GMA OOW Deck exam-day guide
GMA OOW Deck · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Valid photo identification
Bring the original, unexpired ID document the test centre or remote-proctoring provider requires (usually a passport or national photo ID). The exact accepted documents and whether a second form is needed vary by provider - confirm with the provider before travel and carry a photocopy as backup.
Examination admission or appointment confirmation
Print or download the confirmation showing your candidate number, date, time, and venue or remote-session link. If you have not received it, contact the provider rather than assuming your booking is complete.
Approved calculator and spare batteries
Take a non-programmable calculator of the type the provider permits, plus spare batteries or a second unit. Check the permitted-model list with the provider; programmable, graphing, or alphanumeric-memory calculators are commonly excluded.
Nautical instruments and plotting tools
For chartwork and practical papers, bring parallel rules or a rolling plotter, dividers, compasses, a soft pencil, eraser, and sharpener if the provider allows them. Confirm with the provider which instruments are supplied at the centre and which you must bring.
Current nautical publications for open-book sections
If any paper is open-book, bring only the publications the provider lists (for example tide tables, sailing directions, or a specified almanac). Confirm with the provider the permitted editions and whether annotations are allowed.
Exam-day logistics sorted in advance
Confirm the start time, arrival time, venue access, parking or public transport, and any security screening. For remote sittings, test your camera, microphone, and internet connection on the provider's system the day before.
Rest, food, and hydration plan
Plan a proper night's sleep, a substantial meal before a long paper, and water. Check with the provider whether food and drink are allowed at the desk and whether scheduled breaks exist.
Watch or timing device
A simple analogue or digital watch helps you pace long papers if clocks are not visible. Smart watches and devices with communication capability are almost always prohibited - confirm with the provider.
Review of the syllabus and command-level topics
Re-read the published syllabus for the Deck Officer of the Watch certificate and list weak areas. Do not rely on memory of a course; check the current syllabus with the provider.
Practice under timed conditions
Complete at least one full timed mock of each paper type, including chartwork, so you know your pace per question and per plotting task.
Questions for the provider resolved in writing
Send any uncertainty about permitted equipment, open-book rules, resits, or special arrangements to the provider early and keep the written reply. Mark these items needs_review until confirmed.
Backup plan for the journey or connection
Allow buffer time for delays and have the provider's contact number saved. For remote exams, have a phone hotspot and a charged device as fallback. Confirm with the provider how technical failures are handled.
Plan the day
Read the provider's candidate instructions end to end and confirm your booking, venue or session link, start time, and ID requirements. Resolve any open questions with the provider in writing. Assemble your instruments, calculator, publications, and ID in one bag and check each item against the permitted list.
Do a final syllabus sweep: list the topics you are least confident in - for example collision regulations, buoyage, passage planning, stability, or meteorology - and spend focused sessions on them rather than rereading everything. Complete one timed mock per paper and review every wrong answer to find the underlying rule you missed.
Stop heavy new study in the evening. Do a light review of key rule numbers, formulas, and definitions, then pack and lay out everything by the door. Confirm travel times and, for remote sittings, run the provider's system check. Eat properly, avoid late caffeine, and go to bed at a normal hour.
Eat a full breakfast, arrive at the venue with buffer time, and recheck that your ID and confirmation are with you. For remote sittings, log in early, close other applications, and keep your phone nearby only as permitted. Avoid last-minute cramming of new material; a brief glance at your own summary sheet is enough.
Read the instructions and time allocation first, then work at a steady pace. Answer the questions or tasks you are sure of first, flag uncertain ones, and return to them. For chartwork, check the plot before committing an answer. Keep an eye on the clock so you leave time to review flagged items and transfer answers correctly. If equipment fails or a rule is unclear, attract the invigilator or proctor's attention immediately rather than guessing.
Rules to check
Bring the original photo ID the provider specifies and present it on request; the name must match your booking. If your ID is expired, damaged, or in a different name, contact the provider before exam day - do not assume an exception will be made.
Follow the provider's rules on permitted equipment. Non-programmable calculators, nautical instruments, and specified publications may be allowed; phones, smart watches, and other communicating or programmable devices are generally prohibited at the desk. Confirm the exact list with the provider.
Do not communicate with other candidates during the examination and do not share or receive answers. For remote sittings, follow the proctoring rules on room scans, camera position, and who may be present.
Raise your hand or contact the invigilator or proctor if you need to leave the room, feel unwell, or have a technical problem. Do not attempt to fix a remote-session failure alone; report it and follow the provider's instructions for documenting it.
Check with the provider in advance whether scheduled breaks are offered and what is allowed during them. Do not take unauthorised breaks or access notes, books, or devices outside the permitted conditions.
Understand the scoring and pass rules before you sit: the pass mark, whether sections are marked separately, and whether a fail in one paper requires a resit of all papers. These details vary - confirm them with the provider rather than relying on hearsay.
Arrive by the stated arrival time. Late arrival may mean exclusion from the paper, and the provider's policy on lateness and on missed sittings should be confirmed in advance.
Keep any uncertainty about policy, special arrangements, or results procedures in writing with the provider. If you believe a marking or conduct issue occurred, ask the provider for the formal review or appeal route on the day.