Pass Your Amateur Radio Extra Class Test - The Easy Way

by Craig Buck K4IA

THIS EDITION IS FOR TESTS BEFORE JULY 1, 2020 IF YOU ARE TESTING AFTER JULY 1, get the 2020-2024 edition. Amateur radio license tests are multiple-choice with three wrong answers and one right answer for each question. Traditional test-prep materials go through the questions and all the possible answers. For the Extra test, you see 712 questions and 2,848 answers but 2,136 answers are wrong! Why be confused and frustrated studying three wrong answers for every one right answer? Pass Your Amateur Radio Extra Class Test – The Easy Way is different. The focus is on the right answers and only the right answers - All Ham and No Spam. The book is in two parts. The first explains the concepts covering every single test question with hints and cheats to help you understand recognize the correct answer. The second part is a condensed Quick Summary with only the questions and correct answers, again with hints and cheats. Since you never see the wrong answers, the correct answers will pop out when you take the test. You learn to recognize, not memorize, the right answer. It couldn’t be easier!Here are two "I just wanted to let you know that I purchased all 3 of your amateur radio license study books, read them all 3 repeatedly and passed all three tests in 3 weeks! 1st week Tech, 2nd week General, and 3rd week Extra class. Your books give the information needed to understand the material and questions and in turn give the reader the knowledge and confidence to pass the exams. I have wanted to get involved in amateur radio for years and now I have!I will be sure to let everyone interested in amateur radio study material to be sure and read Easy Way Ham Books!Thank you for writing these books." "Thanks for writing the "Pass Your Test The easy Way" books! I got my Tech license in May, I scored 34/35. I got my General in June, scored 35/35. I just passed my Extra Class test this week and scored 50/50. I went to the same VE's for each test and after the Extra exam and some hand shakes they had questions about how I studied. I showed them my copy of your Extra class book, highlighted, notes written in the margins and so on. I used your books for each exam and they definitely made a difference for me. I did my part as well but your books definitely made it easier. The books are now part of the ham radio reference section in my library. I don't normally go out of my way to thank an author, in fact I've never done this before but your books made such a big difference for me I felt I should reach out and let you know about it. So, thanks again for writing this series, 73! "

Genres: Nonfiction

214 pages, Paperback

First published March 4, 2015

Reviews

[Jim]

After passing my General in March of 2021, I worked the bands, made some good friends, and enjoyed ham radio a lot. After I joined the Eyebank net on 40 meters I learned that one of the members had challenged all those that did NOT have an Extra Class license to study and pass the test. He said he wanted to get his before he died. Sadly he passed away before he passed the Extra. I used Michael's book AGAIN. Before I took the test, I told the net "I'll pass this test for Don", I tested for the Extra in March of 2022 and upgraded to EXTRA. WD5HUU

[Duane M. Berry]

Everything you need, nothing you don't

Concentrates on teaching you to recognize the correct answer to each question without cluttering your mind with the wrong ones.

[Malcolm M. Taylor]

I used this book and Craig’s Extra book along with “Ham Radio Prep”, an online program, and “Ham Study” , an app, to prepare for my General and Extra Radio exams.
The answers to the exams are taught. I was easily ready for and passed the General and Extra exam in about 30 days each. I highly recommend these books for preparing for the General and Extra exams.
I have some technical understanding but nowhere near the background needed to grasp radio. These books give the information needed to pass the exams and put one on the air with access to the allowed frequencies. I find more challenge to learning while doing plus Ham radio operators are eager to help one another.
The Extra exam is more detailed and technical than the first two exams.

[Ryan]

The book is okay, it's almost just a list of all the correct answers on the test in order with some tips or tricks to remembering the right answer, but doesn't really explain the majority of the concepts or teach you about what the questions are asking. So I found it really hard to read and retain, worse than quick apps I've used because you can usually get the explanation behind some of the questions or just memorize the correct answer as these books aims to help you do. I will be reading another book for general because I didn't really retain anything here since it was 90% just restating correct answers with no explanation.

