, there were plenty of smaple tests around via AMECO
and other study guides even before Bash.

Cheers,
Bill K2UNK





--
73 from Glenn - KG5UC