Home · Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers (ICS) Professional Qualifying Examinations (PQE) - Shipping Business
Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers (ICS) Professional Qualifying Examinations (PQE) - Shipping Business
This exam is for professionals beginning their careers in shipping, including aspiring brokers, agents, charterers, and managers. Passing this module is a core requirement for progressing through the ICS Professional Qualifying Examinations towards membership.
Written against the published specification.
Pass mark 20/40180 minutesReal test fee approx £215Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers (ICS)How many can I get wrong?
About this practice. Revision Robin is built and maintained by Bloor Engineering Ltd, a UK-registered company. Our Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers (ICS) Professional Qualifying Examinations (PQE) - Shipping Business 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 Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers (ICS). Always confirm current test rules, fees and content with the official provider. See our Terms and Privacy.
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Try 3 real Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers (ICS) Professional Qualifying Examinations (PQE) - Shipping Business questions
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Q1. A 'Capesize' bulk carrier is so-named because its size traditionally prevented it from transiting which two key waterways?
A. The Corinth and Kiel Canals.
B. The Panama and Suez Canals.
C. The Saint Lawrence Seaway and Welland Canal.
D. The Strait of Hormuz and the Strait of Malacca.
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: B. The Panama and Suez Canals.
Historically, these large bulk carriers were too wide and deep to pass through the original dimensions of the Panama and Suez Canals, forcing them to sail around the Cape of Good Hope or Cape Horn.
Q2. The Strait of Malacca is a critical maritime chokepoint that primarily connects which two major bodies of water?
A. The Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea
B. The Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean
C. The Red Sea and the Indian Ocean
D. The Persian Gulf and the Arabian Sea
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: B. The Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean
The Strait of Malacca is the main shipping channel between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean, linking major Asian economies and being one of the world's busiest waterways.
Q3. The ICS motto, 'Our Word Our Bond', primarily underscores which fundamental principle in shipbroking?
A. The necessity for all contracts to be written on approved forms.
B. The legal requirement for brokers to hold professional indemnity insurance.
C. The ethical commitment to honouring verbal agreements and negotiations.
D. The historical dominance of the London shipping market.
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: C. The ethical commitment to honouring verbal agreements and negotiations.
This motto signifies the high level of trust and integrity expected, where verbal agreements ('fixing on subjects') are considered binding and must be honoured by all parties.
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Who has to sit the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers (ICS) Professional Qualifying Examinations (PQE) - Shipping Business
Who needs a Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers (ICS) Professional Qualifying Examinations (PQE) - Shipping Business?
Professionals seeking Chartered status (MICS), including aspiring brokers, agents, charterers, and managers. Shipping Business is a compulsory subject.
The real Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers (ICS) Professional Qualifying Examinations (PQE) - Shipping Business: format
How many questions are in the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers (ICS) Professional Qualifying Examinations (PQE) - Shipping Business?
The real Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers (ICS) Professional Qualifying Examinations (PQE) - Shipping Business has 5 questions and lasts 180 minutes. Our mock uses 40 questions in 180 minutes.
What is the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers (ICS) Professional Qualifying Examinations (PQE) - Shipping Business pass mark?
Real exam pass mark: 50 out of 100. Our mock marks you at 20 out of 40, the threshold we mark against.
What it costs, and what a resit costs
How much does the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers (ICS) Professional Qualifying Examinations (PQE) - Shipping Business cost?
Real exam fee: £189 (per subject, standard entry) plus £149 annual student registration. Resit fee: £189 (per subject). Rebooking after a fail: Exams held twice yearly (May & November), next available session.
How hard is it
How hard is the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers (ICS) Professional Qualifying Examinations (PQE) - Shipping Business?
Difficulty: Rigorous, requiring deep understanding of global shipping dynamics.
Why people fail it
Why do people fail the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers (ICS) Professional Qualifying Examinations (PQE) - Shipping Business?
Not solving past question papers.
Lacking general knowledge of trade areas & sea routes.
Procrastination.
Figures for the real exam from vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com, checked October 2026. Fees and rules change, so confirm with the test provider before you book.
Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers (ICS) Professional Qualifying Examinations (PQE) - Shipping Business: common questions
Frequently asked
How long do you get?
The test is timed at 180 minutes. Our full mock runs on the same clock so you can practise your pacing.
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 Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers (ICS).