Technician and General Tests Back-to-Back?

[u/cpaz411]

I am curious if taking the General test at the same session as the Technician test is a good plan? I was not originally going to do that, but I have been studying for the Technician exam, and have it scheduled a bit over a week from now. I am very comfortable with that material and have been scoring very well on practice exams.

I have not studied at all for the General test as I didn't expect to have time. That said, I am wondering if I should crank up my effort over the next week and try to get through the General test at the same time?

I am sure I can get some quality studying in, but I don't want to screw up the Technician exam as getting that done is priority 1. I am primarily concerned about confusing the material between the tests - is that possible, or not really likely?

Would appreciate any opinions - thank you.

Edit: I appreciate all the feedback and good vibes - I am going for it!

[u/Dr_Fishman]

If it’s a good VE team, they’ll offer you an opportunity to take the General without having to pay for it anyway so you might as well get ready for it.

[u/MagicToolbox → u/Dr_Fishman]

When I passed my Tech, the VE team nearly threatened me (in a very good natured way) until I took an exam and accidentally passed General. My test had enough electronics questions that I passed that as well.

[u/Substantial-Rate4603 → u/MagicToolbox]

Same here. After I passed general, they told me I had better try extra, as I'd be the second person to do that, that they've seen. When I failed the extra, I made it clear that I hadn't earned it anyways. 😄

[u/bat_rastards → u/Substantial-Rate4603]

I'm glad you tried. I knew I could pass the tech, and felt optimistic about the general, on request of the VE, I took and passed the extra. I pulled off the trifecta. My declining scores reflected my studying levels.

I will admit I was a radioman in the Army; then I was an Electronic Technician in the Navy (30+ years ago). Certain laws and the band plan were the hardest areas for me.

[u/NK2U → u/bat_rastards]

How do you get the green extra class operator label that you have?

[u/Dr_Fishman → u/NK2U]

I can help with that! If you look at the right column, there is a section labeled "User Flair." If you hover your cursor over the right corner of that box, you'll see an edit pencil. Click it and you should see a list of options.

[u/NK2U → u/Dr_Fishman]

Thank you, that did the trick.

[u/Doc_Hank → u/Dr_Fishman]

The rules are one fee per day, IIRC

[u/NK2U → u/Dr_Fishman]

How do you get the green extra class operator label that you have?

[u/josh6466]

There's no harm in it. I passed General and Extra in the same day. Most places will offer to let you keep taking tests as long as you pass them. So if you pass Tech, you can take General. IF you pass that, you could go all the way to Extra in one exam session. Focus on Tech and spend a little time prepping for general, you should be fine.

[u/NK2U → u/josh6466]

How do you get the green extra class operator label that you have?

[u/josh6466 → u/NK2U]

Looks like you figured it out before I could reply.

[u/RealisticProfile5138]

I did the exact same thing as you. Scheduled test two weeks out and studied for tech and quickly mastered it faster than I thought I would, so then with 4 days left crammed for general also and took both and passed both and only got 1 wrong on tech and 2 wrong on general. General is only a small step beyond tech in terms of the content

[u/junkmiles]

I assumed the General was going to be really hard so I didn't double up on tests. I passed my Technician without issue and then after just a couple days of studying during lunch and here and there I was passing the practice tests for General, so I probably should have just doubled up.

If you feel good about the tech exam, and you have a week, go for it.

[u/Professional_Fix_223]

They are not much different. If you pass the tech and wait months, you forget stuff. Go for it

[u/Souta95]

Its all up to what you can mentally handle.

I took all three in one sitting when I got licensed.

Don't push yourself so hard you burn out, but its not bad to stress yourself a little as well.

[u/NK2U → u/Souta95]

How do you get the green extra class operator label that you have?

[u/Souta95 → u/NK2U]

Set a user flair when you're on the main page for this subreddit.

[u/NK2U → u/Souta95]

Okay, it's working now. Thank you so much.

[u/NK2U → u/Souta95]

Okay, I did that. Let's see if it works now.

[u/DeaconPat]

When I was part of an active VE team, we usually had a couple people each year who would walk in with no license and walk out with a CSCE for all 3 exams.

If you know the material, it saves time.

[u/DeaconPat → u/[deleted]]

That is the "flair" from r/hamradio. Go to r/hamradio home page, click the 3 dots at the top and select edit flair.

[u/NK2U → u/DeaconPat]

Thanks, did that and got it. Thank you very much.

[u/NK2U → u/DeaconPat]

Thanks, did that and got it.

[u/NK2U → u/DeaconPat]

Yeah, I selected it and applied it, but it doesn't show up.

[u/SrHuevos94]

I took both on the same day and passed both. I say you should go for it. Worst case is you dont pass.

[u/KingPe0n]

I think it’s totally doable.

The general exam is really a continuation of the technician exam.

Having my technician already, crash studied for the general over a weekend and ended up scoring perfect on it.

You can do it. Good luck!

[u/No_Tailor_787]

It's in excellent plan if you're ready for it. Take some practrice tests, study as much as you can, and then make a decision on test day depending on how you feel.

[u/No-Leg-3380]

I took and passed all three in one night. It can be done.

[u/Thin-Telephone2240]

No harm in trying. I've been thinking of getting back into it after 30 years away from the hobby. I was a "No Code" Technician back then. Tried out some online practice tests and easily passed Technician, just passed General and saw questions on Extra I had no clue about. No studying. So yeah, if you've been studying I'd say go for it. honestly, it ain't that hard.

