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Here are seven options for study material -- please send an email to
wx4qz at arrl dot net if you note that any of these are no longer valid:

1) The Question Pools alone. These are available at either the ARRL
website (www.arrl.org/question-pools), or at the NCVEC website
(www.ncvec.org). You will need the appropriate utilities to read
the PDF or Microsoft Word files.

2) The AA9PW website (www.aa9pw.com). A special item of note is the
proven accessibility to blind users. There is an option for "no figures"
in the exam, and many blind users do indeed report that this site works
well for them. Additional features include on line Morse code training,
and a Morse code app available from the iTunes store (even though Morse
Code is no longer required for an amateur radio license). The site also includes practice exams for commercial licenses.

3) The Ham Exam website (www.hamexam.org). It offers up to date exams
online, and includes a "flash card" learning option. What's unique here
is that you create an account (it's free), and as you use the site, it
learns which questions are giving you trouble and will emphasize those
in subsequent practice exams.

4) The American Radio Relay League (ARRL) website (www.arrl.org). It
has license preparation materials for the Technician, General, and the
Amateur Extra exams. Cost varies per item.

5) The W5YI website (www.w5yi.org). It has the study guides done by
Gordon West, WB6NOA...with similar materials to what the ARRL has
available. Again, cost varies per item.

6) If you are disabled, and need assistance with learning the materials,
you can contact Handi-Hams (www.handiham.org). They help people with disabilities obtain, then study the material to obtain or upgrade their
ham radio license. Once again, cost varies per item. More resources for
the disabled are located at:

www.arrl.org/resources-for-the-disabled

If you have a disability, the Volunteer Examiner (VE) Team may be able to
make certain accomodations for you to take the license exam, such as
giving a test without schematics, graphics, or diagrams...for an
individual who is blind, or severely visually impaired...or reading the questions and available answers to the examinee...who, in turn, tells the
VE what answer to mark on the test.

Note that MEDICAL DOCUMENTATION OF YOUR DISABILITY MAY BE REQUIRED IF
YOUR DISABILITY IS NOT OBVIOUS...and it's best to notify the VE Team as
far in advance of the test session as possible, so that proper exam arrangements can be made. If you wait until the test session itself to
notify the VE Team of your disability, they may NOT be able to make the accomodations for you to take the exam...and you will either have to
take the exam without special assistance, or wait until another scheduled license exam session. If the VE Team is limited on exam materials without
any schematics, graphics, or diagrams (these are usually reserved for
those who are blind/extremely visually impaired), you may only be able
to have one try at that particular license class exam at a test session;
and will have to attend another session to "try it again", should you
fail the exam.

7) Ham Test Online (www.hamradiolicenseexam.com/index.html). This option
only requires a computer and internet connection (either dial-up, DSL, broadband/cable, etc.). It is all web browser based, with nothing to
download or install. Unlike the options where you have to buy books, etc.
for each license class, you get a six (6) month subscription at different prices, depending on which class of license(s) you want to study for
(see the price list for details). It can be cheaper than all the other
license class books combined from all the sources noted above!! You can
take as long as you need to study...in the privacy of your home, to take
as many practice tests desired.

Once your study time, plus your practice test scores are both above 85%
on a consistent basis, you're ready for the real thing at a VE Test
Session. However, if after adequate study time and practice tests, you
still fail on exam day, just send them PROOF of the failure...and they
will CANCEL your subscription, and REFUND your money. Around 1% of all
who have signed up with them have requested a refund. Personally, it was
the best money I ever spent in amateur radio. I went from Technician to
General in only 14 days...and to Amateur Extra just 13 days later!!

It does NOT matter how many you miss on the exam...just as long as you
PASS the test!! Plus, there is no disgrace if you don't pass a license
exam the first time; you can retake the license exam, with a DIFFERENT set
of questions, if the VE team has the capability for you to do so...and
provided you pay an additional test fee. Many hams have had to do just
that when applying for a new license, or an upgrade...and they are on
the air today. Also, the number of "re-tests" per failed element at a
test session may be LIMITED. Chances are if you fail an exam more than
twice in the same session...especially by a large number...that you
need more study time on the material.

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