We propose a method for characterising a single-mode asymmetric slab waveguide from the measurement of its fas field intensity at three points where the intensity falls to 10 %, 25 % and 50 % of its maximum value. From a knowledge of the substrate and cover refractive indices (which is true in most cases) and the measured angles, core refractive index (n m ), the normalised frequency (V) and the asymmetry parameter (σ) can be determined. An error estimate in the evaluation of these parameters revealed that a typical error of ± .03° in the measurement of far field angles would lead to a maximum possible error of 0.07% in n m , 3.35% in σ and 1.7% in V.