MAJ OOW Deck Exam exam-day guide
MAJ OOW Deck Exam · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Current, valid photo ID (passport or national ID)
Bring the original document, not a copy or photo on your phone. The name must match your exam registration exactly. If your ID is expired or the names differ (for example, a maiden name versus a married name), resolve it with the provider before exam day; do not rely on being admitted with a discrepancy.
Exam admission letter / candidate confirmation
Print or download the confirmation showing your candidate number, exam centre, date, and session time. Some centres require it at reception. Confirm with the provider whether a printed copy is mandatory or a digital copy is accepted.
Approved calculator (non-programmable)
Use a basic non-programmable scientific calculator if calculations are permitted. Check the provider's permitted-models list in advance. Programmable, graphing, or internet-capable calculators are typically banned, and a borrowed calculator on the day may be refused.
Spare pens, pencils, eraser, and sharpener
Bring at least two black or blue pens and two pencils plus an eraser. For multiple-choice answer sheets, confirm whether the provider requires pencil (common for machine marking) or permits pen. Bring a clear pencil case or pouch if the venue requires transparent storage.
Watch (non-smart, analogue or basic digital)
Exam rooms do not always have a visible clock, and phones are usually confiscated or banned at the desk. A plain wristwatch lets you manage time across sections. Smartwatches and any watch with communication or storage functions are typically prohibited.
Transparent water bottle, no label
Hydration helps concentration over a long sitting. Many venues allow only clear, label-free bottles. Confirm the provider's rules on drinks and food in the exam room, and check whether water is provided at the centre.
Review the exam format, section timings, and pass marks
Know in advance how many papers or sections there are, the time for each, whether negative marking applies, and the pass criteria. Confirm these details with the provider or the current syllabus, because formats change and second-hand information may be out of date.
Confirm centre location, travel route, and arrival time
Do a route check the day before: transport, parking, building entrance, and which desk or reception to report to. Aim to arrive well before the stated reporting time. Confirm with the provider the exact reporting time and the late-arrival cut-off.
Check the provider's prohibited-items list
Phones, smartwatches, earbuds, notes, textbooks, and bags are commonly banned from the exam room. Confirm where bags and devices must be left and whether lockers are provided. Do not assume you can keep a phone switched off in your pocket.
Medical or access arrangements confirmed in advance
If you need extra time, a separate room, medication, or other adjustments, apply within the provider's deadline and get written confirmation. Bring any supporting letter they require. Arrangements are rarely granted on the day.
Rest, food, and a light revision plan for the final day
Sleep properly the night before, eat a normal breakfast, and avoid cramming new material in the last hours. A short review of formulas, stability definitions, and collision-regulation flow is more useful than opening a new topic.
Emergency contact and provider phone number
Save the exam centre or provider contact so you can report a delay, illness, or travel problem immediately. Keep a charged phone for this purpose only, and switch it off and store it as required once inside the venue.
Plan the day
Confirm logistics: re-read the admission letter, verify the centre address and reporting time, and plan the journey including a backup route. Check that your ID is valid and the name matches the registration. Gather the permitted calculator and stationery and test the calculator. Confirm with the provider any open questions about permitted items, answer-sheet format, and break policy.
Do a structured revision pass rather than new learning: COLREGs steering and sailing rules, lights and shapes, buoyage, stability terms (GM, GZ, free surface effect), compass error and deviation, chartwork symbols, meteorology (fronts, Beaufort scale, pressure tendency), and watchkeeping and emergency procedures. Practise a few timed questions to check your pace per question.
Pack your bag: ID, admission letter, calculator, spare pens and pencils, eraser, watch, water bottle, and any confirmed medical items. Lay out clothes. Do a final short review of formula sheets and key definitions only. Check transport times and set two alarms. Eat a normal meal and go to bed at a sensible hour rather than revising late.
Eat breakfast and take water. Leave with more time than you think you need. Arrive at or before the stated reporting time; if delayed, call the centre immediately. Keep your phone off and stowed before entering the building. Use the toilet before the exam starts, because breaks may be limited.
Read the instructions and check the number of pages and questions. Fill in candidate details exactly as instructed. Note the finish time and any section boundaries. If negative marking applies, decide in advance how confident you must be before guessing.
Answer in your strongest order within the rules: do clear questions first, flag hard ones, and return to them. Show working where marks are given for method. Watch units (metres, feet, degrees, knots) and sign conventions in stability and compass questions. Do not spend too long on one item; keep pace with your per-question target.
Transfer or check every answer on the answer sheet, confirming numbering is aligned. Return to flagged questions and make a reasoned choice rather than leaving blanks, unless the rules penalise wrong answers. Check your candidate details and that no pages are missing. Stop writing immediately when instructed.
Note anything you found unclear or any question type you struggled with while it is fresh, and record it for your next attempt or for feedback to the provider. Do not discuss or reproduce specific questions with others in a way that breaches the provider's confidentiality rules.
Rules to check
Bring the original valid photo ID that matches your registration. Without acceptable ID you may be refused entry, and the provider's policy on alternatives should be confirmed in advance.
Follow the provider's rules on prohibited items. Phones, smartwatches, earbuds, notes, and unauthorised calculators are typically banned from the exam room; store them where instructed and keep devices switched off.
Do not communicate with other candidates during the exam and do not look at others' papers. Any suspected cheating or impersonation is normally handled under the provider's misconduct procedure, which can lead to cancellation of results.
Breaks are usually limited and often only for genuine need, with supervision. Confirm the provider's toilet and break policy before the day, and raise any medical need in advance rather than during the paper.
Scoring rules, including pass marks, section minimums, and whether wrong answers are penalised, vary by provider and syllabus. Confirm the current rules with the provider rather than relying on what other candidates tell you.
If you are ill, delayed, or affected by an emergency, contact the provider as soon as possible and follow their procedure. Do not simply fail to attend without notifying them if you want to request special consideration.
Keep the content of the exam confidential as required by the provider. Do not reproduce, photograph, or share exam questions, whether from memory or otherwise.
If you believe there is an error in a question or a disturbance in the room, raise it with the invigilator at the time and follow the provider's appeals or feedback process afterwards. Confirm the appeal deadline with the provider.