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Marine VHF (SRC) Exam Prep

RYA Short Range Certificate: the radio licence every skipper needs.

Written against the published specification.

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Pass mark 18/25 40 minutes Real test fee £70 exam RYA/Ofcom How many can I get wrong?
About this practice. Revision Robin is built and maintained by Bloor Engineering Ltd, a UK-registered company. Our Marine VHF (SRC) Exam Prep 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 RYA/Ofcom. Always confirm current test rules, fees and content with the official provider. See our Terms and Privacy.
Little and often beats one big session. Five minutes on the bus counts.
Free practice questions
Try 3 real Marine VHF (SRC) Exam Prep questions
Have a go, then reveal the worked explanation. A taster from a bank of 214 original questions. Unlock for unlimited drills and full timed mocks.
Q1. Who issues the Ship Radio Licence for a UK pleasure vessel fitted with VHF radio equipment?
  • A.  Ofcom
  • B.  The RYA
  • C.  The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA)
  • D.  HM Coastguard
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: A. Ofcom
Ofcom is the UK's radio spectrum regulator and licenses ship radio stations. The RYA issues the operator's SRC certificate on Ofcom's behalf but does not licence the vessel itself, and the MCA and HM Coastguard deal with safety and rescue coordination, not radio licensing.
Q2. When conducting a radio check with a marina, what response indicates the signal is being received but with some difficulty?
  • A.  'Loud and clear'
  • B.  'Nothing heard'
  • C.  'Readability 3'
  • D.  'Roger that'
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: C. 'Readability 3'
The standard readability scale runs from 1 (bad) to 5 (excellent); a readability of 3 means the signal is readable but with difficulty. 'Loud and clear' would correspond to the top of the scale, while 'nothing heard' means no signal was received at all.
Q3. A yacht's crew accidentally triggers its DSC distress alert while cleaning the set. What is the correct cancellation procedure?
  • A.  Ignore it, since the Coastguard will assume it is false
  • B.  Turn the set off and back on again
  • C.  Send a new DSC distress alert with "fire" selected to override it
  • D.  Broadcast on Channel 16: "ALL STATIONS, ALL STATIONS, ALL STATIONS, THIS IS [vessel name/callsign/MMSI], CANCEL MY DISTRESS ALERT OF [date/time UTC]"
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: D. Broadcast on Channel 16: "ALL STATIONS, ALL STATIONS, ALL STATIONS, THIS IS [vessel name/callsign/MMSI], CANCEL MY DISTRESS ALERT OF [date/time UTC]"
A spoken all-stations cancellation, identifying the vessel and the time of the original alert, ensures the Coastguard and other stations know to stand down. Simply ignoring it can trigger an unnecessary search and rescue launch.
Exam mode
Full mock exam
25 random questions, real timing, marked against the official pass mark. Different every time.
The first 8 of 25 questions are free, with your score on them. Finishing the paper, your result against the pass mark and every answer explained come with the paid version.
Practice material only. This is revision practice, not official training, assessment or certification, and not a substitute for the required course or supervised experience. Always confirm the current requirements with the official awarding body or test provider before relying on it.
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Topic drills
Ten quick questions on one topic, marked instantly with explanations.
1 free drill left.
Radio rules, licensing & channels · 35
Routine calls & procedures · 37
Distress — MAYDAY & DSC alerts · 35
Urgency & safety — PAN PAN, SECURITE · 35
DSC, MMSI & equipment · 35
GMDSS, EPIRBs, SART & AIS · 37

Who has to sit the Marine VHF (SRC) Exam Prep

Who needs a Marine VHF (SRC) Exam Prep?

Minimum qualification to operate marine VHF radio equipment on a UK flagged vessel, including fixed or handheld sets. Required for RYA Yachtmaster™ candidates and commercial endorsement applicants.

The real Marine VHF (SRC) Exam Prep: format

How long is the Marine VHF (SRC) Exam Prep?

The real Marine VHF (SRC) Exam Prep lasts 90 minutes. Our mock uses 25 questions in 40 minutes.

What it costs, and what a resit costs

How much does the Marine VHF (SRC) Exam Prep cost?

Real exam fee: £76.

How hard is it

How hard is the Marine VHF (SRC) Exam Prep?

Difficulty: Moderate, a knowledge check rather than a filter.

Why people fail it

Why do people fail the Marine VHF (SRC) Exam Prep?

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.
Marine VHF (SRC) Exam Prep: common questions
Frequently asked
How many questions are in the Marine VHF (SRC) Exam Prep?
The exam has 25 questions. Every Revision Robin mock uses the same 25-question format so your practice matches the real thing.
What is the pass mark for the Marine VHF (SRC) Exam Prep?
You need 18 out of 25 correct to pass, which is about 72%. Our mocks mark you against this exact threshold.
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 RYA/Ofcom.