开云体育

I went to NE Science tech in Natick last weekend to observe a testing session.?

They are all electronic...test online...grade online...forms and results submitted online. There there was a group of VE's that were from Western MA (Holyoke I believe).? That group currently uses paper and were there because they were told the ARRL was pushing VE Teams to switch to all electronic testing, so they wanted to watch the process.?

I reached out to ARRL to find out the scoop.? The short version is paper can still be used, but exam must be printed from exam tools and results uploaded to ARRL (no more mail in).? I am not sure what the BVARC VE team is doing at this point except that paper exams are still being used (don't know if they are using pre-printed exams from ARRL? or already printing tests from ExamTools).

My sense is this is the incremental step between where things are today and eventually "no more paper"...meaning WiFi and computers/tablets/chrome books might be needed at some point down the road.??

?

At any rate, this could complicate walk-in testing cause candidates need to be registered for an exam before actually taking it


Here is what they said:

The Technician exams will change in 2026 so our VE teams will be required to print the new exams from ExamTools if they wish to continue in-person sessions using printed exams. This will be the new procedure as we are no longer printing or shipping booklets from ARRL HQ as costs have become unmanageable. At each pool change, teams will have to print new exams as the question pools will continue to update.

?

Reducing license grant times from weeks to days.

Additionally, all VE teams must submit their test session results via our secure webpage which we have been advertising for years.

Teams will upload sessions for quicker service to candidates which will reduce the return shipping expenses, as we have also been covering the cost of shipping the administered sessions back to ARRL HQ. Uploading electronic session results through our website is a vital program feature for our customers.

?

ExamTools Examination System

The system works well for online or printed exams. Our blue overlay grading template designs are loaded in the program and can be used with the ExamTools printed exams. Additionally, whether the team is using online or printed exams, the program offers registering and tracking candidates throughout the session, automated grading, online signing of CSCE and 605 forms by the candidate and examiners, logging and compiling session stats and VE participation list (test report summary), and output files for upload to the coordinating VEC. The program manages/handles almost everything needed to conduct a test session for either printed or online exams.

?

VE teams can use exams printed from ExamTools, or they can move to using the online exams at in-person sessions or entirely online remote video sessions.

The important piece is moving teams to electronic files by utilizing ExamTools for the candidate’s data.

?

There are two options in ExamTools for the teams in regard to exam grading if they want to continue using paper exams.

?

1. VEs can print exams to line up with our

The team leader will register a session in ExamTools so the candidates can sign up for the session and fill out their 605 applications through the program. At the session, as mentioned, the team will still be able to use the paper tests that line up with specific grading templates. After the session is completed, the team leader will log into ExamTools and enter the candidate’s test element and pass/fail information and the participating VEs. ?

When all session information is completed, the team leader will save the information and then download/save the session file (called VEC Archive file) which will be uploaded by the team leader through our upload webpage. The session archive file will automatically import into our system from there. Because the candidate’s fill out their own 605 applications in ExamTools and its automatically imported into our system, there are very few errors with the FCC data since we would not have to type any information like we have to do for paper 605s.

Additionally, the paper exams must be scanned and uploaded separately from the ExamTools VEC archive file if the team does not use GradeCam (see information below about this feature).

?

2.? VEs can create printed exams that utilize GradeCam for grading tests.

will automatically grade exams in seconds using the camera on a phone, tablet, or computer, which eliminates the need to manually score the tests. Additionally, the score will automatically be recorded in ExamTools for each test.

?The team leader will register a session in ExamTools so the candidates can sign up for the session and fill out their 605 applications through the program. At the session, the team will still be able to use the paper tests, but the printed exams that utilize GradeCam will automatically be graded instead of the team having to manually grade exams. Additionally, the candidate’s score and exam will automatically be recorded in the session record.

After the session is completed, the team leader will save the information and then download/save the session file (called VEC Archive file) which will be uploaded by the team leader through our upload webpage. The session archive file will automatically import into our system from there. Because the candidate’s fill out their own 605 applications in ExamTools and its automatically imported into our system, there are very few errors with the FCC data since we would not have to type any information like we have to do for paper 605s.

?

?

We believe that a year should be enough time for everyone to learn the ExamTools system and decide what works best for their team. We are here to help with any assistance that we can provide.

?

Here is some information on the online examination system; also check out the .?

?

?