FCC Element 8 Exam Practice

Ship radar techniques. Pass Element 8 for the Ship Radar Endorsement on your commercial operator license. Practice with the official question pool until you know every answer.

Start practicing · Topic Study · Sample questions

What's on the Exam

  1. Radar principles (10 questions): Marine RADAR Systems; Distance and Time; Frequency and Wavelength; Power, Pulse Width, PRR; Range, Pulse Width, PRF; Pulse Width - Pulse Repetition Rates; Components; Circuits.
  2. Transmitting systems (8 questions): Transmitting Systems; Magnetrons; Modulation; Pulse Forming Networks Modulation; TR - ATR - Circulators - Directional Couplers; Timer - Trigger - Synchronizer Circuits; Power Supplies.
  3. Receiving systems (10 questions): Receiving Systems; Mixers; Local Oscillators; Amplifiers; Detectors - Video Amplifiers; Automatic Frequency Control - AFC/ATC; Sea Clutter - STC - FTC; Power Supplies; Interference Issues; Miscellaneous.
  4. Display & control systems (10 questions): Displays; Video Amplifiers and Sweep Circuits; Timing Circuits; Fixed Range Markers; Variable Range Markers; EBL, Azimuth and True Bearing; Memory Systems; ARPA - CAS; Display System Power Supplies; Miscellaneous.
  5. Antenna systems (5 questions): Antenna Systems; Transmission Lines; Antenna to Display Interface; Waveguides.
  6. Installation, maintenance & repair (7 questions): Equipment Faults; Maintenance; Installation; Safety.

How the Exam Works

Format
50 multiple-choice questions, one from each key topic of the Element 8 question pool. You pass with 38 correct (76%).
Questions
Every question comes word for word from the FCC's Element 8 pool (300 questions, approved by the FCC on June 25, 2009). The answers do too, though their order can change.
Where
At an exam session run by a COLEM, one of the organizations the FCC authorizes to give commercial operator exams.
Cost
Each COLEM sets its own exam fee.
License
Passing gives the Ship Radar Endorsement. The COLEM files your application with the FCC.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many questions are on the Element 8 exam?

50 multiple-choice questions, one from each of the 50 key topics in the Element 8 pool. You need 38 correct to pass (76%).

Where do the questions come from?

From the FCC's Element 8 question pool, which the FCC publishes. Every exam question and its answers are taken from it word for word. The current pool has 300 questions, approved by the FCC on June 25, 2009.

What is the Ship Radar Endorsement?

An endorsement on a GROL or other commercial operator license, for installing, servicing and maintaining ship radar equipment.

Ready to start?

Take a practice exam: one question from each key topic of the pool, just like the real thing.