KMA Cadet 1st-Stage Exam study guide
KMA Cadet 1st-Stage Exam · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The KMA Cadet 1st-Stage Exam is the first-stage assessment used in the cadet selection and progression pathway associated with KMA (Korea Maritime and Ocean University, formerly Korea Maritime University). It is aimed at candidates preparing for a seafaring career - deck and engine cadets, maritime high-school and university students, and career-changers entering officer training - and it tests whether a candidate has the foundational knowledge expected before advanced, simulator-based and sea-service training begins. The KMA Cadet 1st-Stage Exam study guide has 12 sections and about 3,956 words.
01Nautical Science and Navigation
Nautical Science and Navigation tests terrestrial coordinates, chartwork, position fixing, tidal and current calculations, passage planning, and bridge equipment used to keep a vessel on a safe track. Questions often combine a definition with a short calculation or a practical decision.
335 words, about 2 min02Marine Engineering and Ship Propulsion Systems
Marine Engineering and Ship Propulsion Systems covers diesel engine cycles, turbocharging, fuel and lubricating systems, cooling, starting air, shafting, propellers, and the relationship between engine output and ship speed. Expect definitions plus power, fuel and propeller-law calculations.
327 words, about 2 min03Ship Construction
Ship Construction tests hull structural members, framing systems, watertight subdivision, double-bottom construction, hatch and deck arrangements, materials and welding. Questions ask you to identify load paths and to calculate simple bending or section-modulus values.
328 words, about 2 min04Stability and Shipboard Safety
Stability and Shipboard Safety tests initial stability, the GZ curve, free surface effect, trim and list, damage stability, and practical safety controls such as drills, permits and enclosed-space entry. KM = KB + BM, where BM = I/V for the waterplane moment of inertia I and displacement volume V.
335 words, about 2 min05Maritime Law
Maritime Law tests the legal framework of navigation, jurisdiction, contracts of carriage, charterparties, bills of lading, salvage, general average and collision liability. The exam favours clear zone limits and the difference between ownership, flag and control.
366 words, about 2 min06Conventions and Regulatory Framework
Conventions and Regulatory Framework tests the IMO instruments that set ship design, operation, crewing, security and pollution standards, and the certificates and inspections that enforce them. SOLAS covers construction, fire and life-saving, radio, navigation safety and management; the ISM Code is implemented through SOLAS.
320 words, about 2 min07Maritime Economics
Maritime Economics tests shipping markets, freight and charter rates, cost structures, shipping cycles and simple voyage economics. It rewards candidates who can separate revenue from profit and identify which costs are fixed, voyage-related or capital-related.
323 words, about 2 min08Shipping Operations and Port Management
Shipping Operations and Port Management tests the ship-port interface: port calls, berth allocation, cargo handling, container terminal flow, stowage, documentation and turnaround performance. A port call involves arrival notice, pilotage, tugs, berthing, customs, immigration and quarantine clearance, cargo operations and departure.
313 words, about 2 min09Marine Environment Protection and Pollution Prevention
Marine Environment Protection and Pollution Prevention tests MARPOL controls, oil-spill response, garbage and sewage management, air emissions, ballast water, anti-fouling and ship recycling. The exam expects operational limits, record books and the difference between prevention and response.
341 words, about 2 min10Maritime English and Professional Communication
Maritime English and Professional Communication tests clear, standard VHF and onboard communication, distress, urgency and safety priority, GMDSS procedures, written reports and the IMO Standard Marine Communication Phrases (SMCP). Use SMCP where applicable; keep messages short, formal and unambiguous.
317 words, about 2 min11General Knowledge of the Maritime Industry and Current Affairs
General Knowledge of the Maritime Industry and Current Affairs tests the shape of the industry: ship types and trades, major maritime hubs and chokepoints, regulators, classification societies, crewing, decarbonisation and the commercial effects of geopolitical disruption. The IMO is the UN agency for shipping safety and pollution prevention.
335 words, about 2 min12Mathematics, Physics and Basic Engineering Sciences
Mathematics, Physics and Basic Engineering Sciences tests algebraic manipulation, geometry and trigonometry, SI units, mechanics, hydrostatics, thermodynamics and basic electricity applied to shipboard problems. Use SI units: length m, mass kg, time s, force N, pressure Pa, power W.
316 words, about 2 min