[Joe Gadway]

This is a good book to help you pass the ham radio General Class test quickly.
It focuses on showing you the questions and the correct answers with frequent tips for remembering the correct answers.
It does not give you a deep understanding of the topics, but it will help you pass the test.
.
After you pass the test and are enjoying your new radio privileges you can get that deeper understanding by slowly reading The ARRL General Class License Manual.

[Jeff]

Breeze your way to a General class license

Like the technician class book this was also full of hints. Many people just use free practice tests until the answers are drilled into their heads. This book which is currently in Kindle Unlimited is a great value and cuts your study time in half.

[Jean Samaniego]

This book really helped my pass my Amateur Extra exam. Reviewing only the correct answers was very helpful. If you're looking to take the AE exam and find it hard to study for it, get this book. You'll pass!

[Linda Henry]

Very good book for studying for your ham test

[Tom Callen]

I read through this book a couple of times and tested my understanding with some online ham study sample exams along the way. I wasn't entirely sure I was 100% prepared to take the exam but I am glad I forced myself to go to the exam site anyway. Turns out I scored a perfect 35-out-of-35 on the exam! And this was just a month or so removed from passing the Technician exam.

This book employs a unique approach to studying for the General Class ham radio exam. I really enjoyed this approach. The first part of the book uses a narrative style that interweaves both questions and correct answers as part of the text/story. This approach style made it more enjoyable to read than trying to memorize questions and correct answers alone. The author adds a little more depth by explaining why the answers are what they are.

What I think I appreciate most is that you aren't exposed to the incorrect multiple choice answers in this book until the very end. This really helps to know the correct answers when you see them.

When I decided to get into the ham radio hobby, I made it my goal to get the Technician, then the General license. This book definitely helped me attain the General license much faster than I had expected!

[Andrew Harmon]

Definitely the easy way to study!

Thanks Craig for such an excellent study tool. I highly recommend this to anyone looking to upgrade. I read through this book one time and passed with flying colors. 32 out of 35 questions correct! It was definitely way easier for my brain to process this way than just looking at a bunch of questions and answers. It was nice when taking the test to be able to recognize the questions and correct answers so easily. I hope there will be an updated version for the new question pool soon. Next I plan to tackle the Extra exam with his other book!

[Paul Gough]

I found this to be an efficient review of the voluminous material — 711 questions in all — for the 2016-2020 amateur radio Extra Class exam. It's a different approach than most textbooks, and it's not for everyone. There is no explanations, not even incorrect answers to the multiple choice questions. It's all to help you recognize the answers. It helped me, although I used it in conjunction with other books and other methods.

[Ben Gutierrez]

Between this and qrz.com's practice tests, I was able to pass without a problem. Unfortunately, I know barely anything and there are all these gaps that I have to go back and fill in. It's nice that I'm going to be able to practice what I know as soon as I get the equipment, but I kind of wish I had taken the time to read a more in-depth book.

Read this if you're just trying to get your license as quickly as possible. Get something else if you want to understand what you're doing.

[Kevin]

Great book and an excellent method to study for the exam. I didn't know anything about how the radio community thing worked, aside from a few YouTube videos and I found it extremely helpful in getting so much of the important information down to pass the test. I do, however, think it's more of a starter and reference for the test and would recommend re-reading it as well as supplement with other literature and hands-on practice.

[John Beall]

Great Book on the General Class Exam!

This book is for those who need a review of the questions and answers to General Class License . It is also well suited for those who are New to Amateur Radio and want an insite as what to expect from taking the Test! John KA3USB a returning Ham who wants to upgrade.

[David Reeves]

This is the second book from this author inside of ninety says I passed the tech and the general teststd

With out any help and with no ham radio experience I passed the technical and the general test both in side ninety day great books

[Douglas Peasnall]

Great Aid

This is a great study aid written in an easy to follow and understand format. Great way to prepare for the exam!

[Kevin Lehigh]

Hey, I passed so it must have been a good book right? Craig Buck takes a no nonsense approach to helping get one prepared to pass their general ham radio exam.

[Michael Lahmon]

Great help for passing my test

[Richard Redhawk]

Got my tech ticket with this