Chief Mate CoC exam-day guide
Chief Mate CoC · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Valid photo ID (passport or national ID)
Bring the original document, not a photocopy. The name must match your examination application exactly. If your ID is expired or the name differs (for example after a marriage certificate change), contact the examination provider before test day; confirm with the provider which secondary documents they accept.
Admission letter / candidate number
Print or download the admission notice issued by the maritime administration or examination provider. It normally carries your candidate number, the test centre address, and the session time. Confirm with the provider whether a printed copy is required or an electronic copy is accepted.
Approved calculator
Use a non-programmable calculator; many providers prohibit programmable or graphing models and phones as calculators. Check the provider's permitted-models list in advance and carry spare batteries. If the rules for your centre are unclear, confirm with the provider.
Writing instruments and plotting tools
Bring several pens or pencils, an eraser, a sharpener, and, where the paper includes chartwork, parallel rulers, dividers, and a soft pencil. Confirm with the provider which instruments are allowed into the hall and whether the centre supplies chart plotting equipment.
Regulations, tables, and publications permitted in the hall
Some administrations allow candidates to bring specified publications such as collision regulations, tide tables, or stability data booklets; others supply them or prohibit personal copies. Check the current permitted-items notice and confirm with the provider. Never bring annotated or loose-leaf notes inside a permitted book.
Review the current syllabus and pass mark
Re-read the official examination syllabus for the Chief Mate certificate to confirm which papers you are sitting, their format, and the pass standard. Do not rely on second-hand summaries; confirm with the provider or the maritime administration's published examination regulations.
Plan the journey to the test centre
Do a trial run or check the route and travel time, including delays. Aim to arrive well before the reporting time; late arrivals may be refused entry. Confirm the reporting time and the centre's access rules with the provider.
Know the conduct and prohibited-items rules
Read the examination hall rules in advance: phones and smart watches usually must be switched off and stored outside the hall, and notes, books, or unauthorised devices are treated as misconduct. Confirm the specific rules with the provider.
Rest, food, and medication
Sleep properly for the two nights before the paper, eat a normal breakfast, and bring any prescribed medication you may need. Inform the invigilator in advance if you have a medical condition or an approved access arrangement; confirm the procedure with the provider.
Prepare for the oral or practical component
If your certificate requires an oral examination or simulator assessment, revise the standard operational topics: collision avoidance, stability and loading, weather routeing, pollution prevention, and emergency response. Confirm the format and duration with the provider.
Plan the day
Stop learning new material. Work through past-paper style questions under time pressure for each written paper, then mark them strictly against the model answers. List your three weakest topics and revise only those, using the official regulations and your own notes. Check that your ID, admission letter, calculator, and plotting tools are ready and that nothing is expired or missing. Confirm the test centre address, reporting time, and permitted-items list with the provider if anything is unclear.
Do a light revision pass over key figures and procedures: collision regulation rules and lights, load line and stability criteria, MARPOL discharge requirements, and emergency checklists. Pack your bag with ID, admission letter, calculator with fresh batteries, pens, pencils, eraser, and permitted publications. Lay out clothes and travel documents. Avoid heavy study late at night; sleep is worth more than one more hour of revision.
Eat a proper breakfast and arrive at the centre early, allowing for transport delays. Switch off your phone and smart watch and store them as the centre requires before entering the hall. Go to the toilet before the paper starts. Listen carefully to the invigilator's instructions, check that your question paper and answer booklet are complete, and write your candidate number exactly as instructed.
Read the whole paper first and allocate time per question according to the marks. Answer the questions you know best first, then return to the harder ones. For calculation questions, show your working and state units and assumptions; for descriptive questions, use clear headings and bullet points. Watch the clock and keep a few minutes at the end to check that every question is attempted and your candidate number is on every sheet. If you need to leave the hall, raise your hand and wait for the invigilator.
Rules to check
Carry your original photo ID and admission letter at all times in the centre. Candidates without acceptable identification may be refused entry; confirm the accepted documents with the provider.
Follow the invigilator's instructions on seating, starting and stopping writing, and leaving the hall. Writing after the instruction to stop may lead to your paper being cancelled.
Phones, smart watches, and other electronic devices must be switched off and stored as directed. Unauthorised devices or notes in the hall are normally treated as misconduct, with consequences up to cancellation of results; confirm the exact policy with the provider.
Breaks and toilet visits are usually supervised and may not extend your working time. Ask the invigilator before leaving your seat; confirm the centre's break rules with the provider.
Do not communicate with other candidates during the paper and do not copy or share answers. Suspected collusion or impersonation is reported and investigated under the administration's misconduct procedures.
If you believe a question is defective or the conditions are unfair, note it and raise it with the invigilator after the paper rather than during it. Formal appeals usually have a strict deadline, so confirm the procedure with the provider.
Scoring and pass marks are set by the maritime administration, not the test centre. Check the published marking scheme and any compensation rules between papers in advance; confirm the applicable standard with the provider.
If you have a disability or medical condition that requires an access arrangement, request it well before test day with supporting evidence. Arrangements are rarely granted on the day; confirm the deadline and evidence requirements with the provider.