GCT1 Passing Score 2026: Exactly What You Need to Pass

The Number: 75% on a 75-Question Exam

The General Communications Technician - Level 1 (GCT1) from ETA International uses a 75% passing score. The written knowledge examination contains 75 questions and gives you 2 hours. There is no hands-on component, so your result rests entirely on this single written exam.

If every one of the 75 questions were scored, 75% would translate to roughly 57 correct answers. That arithmetic is a reasonable planning estimate, but treat it carefully: ETA's reviewed materials do not state how many items are scored versus unscored, and they do not publish a raw passing-question count. Candidates should therefore plan around the percentage rather than a fixed number of correct answers.

For a broader look at how demanding the exam is in practice, see our guide on how hard the GCT1 exam is, and for what the available data says about outcomes, read about the GCT1 pass rate.

What ETA Has Not Published About Scoring

Being precise about what is unknown protects you from bad planning. Based on the issuer sources reviewed, the following details are not published for this exam:

• The split between scored and unscored questions
• The exact mix of item types
• The raw number of correct answers needed to reach 75%
• Official percentage weights or question counts per competency area
• Which competency area carries the most weight

That last point deserves emphasis. ETA states that examination questions derive from its published competencies, but it does not say they are weighted equally. You cannot safely assume that each of the 17 areas contributes the same number of questions, and you cannot safely skip any area on the theory that it is lightly tested. A passing strategy has to cover the whole competency list.

What the Score Covers: 17 Competency Areas

Your 75% is earned across ETA's official GCT1 competency requirements, which list 17 numbered areas. ETA's competency document is the scope source; it describes examination competencies rather than course modules. The areas, in issuer order, are:

1. Safety
2. Electronic and Electrical Theory
3. Tools and Components
4. Connectorization
5. Power Systems
6. Radio Frequency (RF) Fundamentals
7. Radio Types and Systems
8. Antennas
9. Transmission Lines
10. Interference
11. Data Networks
12. Fiber Optic Systems
13. Test Equipment and Methods
14. Telephony Communications
15. Satellite Communications
16. Environmental Systems
17. Physical Plant / Head End and Security Systems

The breadth is the real challenge. This is an introductory credential spanning radio, public-safety, and business/commercial communications, so a candidate may be strong in antennas and weak in telephony, or comfortable with fiber and shaky on electrical theory. Because the score is a single blended percentage, a deep weakness in one or two areas can pull you below 75% even if you feel confident elsewhere. Our complete guide to all 17 GCT1 content areas breaks each one down in detail.

Exam Format and Testing Rules That Affect Your Score

Several rules in ETA's testing policies directly influence how you can approach the 75 questions.

The Common Formulas Sheet

ETA specifically permits its Common Formulas Sheet (copyright 2025) during the GCT1 exam. This is a meaningful advantage for the calculation-oriented items in areas like Electronic and Electrical Theory, Power Systems, and Transmission Lines. However, this permission does not establish that the exam is unrestricted open-book. Exact open-book rules beyond this sheet were not otherwise verified, so do not assume you can bring other reference material.

The practical takeaway: download and study the formula sheet before test day so you know what is on it and, just as importantly, what is not. Familiarity means you spend your time applying a formula instead of hunting for it.

Calculators, Scratch Paper, and Conduct

• A non-programmable or scientific calculator is permitted.
• Scratch paper is permitted, but used scratch paper must be surrendered.
• Photo ID is required.
• Phones are prohibited.
• You may not leave the room after testing begins.

That last rule means you should handle everything before you start. Two hours is a manageable window for 75 questions, averaging a little over a minute and a half per item, but there is no break to reset if you lose focus.

Test Delivery Options

ETA Certification Administrators proctor Trapeza computer-based or paper-and-pencil exams. Remote proctoring is available through ExamRoom.AI, arranged through ETA, and remote candidates must meet equipment requirements. Delivery format does not change the 75% standard.

Fees, Remote Proctoring, and the Retake Policy

The passing score matters more once you understand what a failed attempt costs and what recovery looks like.

The free retake has two limits worth noting. First, you must wait 30 days after the first attempt. Second, it must be completed within one year of your first sitting. Third, it is not available simply to improve a score you already passed. It exists for candidates who did not reach 75%.

If you retake remotely, the $16 remote proctoring fee applies again. For the full cost picture, including what is and is not bundled, see our GCT1 certification cost breakdown.

A Domain-by-Domain Plan Built Around the Cutoff

Since 75% is a blended score across 17 areas with no published weights, the smartest approach is to eliminate weak spots rather than perfect strong ones. Here is one way to sequence an eight-week plan around how the topics depend on each other. For a fuller walkthrough, see our GCT1 study guide.

In your timed practice, set a personal target comfortably above 75% in every area, not just overall. Because ETA does not publish weights, a lopsided practice profile is risky. Our GCT1 cheat sheet offers a compact review of high-value facts to use in the final days, and the main practice test site lets you check your readiness area by area.

Who Needs to Clear This Bar

GCT1 is a stand-alone introductory credential. CETa and GCT2 are not prerequisites, and the 2026 ETA workshop listing says no prerequisite applies. ETA's badge criteria, however, reference practicing-technician experience alongside the written exam and acceptance of the Code of Conduct, without stating a duration. That difference between sources is unresolved in the materials reviewed, so confirm current eligibility directly with ETA. Our GCT1 requirements guide covers this in more depth. Candidates typically work toward roles in radio, public-safety, and business/commercial communications; see GCT1 jobs for where the credential fits.

After You Pass: Term and Maintenance

Once you reach 75% and earn the credential, the certification term is 4 years. Maintenance under ETA's general rules requires:

• The Certification Maintenance Form
• Either 10 continuing-education hours per year (40 over four years) or a supervisor-completed Employer Verification for relevant employment
• $25 per year ($100 per cycle)

ETA recommends submitting annually. One note of caution: an undated Maintenance Overview PDF mentions $45 annually for international candidates but does not list GCT1, and its applicability is unverified. ETA's live maintenance page gives $25 without a regional distinction, so $25 is the figure to plan around unless ETA tells you otherwise.

If you are weighing the return on the credential, our analyses of whether the GCT1 is worth it and the GCT1 salary guide can help you decide.

Frequently Asked Questions