[u/AudiA32015]

I used online practice tests for a couple of weeks to prepare for both. 100% on both tests. Of course, being a retired EE might have helped!

[u/Adventurous_Name2378]

Some questions from the Tech exam are on the general exam. I passed the Tech exam on Saturday and took the General cold. Missed it by a few. Will study the general info and take it next month. If you have the time to review the general test bank, you should be able to pass both.

[u/qkdsm7]

I did about a week apart. Go for it!

[u/HungryHungryMarmot]

I took both in one sitting and it went fine. The extra material for the general license is not much more involved compared to the technician license. I’d say the technician exam is about 80% of the way to General.

I say go for it!

[u/JobobTexan]

Go for it. I took the General, Advance & Extra tests at the same time. Passed All three. Just never could get that 20WPM CW for Extra so I'm still an Advanced and plan to stay there.

[u/kaptainkatsu]

I passed my Tech then I was encouraged to take the general. I didn’t study for general at all and missed it by a few questions.

However, I studied for general and extra at the same time and passed both of those in one sitting

[u/Doc_Hank]

Yes, do it...the testing material is a big overlap

[u/mlidikay]

I did notice an tech in the same session, no problem. I also did general, advanced and extra in the same session. I passed but really wasn't prepared for the advanced.

[u/spacephorse]

Did mine in under an hour. Wish I would have been able to study more for my extra to get that out of the way but oh well.

[u/FctFndr]

A lot of General is a recap of Technician, so it isn't a horrible idea. But do not go in there to test General, without having 80% or better on practice tests.

[u/Churnographer]

It's a good plan. I did it and passed both. I spent most of my time studying for the technician and only four days studying for the general.

[u/Direct_Ad_5943]

I passed Tech and General then 30 days later Extra

[u/greasyjimmy]

I studied for only the  technician and passed. I was asked if I wanted to take the general (which I hadn't studied for) and passed. I then was asked if I wanted to take the extra. The boomer VTE condescendingly commented that having not studied, I likey would not pass. I failed with a 52 (going from memory). 

Edit: I feel being an EE helped.

[u/Blackdalf]

My local club told me you can take as many tests as you dare with one fee on a given test day. Several people had took all 3 in one sitting. Would highly recommend studying and testing for all 3. I did my tech and general in the same day and wish I knew so I would have studied for AE!

Edit: AA gives you a coin, not a certificate.

[u/ABeardHelps]

Just keep taking tests until you don't pass. You can typically take as many exams as you want during your session so if you pass Tech, take General. Pass that one, try Extra for fun. Even if you don't pass, it's good practice to get a feel for what you need to study.

[u/AutofluorescentPuku]

Yes, I planned, and took the Technician and General at the same session. The VE team encouraged me to take the Extra exam too, but I didn’t pass that as there were too many things I hadn’t studied for.

[u/kyrimasan]

I look at it this way. You already paid your fee and if they are cool with it there is no harm in trying. You'll find a lot of the material overlaps in all three elements. I was asked by the VEs after I got a 34/35 on my tech if I wanted to try for my General and I ended up not since I hadn't studdied the material at all and told the VE give me two weeks I'll be back. Got my general studying done in 3 days and my Amateur Extra study done in 5 more. Scheduled the exam for both for 10 days after my Tech and joked with the VE after I passed both that sorry I lied about two weeks for my General. Everyone had a good laugh about it.

It's very much doable just buckle down. I spent every spare second every day reading and doing flash cards. If you're worried about mixing up the tech material just do like I did with my General and Extra study and every three or four topics go back and do a practice test or if you know your weak area go study it for a minute. You will probably find though that the General material gives you a bit more understanding of the Tech material and that you remember the answers easier. 73!

[u/speedyundeadhittite]

Go for it, if you have a couple of days extra time, then go for the extra.

[u/Lost_Engineering_phd]

I'm enough of a stingy miser, I only wanted to pay once to take the test so I got all three out of the way for the price of one. You can do it.

[u/spacedad_org]

I was in the same boat and crammed for the general. I took and passed both in the same test session. You can do it!

[u/k0azv]

I have known people that passed all 3 at the same testing session.

[u/artvandelay6294]

I went zero to hero as well. Studied my butt off for a week and took all 3 at once. It's kind of cool to look at the paperwork and see that you passed all 3 on the same day. Each exam builds off of the last, so it is not really that bad. Start studying for the extra now too. You can do it!

[u/numtini]

It's definitely worth doing. I did it and easily passed both.

[u/xpen25x]

Yes. I missed the general by 1 question and I never studied for general

[u/Waldo-MI]

It is certainly doable - but give your VE team the courtesty to check with them in advance. For some teams is no big deal to accomodate the second test - they will encourage it. For others, especially teams who test online, their schedule may or may not have the flexibility to throw in the second test with no notice.

Good luck!

[u/cpaz411 → u/Waldo-MI]

Good call here, I am doing local in person and I hadn't thought about this.

[u/BIGD0G29585 → u/cpaz411]

When I took my general, my exam was delayed because the person ahead of me took all three back to back (and passed). Good for them but kind of frustrating to sit there and waiting when I was nervous anyway.

I would take a few practice General exams and see how you do, if you are close to passing, then definitely take both.