RYA SRC/VHF exam-day guide
RYA SRC/VHF · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Passport or photo ID
Bring the same photo ID you used for booking. The RYA practical certificate is issued in your name as it appears on your ID, so check spelling now; if the name differs from your booking, contact the school before test day. Confirm with the provider which ID forms they accept (a passport is the safest default).
RYA SRC course completion / prior knowledge evidence
The SRC exam assumes you have completed the shorebased course and its assessment paper. Bring any certificate or record the school issued, plus your own notes on GMDSS, DSC, and distress procedures. If you studied independently, confirm with the provider what evidence of course completion they require before the practical.
Logbook or sea-time record (if required)
Some providers ask for evidence of sea time or prior VHF use before the practical. Bring a logbook or signed record if you have one. Whether it is mandatory depends on the school's interpretation of RYA requirements, so confirm with the provider rather than assuming.
Knowledge of the exam structure
Expect a short oral/written theory check plus hands-on radio operation. Typical assessed elements include: DSC distress alert and follow-up voice Mayday, DSC urgency and routine calls, Mayday Relay, Pan Pan, SECURITE, position reporting, and phonetic alphabet use. Ask the examiner at the start what will be covered.
Phonetic alphabet and prowords rehearsed
Be able to spell your vessel name and callsign using Alfa, Bravo, Charlie... and use prowords correctly: THIS IS, OVER, OUT, ROGER, SAY AGAIN, I SPELL, STANDBY. Practise aloud; examiners notice hesitation. Do not say OVER AND OUT.
Distress, urgency, and safety call scripts memorised
Know the order of Mayday: MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY; THIS IS [vessel name x3, callsign]; MAYDAY [name, callsign]; POSITION; NATURE OF DISTRESS; ASSISTANCE REQUIRED; PERSONS ON BOARD; OTHER INFORMATION. Know Pan Pan and SECURITE equivalents and the Mayday Relay format. Write them on a card for revision, not for use in the exam unless the examiner permits notes.
MMSI and vessel details ready
If the exam uses a real DSC set, know how to enter or verify the vessel's MMSI and how to select a distress alert. If the school uses a simulator, learn the menu structure on that model. Confirm with the provider which equipment (real set, simulator, or both) will be used.
Hands-on DSC and VHF practice
Practise on the actual model if possible: lifting the distress button cover, holding it for the required time, cancelling a false alert, selecting channel 16 and a working channel, adjusting squelch and volume, and using dual watch. Familiarity with menus is where most candidates lose marks.
Battery, clothing, and seasickness preparation
The practical may be run afloat. Bring warm layers, waterproofs, non-slip shoes, and any medication you need. If you are prone to seasickness, take precautions before boarding. Confirm with the provider whether the exam is afloat or classroom-based and what to wear.
Arrival time and location confirmed
Confirm the exact address, berth, or classroom, the arrival time, and a contact number 24-48 hours ahead. Allow extra travel time; lateness can mean losing your slot. Confirm with the provider whether the exam fee is included or payable separately.
Questions for the examiner prepared
Ask in advance about the pass criteria, whether a retake is possible and at what cost, and when the certificate is issued. These are provider-specific; confirm with the provider rather than relying on forum posts.
Calm, rested, and ready to speak clearly
Radio work is assessed on clarity and procedure, not speed. Sleep well, speak slowly, and if you make a mistake, correct it calmly using CORRECTION or SAY AGAIN. Examiners expect nerves; they mark procedure.
Plan the day
Re-read your course notes on GMDSS sea areas, DSC, and the distress/urgency/safety priority order. Recite the Mayday, Pan Pan, and SECURITE scripts aloud until fluent. Confirm the exam time, location, and whether it is afloat or ashore with the provider.
Practise on the radio model you will be examined on, or on a simulator app if none is available. Rehearse entering an MMSI, sending a DSC distress alert, and cancelling a false alert. Check your ID name matches your booking.
Pack ID, course records, logbook if required, warm/waterproof clothing, and any medication. Confirm travel arrangements and set two alarms. Do a final 30-minute revision of prowords and phonetic spelling of your vessel name and callsign. Avoid cramming new material late at night.
Eat properly, arrive early, and re-read your script card once. Introduce yourself to the examiner and ask what will be assessed. Switch your phone to silent; keep it out of the exam area unless the examiner says otherwise.
Listen to the full question before answering. If unsure, say what you do know and reason aloud; examiners credit correct procedure. Use standard terms: DSC alert, Mayday, Pan Pan, SECURITE, working channel, dual watch.
Before transmitting, think: priority, station called, own station, message, proword. Speak slowly and clearly, hold the microphone correctly, and pause after OVER. If you make an error, correct it calmly. If the examiner simulates a distress situation, follow the full procedure including follow-up voice Mayday and, where appropriate, silence of other traffic.
Ask the examiner for feedback and confirm when and how your certificate will be issued. If you did not pass, ask what specifically to improve and confirm retake arrangements with the provider before leaving.
Rules to check
Bring valid photo ID matching your booking name; without it the examiner may not be able to issue your certificate. Confirm accepted ID forms with the provider.
Arrive at the agreed time. Late arrival may mean forfeiting your slot or fee; confirm the provider's lateness policy in advance.
Follow the examiner's instructions on radio use, simulated distress traffic, and whether notes may be used. Do not transmit on a real set except under the examiner's direction.
Mobile phones must be silent and out of the way during assessment. Ask the examiner before using a phone or notes.
Breaks are at the examiner's discretion; if you need one, ask. Do not leave the exam area mid-exercise without permission.
Scoring and pass criteria are set by the RYA and applied by the examiner. Do not assume a mark scheme; ask the examiner at the start what is assessed and confirm retake policy with the provider.
Integrity: do all radio work and answers yourself. Do not coach or prompt other candidates, and do not share exam content afterwards.
If you are unwell, seasick, or unable to continue, tell the examiner immediately; arrangements for rescheduling are provider-specific, so confirm with the provider.