MARINA Second Engineer / Chief Engineer Theoretical Exam exam-day guide
MARINA Second Engineer / Chief Engineer Theoretical Exam · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Valid photo ID (passport or national ID)
Bring the original document, not a copy or a photo on your phone. Confirm with the provider which ID types are accepted and whether the name must match your application exactly; if your documents use a different transliteration, ask in advance. Mark any doubt as needs_review rather than assuming.
Admission letter / exam registration confirmation
Print or download the confirmation showing your candidate number, exam centre, date and time slot. Some centres require the printed copy, so check the instructions in your admission documents and confirm with the provider if the wording is unclear.
Exam permit / seaman's discharge book or certificate of competency documents
Some maritime administrations ask to see sea service records or your existing CoC at registration. Confirm with the provider which supporting documents are required for the theoretical exam session; carry originals plus one photocopy set.
Non-programmable calculator
A basic scientific calculator is normally allowed for stability, trim, power and fuel calculations. Programmable or graphing models, and any device with wireless capability, are usually prohibited. Confirm the permitted model list with the provider and remove/disable memory functions where required.
Spare pens, pencils, eraser, sharpener
Bring at least two black or blue pens plus a pencil for any answer-sheet or sketch work. Pencil-only answers may not be accepted on written papers; confirm the required ink colour with the provider.
Simple drawing instruments
A ruler, set square, protractor and dividers are useful for stability and geometry sketches and for any plotting question. Keep them in a clear pouch so invigilators can inspect them quickly.
Wristwatch (non-smart)
Exam rooms do not always have a visible clock, and phones are usually collected or banned. A plain analogue or digital watch without connectivity lets you pace the paper. Smartwatches are almost always prohibited.
Printed formula sheet or approved reference material, if permitted
Only bring material the provider explicitly allows into the room. If the exam supplies its own formula booklet, leave yours outside. Confirm with the provider whether any reference tables are allowed and in what form, needs_review.
Know the venue, route and arrival time
Reconnoitre the centre or check the map the day before. Plan to arrive well before the stated reporting time to allow for ID checks and seating. Confirm the exact reporting time with the provider, as it is often earlier than the start time.
Personal needs plan (water, medication, toilet)
Bring water in a clear bottle if permitted, and any necessary medication declared to the invigilator. Toilet breaks are usually allowed with escort but eat into your time; plan hydration and visit the toilet before the paper starts.
Leave phones and smart devices outside or surrendered
Most centres require phones switched off and stored away from the desk. Having a device on your person can be treated as misconduct. Confirm the provider's device policy in advance and travel light.
Rest, meals and transport contingency
Book accommodation near the centre if you travel far, and have a backup transport plan. A late arrival may mean exclusion, and fatigue or hunger measurably hurts calculation accuracy in long papers.
Plan the day
Finish active revision and switch to consolidation. Re-read your own summary sheets for the core calculation types: ship stability (GM, free surface, list, trim), hydrostatics, resistance and power, propeller and engine performance, fuel consumption, and electrical load and fault problems. Work two or three timed past-style problems per subject rather than learning new topics. Check the exam syllabus and confirm with the provider which subjects and papers are included in your session, since the structure can differ between administrations.
Do a full timed mock under exam conditions: no notes, one sitting, same duration as the real paper. Mark it honestly and list your three weakest areas. Spend the remaining time only on those areas, using worked examples and re-deriving formulas rather than memorising them. Confirm the venue address, reporting time and ID requirements with the provider if anything in your admission documents is ambiguous.
Pack your bag: ID, admission letter, pens, pencils, calculator, drawing instruments, watch, water. Lay out clothes. Check transport times and set two alarms. Do a light review of formula sheets and common unit conversions (kW to hp, bar to MPa, tonnes to kg, knots to m/s) but stop studying by early evening. Eat a normal meal, avoid alcohol and heavy caffeine, and aim for a full night's sleep. Do not try to learn a new subject the night before.
Eat a proper breakfast and arrive at the centre with time to spare, typically well before the reporting time stated in your admission documents. Keep your phone off and stored. Present your ID and admission letter at registration, find your seat, and check that your desk has only permitted items. Visit the toilet before the paper begins. Take a few minutes to breathe and settle rather than flipping anxiously through the paper.
Read the instructions and check the total number of questions and marks. Scan the whole paper and mark questions you can do quickly. Allocate time per question or per section based on marks, and keep a reserve of about ten percent of the time for checking. Write your candidate number where required and check the answer format (multiple choice sheet, answer booklet, or both).
Answer the easiest questions first to bank marks, then return to harder ones. For calculations, write the formula, substitute values with units, and state the answer with units and sensible significant figures; method marks are often available even if the final number is wrong. Show sketches for stability and geometry questions. If a question stalls you, leave it, mark it, and move on. Watch the clock at each quarter of the paper and leave time to transfer answers to the answer sheet and check numbering.
Use the last minutes to verify that every question is answered, that multiple-choice bubbles are filled correctly, and that your candidate details are complete. Do not change answers on a hunch unless you have a clear reason. After the paper, note which topics felt weak while memory is fresh, for any oral or resit preparation. Confirm with the provider how and when results are published.
Rules to check
Bring original photo identification and your admission documents; you may be refused entry without them. If you are unsure which documents are accepted, confirm with the provider before exam day.
Phones, smartwatches and any other connected devices must be switched off and stored away from your desk. Possession of an unauthorised device during the paper can be treated as misconduct regardless of whether it was used.
Only permitted items may be on the desk: writing instruments, drawing instruments, an approved calculator and any material the provider explicitly allows. Bags and notes go where the invigilator directs.
Follow all invigilator instructions on seating, timing, starting and stopping writing. Writing after the instruction to stop, or before the instruction to start, is commonly penalised.
Raise your hand if you need to leave the room, need materials or feel unwell. Toilet breaks are usually escorted and the clock does not stop, so use them sparingly.
Do not communicate with other candidates in any way during the paper, and do not attempt to view another candidate's work. Suspected collusion or copying may lead to invalidation of your paper.
Scoring and pass marks are set by the examining authority and may include a minimum mark in each subject as well as an overall pass. Confirm the exact pass criteria and any negative-marking policy with the provider, as these vary.
If you believe there is an error in a question, note it on your answer sheet if the instructions allow and continue; do not spend excessive time on it. Report procedural concerns to the invigilator at the time and confirm the provider's appeals process afterwards.