Radio Amateurs of Canada (RAC) reports that telecommunications regulator Industry Canada (IC) has released an updated Amateur Radio examination question bank — or pool — based on recommendations from RAC. IC also launched a new exam generator.

“This is good news that we were eagerly anticipating,” RAC President Geoff Bawden, VE4BAW, said. “We were pleased to work with IC on this issue of significant importance to Amateur Radio operators, and RAC will continue to work with Industry Canada to provide Canadian radio amateurs with the best possible circumstances to pursue their hobby.”

According to RAC, Industry Canada issued a Request for Proposals in December 2012 to update the Amateur Radio question pool. RAC subsequently entered into a contract with IC in January 2013 to update the question pool in English and in French — Canada’s official languages.

RAC reports the review team examined more than 3000 questions and 12,000 possible answers for the Basic and Advanced examinations in English and French “and aimed for perfection in every one,” the organization said. “Technical and linguistic accuracy were equally important in the review.”

RAC said changes included correcting factual errors, replacing obsolete language and examples, making questions and answers clearer, and ensuring that questions addressed current Amateur Radio practices and regulations. For the most part the team was able to make the majority of changes by editing existing questions, but it also recommended the deletion of obsolete questions and the addition of new ones. RAC said comments elicited from radio amateurs in Canada helped the team identify where changes were needed. RAC wrapped up its work a year ago.

RAC said that with new question pools in place, RAC will prepare information identifying where changes have been made to assist instructors in modifying their course materials and examiners in preparing for the changes. Neither the curriculum nor the topics addressed in the exams have changed, but revised questions are more clear, more accurate, more understandable and more relevant to modern Amateur Radio, RAC said. “Francophones should immediately see a significant improvement in the French language questions,” it added.