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FCC commercial radio license elements

What each exam actually is: the number of questions, the passing score, the size of the published pool, and which elements each license needs.

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The exams

Seven elements, and what each one asks

Every exam except Element 6 is organised into key topics, and draws exactly one question from each — so the pool size and the exam length together tell you how predictable the paper is.

Element Exam Questions To pass Pass mark Pool Structure
Element 1 Basic Radio Law & Operating Practice (MROP) 24 18 75% 144 24 key topics
Element 3 General Radiotelephone (GROL) 100 75 75% 600 100 key topics, 17 subelements
Element 6 Advanced Radiotelegraph 100 75 75% 615 ids 6A1–6A616
Element 7 GMDSS Radio Operating Practices 100 75 75% 600 100 key topics, 10 sections
Element 7R Restricted GMDSS 50 38 76% 300 50 key topics, 7 sections
Element 8 Ship Radar Techniques 50 38 76% 300 50 key topics, 6 subelements
Element 9 GMDSS Radio Maintenance 50 38 76% 300 50 key topics, 7 sections
Which license needs what

The combinations that matter

Marine Radio Operator Permit (MROP) Element 1 alone.
General Radiotelephone Operator License (GROL) Elements 1 and 3.
GROL with Ship Radar Endorsement Elements 1, 3 and 8.
GMDSS Radio Operator's License Elements 1 and 7.
Restricted GMDSS Radio Operator Elements 1 and 7R.
GMDSS Radio Maintainer Elements 1, 3 and 9.
Study it

Practising against the real pool

Because the FCC publishes the pools, every question you will be asked already exists in writing. GROL Exam Prep carries them verbatim — no rewording — with practice exams built the way the real ones are drawn, one question per key topic, and the figures each element needs.

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FAQ

Questions, answered

Which elements do I need for a GROL?
A General Radiotelephone Operator License requires Elements 1 and 3. Adding the ship radar endorsement requires Element 8 as well.
How many questions are on the GROL exam?
Element 1 is 24 questions drawn from a pool of 144, and you need 18 correct. Element 3 is 100 questions drawn from a pool of 600, and you need 75 correct. Both are 75%.
Where do the questions come from?
The FCC publishes the complete question pool for every commercial radio operator element, and the exam is drawn from it — one question per key topic. The pools are works of the United States Government and are not subject to copyright.
How long is a GROL valid?
The GROL is issued for the lifetime of the holder. The GMDSS and radiotelegraph licenses carry their own terms; check the FCC's commercial operator page for the current rules.
Source

Where these numbers come from

Exam lengths and passing scores are published by the FCC on its commercial radio operator examinations page; pool sizes are counted from the FCC's own pool documents. Those documents are works of the United States Government and are not subject to copyright (17 U.S.C. §105).