In article , "Dan/W4NTI"
writes:

But you know Jim even if they did prepare, A LOT FAILED, it was really an
exercise in who could overcome the nerves.

My sources tell me that the pass rate has been about 2/3 for years and years. I
don't know how true that is. I do know that it's a good thing the exam sessions
are more accessible than in those times.

I recall that one of the major complaints some hams had about incentive
licensing was the travel expense and time. Something like 1/6 of the ham
population back then were Conditionals. Something like 1/3 of the hams of the
'60s had never been to an FCC office exam (Novice, Tech and Conditional were
all by mail). None of the IL proposals included making the Advanced or Extra
available by mail.

For my money, the *best* system was that of the late '70s and very early '80s.
FCC examiners did all the testing and exam preparing, and there were office
sessions. BUT, if a ham group could guarantee a certain number of folks wanting
tests (I think the quororm/minyan was 10) then FCC would send out an examiner.
Most big hamfests had the FCC "traveling road show" giving exams.

Reagan's budget cuts ended all that.

I had to take a 90 mile train ride to and from to take my test. I was 13 at
the time, and my mother came along. We spent the night at my aunt and
uncles.

That's why I said I was lucky. At 13 it was a mile walk to K3NYT's house for
the Novice, and at 14 a subway ride. Nobody went with me, but those were
different times.

And since we were school kids, we were used to taking tests.

Years later I realized it was the 'original incentive licensing'. He stern
words were " You better pass this thing the first time, we ain't doing this
again". I nicknamed her 'Old Sarge'...but never to her face.. hi. Sure do
miss her.

I hear ya!

I recall that the Philly office gave exams on Monday thru Wednesday, and I
think there were no code tests on Wednesday. There was no way a kid would be
allowed to miss school for a ham exam back then. So all testing had to be done
in the summer, or over Xmas break if the holiday didn't fall on the wrong day.
With the 30 day retest rule and school getting out in mid-June, there were at
most three chances per summer or four chances per year - tops.

73 de Jim, N2EY