Ham radio General practice test
A free, full-length General (Element 3) exam simulation using the current 2023-2027 question pool. 35 questions, 26 correct to pass, with an explanation for every answer.
Testing on or after July 1, 2027? A new General pool takes effect that day. This page covers the 2023-2027 pool used for exams through June 30, 2027. We will add the new pool when NCVEC releases it.
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General exam format and passing score
The General license exam is FCC Element 3. It has 35 multiple-choice questions, and you need 26 correct (about 74%) to pass. Each question has four answer choices. Exams are given by teams of accredited Volunteer Examiners (VEs), in person or online through remote sessions.
You must hold a Technician license, or pass the Technician exam at the same session, before your General upgrade can be granted. There is no Morse code test.
Which question pool this test uses
This practice test uses the 2023-2027 General question pool published by the NCVEC Question Pool Committee, including the 6th errata issued February 4, 2026. It contains 423 active questions and applies to every General exam given from July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2027. NCVEC has withdrawn 9 questions (G1A04, G1C08, G1C09, G1C10, G1E09, G6B09, G8C01, G9C06, G9D13), and they are not used here.
How each practice exam is built
The pool is divided into 10 subelements and 35 groups. Like the real exam, our simulation picks one random question from each group, so every practice exam has the same topic balance as the real one:
| Subelement | Topic | Exam questions | Pool questions |
|---|---|---|---|
| G1 | Commission’s Rules | 5 | 52 |
| G2 | Operating Procedures | 5 | 60 |
| G3 | Radio Wave Propagation | 3 | 37 |
| G4 | Amateur Radio Practices | 5 | 60 |
| G5 | Electrical Principles | 3 | 40 |
| G6 | Circuit Components | 2 | 23 |
| G7 | Practical Circuits | 3 | 38 |
| G8 | Signals and Emissions | 3 | 42 |
| G9 | Antennas and Feed Lines | 4 | 46 |
| G0 | Electrical and RF Safety | 2 | 25 |
| Total | 35 | 423 |
Because each exam draws a fresh question from each group, retaking the test gives you a different set of questions each time.
Reviewing your score
After you finish, you see your total score, a pass or not-yet result, and a score for each topic. Every question is listed with your answer, the correct answer, and an explanation. Rules questions also show the FCC Part 97 section they come from.
Missed questions are saved in your browser. The next time you visit, choose Review my missed questions to practice just those.
Improving topic by topic
Low scores usually cluster in two or three topics. Many General candidates find Electrical Principles (G5: reactance, RMS and power math), Practical Circuits (G7) and Commission's Rules (G1: band segments and VE rules) the hardest. Use study mode with a single topic selected, and read the matching section of the General study guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is this the same as the real General exam?
The questions are the same official pool questions used on real exams, and each practice exam follows the official one-question-per-group structure. On exam day, the answer choices may appear in a different order.
How many questions are on the General exam?
35 multiple-choice questions. You need 26 correct to pass.
Can I use a calculator?
Some questions need math. VE teams usually allow a basic calculator with its memory cleared, but rules vary, so ask your exam team ahead of time.
How many practice tests should I take?
There is no magic number. A good sign you are ready is passing several new practice exams in a row with a comfortable margin above 26.
Is my progress saved?
Your recent exam scores and missed questions are saved in your own browser on this device. Nothing is sent to us, and you can clear it at any time from the test setup screen.