Seniorofficerseksamen (Skibsfører) exam-day guide
Seniorofficerseksamen (Skibsfører) · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Personal identification (passport or national ID)
Bring valid photo ID. The exact document types accepted and whether a driver's licence is sufficient must be confirmed with the provider before exam day. Check that the document is unexpired.
Admission letter / exam registration confirmation
Bring the confirmation you received when registering, printed or accessible offline. The provider decides whether it must be printed; confirm the format with them.
Approved aids (regulations, tables, calculator)
Confirm with the provider which printed regulations, stability or cargo tables, and which calculator model are permitted. Do not assume a device is allowed just because it is non-programmable.
Writing materials and a non-smart watch
Bring spare pens and pencils. A simple watch lets you pace yourself if the room clock is not visible. Smart watches and phones are usually not permitted at the desk; confirm the provider's rule.
Know the exact address and arrival time
Look up the exam venue in advance, including building and room, and plan to arrive with margin. Arrival deadlines and what happens if you are late are provider-specific; confirm them.
Plan transport and, if needed, accommodation
For an early start or a distant venue, book travel or an overnight stay so that a delay does not cost you the exam. Check local transport schedules for the morning.
Rest, food and hydration plan
Sleep properly the night before and eat before you arrive. Bring water only if the provider allows it at the desk; confirm the room rules.
Review the exam structure and time allocation
Know the number of papers or parts, the time for each, and whether there are separate oral or simulator elements. The exact structure and weighting are set by the provider; confirm them from your admission documents.
Prepare for oral or practical elements
If your exam includes an oral or simulator assessment, rehearse explaining your reasoning aloud: collision avoidance, stability decisions, passage planning. Confirm whether any pre-reading or case material is issued in advance.
Personal medication and comfort items
Bring any prescribed medication you may need. Tell the invigilator in advance if you have a health condition that may require leaving the room; the provider decides how this is handled.
Leave valuables and unnecessary electronics at home
Phones and smart devices are typically collected or must be switched off and stored away. Assume you will not have access to them during the exam.
Know the scoring and pass rules before you sit
Understand how each part is marked and whether you must pass each part separately. The pass mark and any compensation rules are set by the provider; confirm them rather than relying on hearsay.
Plan the day
Stop learning new material. Re-read your own summaries of collision regulations, stability and loading, passage planning and watchkeeping procedures, and work through a few past-style problems under time pressure to calibrate your pace. Confirm venue, time and permitted aids with the provider if anything is unclear.
Check your ID and admission documents are valid and packed. Confirm travel and any accommodation, and check the local transport schedule for exam morning. Sort out prescribed medication and any access arrangements you have agreed with the provider.
Do a light review only, focusing on formulas, definitions and rule numbers you tend to forget. Prepare your bag: ID, admission letter, permitted aids, pens, watch, water if allowed. Set two alarms and go to bed at a reasonable hour rather than revising late.
Eat a proper meal, arrive at the venue with generous margin, and locate the room and any registration desk. Switch off your phone before entering. Use the waiting time for calm, high-level recall, not for cramming new topics.
Read the instructions and check the number of questions and the marks available. Note the finish time and divide your time by marks rather than by question count. Flag questions you cannot start quickly and move on.
Work in passes: answer what you know first, then return to harder items. Show your working for calculation questions, since method marks may be available. For written answers, state the decision first and then the reasoning. Keep an eye on the clock so you leave time to review.
Check that every question has an answer, that units and significant figures are consistent, and that you have not misread a 'not' or 'except'. Correct obvious slips but avoid last-minute changes unless you are confident.
Hand in all materials as instructed and do not discuss the content with other candidates in a way that could breach confidentiality. Note anything you were unsure about while it is fresh, for your own debrief.
Rules to check
Bring valid photo identification and your admission documents, and place them on the desk if asked. The accepted ID types are set by the provider; confirm them in advance rather than assuming.
Follow the invigilator's instructions on phones, smart watches and other electronics. Unless the provider explicitly permits a device, keep it switched off and stored away from the desk.
Use only aids that the provider has approved, such as specified regulations, tables or a permitted calculator. If you are unsure whether an item is allowed, ask before the exam starts, not during it.
Breaks are normally only by permission, and leaving the room may be escorted or recorded. Whether food, drink or toilet breaks are allowed at the desk is provider-specific; confirm the room rules.
Do not communicate with other candidates during the exam, and do not share or receive exam content. Suspected cheating or impersonation is handled under the provider's disciplinary rules.
If you feel unwell or need to leave, raise your hand and tell the invigilator immediately. Do not simply walk out; the provider decides whether the incident affects your attempt.
Scoring, pass marks and any requirement to pass each part separately are set by the provider. Confirm these rules from official information before exam day and do not rely on what other candidates say.
If you believe there is an error in a question or a disturbance in the room, note it and report it to the invigilator or the provider through their stated procedure after the exam.