This certificate is intended for deck officers and personnel with radio communication duties on board vessels sailing in any sea area. It is the highest level GMDSS radio operator qualification, mandatory for operating GMDSS equipment on SOLAS-compliant ships.
Written against the published specification.
Pass mark 70/100180 minutesReal test fee approx £195Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA)How many can I get wrong?
About this practice. Revision Robin is built and maintained by Bloor Engineering Ltd, a UK-registered company. Our GMDSS General Operator's Certificate (GOC) questions are written and reviewed in-house to match the current syllabus, each with a plain-English worked explanation. They are original practice material, not the official exam questions and not affiliated with or endorsed by Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA). Always confirm current test rules, fees and content with the official provider. See our Terms and Privacy.
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Free practice questions
Try 3 real GMDSS General Operator's Certificate (GOC) questions
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Q1. What is the primary concept upon which the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) is based?
A. That search and rescue authorities, as well as shipping in the vicinity, will be rapidly alerted to a distress incident.
B. That all distress alerts are first received by a nearby vessel, which then relays the alert to shore.
C. To replace terrestrial radio communications entirely with more reliable satellite systems.
D. To ensure all vessels are equipped with Morse code telegraphy for emergency use.
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: A. That search and rescue authorities, as well as shipping in the vicinity, will be rapidly alerted to a distress incident.
GMDSS is designed to alert shore-based rescue authorities first, shifting the primary responsibility from ship-to-ship alerting.
Q2. You have inadvertently transmitted a DSC Distress Alert on VHF. What is the correct immediate procedure to cancel it?
A. Immediately switch off the radio equipment for at least 5 minutes.
B. Send a DSC Urgency alert to the same station to override the Distress.
C. Do nothing and wait for the Rescue Coordination Centre (RCC) to contact you for clarification.
D. Transmit a voice cancellation on Channel 16, addressed to 'All Stations', stating your vessel's details and cancelling the false alert.
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: D. Transmit a voice cancellation on Channel 16, addressed to 'All Stations', stating your vessel's details and cancelling the false alert.
The correct procedure is to make a voice broadcast on the associated telephony channel (VHF 16) to all stations, cancelling the false alert.
Q3. A vessel has lost its engine and is drifting, but is not in grave and imminent danger. What is the most appropriate initial action?
A. Transmit a VHF DSC Distress Alert.
B. Make a SECURITE broadcast on Channel 16.
C. Transmit a VHF DSC Urgency Alert.
D. Make a routine call to the coastguard.
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: C. Transmit a VHF DSC Urgency Alert.
This situation concerns the safety of the vessel and others, but does not meet the 'grave and imminent danger' criteria for a Distress. An Urgency (PAN PAN) call is correct.
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Who has to sit the GMDSS General Operator's Certificate (GOC)
Who needs a GMDSS General Operator's Certificate (GOC)?
The real GMDSS General Operator's Certificate (GOC): format
How long is the GMDSS General Operator's Certificate (GOC)?
The real GMDSS General Operator's Certificate (GOC) lasts 90 minutes. Our mock uses 100 questions in 180 minutes.
What is the GMDSS General Operator's Certificate (GOC) pass mark?
Real exam pass mark: 75% in each of the three assessment sections (written, radiotelephony, operational performance). Our mock marks you at 70 out of 100, the threshold we mark against.
What it costs, and what a resit costs
How much does the GMDSS General Operator's Certificate (GOC) cost?
Real exam fee: Course fees range from £1,505 to £1,595. An additional MCA certificate fee of £77 + courier applies. Rebooking after a fail: Resits must be taken within 2 weeks of initial failure.
How hard is it
How hard is the GMDSS General Operator's Certificate (GOC)?
Difficulty: Not inherently difficult, but requires significant memory work, precision, and performance under pressure.
Why people fail it
Why do people fail the GMDSS General Operator's Certificate (GOC)?
Failing critical tasks, e.g., logging a distress message incorrectly (a 'grey box' error).
Saying or writing one wrong word in critical procedural answers.
Insufficient mastery of regulations and operational procedures.
Figures for the real exam from vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com, google.com, checked October 2026. Fees and rules change, so confirm with the test provider before you book.
GMDSS General Operator's Certificate (GOC): common questions
Frequently asked
How many questions are in the GMDSS General Operator's Certificate (GOC)?
The exam has 100 questions. Every Revision Robin mock uses the same 100-question format so your practice matches the real thing.
Are these the real exam questions?
No. Our questions are original and written to match the current syllabus, so they give realistic practice without copying the official paper. Every answer comes with a plain-English explanation. Always confirm current rules and content with Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA).