been putting off the extra for like 3 years now because every time i look at the question pool my brain just shuts down. i mean i get the basic stuff from general but some of these questions are just insane... do i really need to understand all the smith chart calculations and modulation theory stuff or can i just memorize answers? heard mixed things about how deep you need to go. already have general privs so not in a huge rush but would be nice to get those extra 25khz segments on 20m

honestly i just memorized most of it and passed first try last month. sure its better to understand the theory but if you just want the license there's nothing wrong with using the practice tests until you're consistently getting 80%+. the privileges are totally worth it especially on 20 and 40 meters

I'd recommend actually learning the theory if you have time - it really does make you a better operator and helps with troubleshooting. But that said, the exam is multiple choice so if you're short on time the memorization approach works. Focus on understanding the concepts behind smith charts rather than memorizing every formula, and definitely know your band plan changes. The extra segments fill up fast during contests so having access is great.