Marlins English Language Test: format, scoring and how to prepare
If you are applying for a job at sea, sooner or later a manning agency will sit you in front of an English test. For most of the industry that test is the Marlins English Language Test. Here is what it looks like inside, what score you realistically need, and how to prepare without wasting time.
What the test is
The Marlins English Language Test is a computer-based English assessment used by shipowners, cruise lines and manning agencies worldwide to check the English of seafarers before employment. It is not required by any international regulation: STCW requires officers to know English, but it does not name any test. Marlins became the industry standard because employers adopted it, and today many job adverts simply state the minimum Marlins score they expect.
Format: 85 questions, six sections
| Section | Questions | What it checks |
|---|---|---|
| Listening | 25 | Understanding spoken English, different accents |
| Grammar | 30 | Tenses, prepositions, modals, sentence structure |
| Vocabulary | 15 | General and maritime words |
| Pronunciation | 9 | Recognising sounds and stress |
| Reading | 1 | Understanding a written text |
| Time & numbers | 5 | Times, dates, figures heard or written |
There is no hard time limit, but around 60 minutes is the suggested maximum. Questions are drawn from a bank of hundreds, so two people sitting next to each other do not get the same test. You can go back to any question and change your answer before you finish, and if the connection drops you can resume with the same licence code within 36 hours. The result is a single percentage score from the total points, with a percentage per section, available immediately.
Two related tests exist for other sectors: a shorter cruise ship staff version (50 questions, no pronunciation section, about 30 minutes) and an offshore version (85 questions, no pronunciation section, a slightly bigger listening block). Officers and ratings on merchant ships sit the seafarers' test described above.
Scoring: there is no official pass mark
Marlins does not decide who passes. Your employer does. Typical thresholds seen in job adverts and company policies:
- Many employers: 70-80%
- Senior officers: often 85% and above
- DP positions: some offshore managers ask 85-86% and above, from an approved centre
- UK certificate of equivalent competency (CEC): the MCA asks for at least 70% in the written test plus the spoken test, at an approved centre
- Some ratings positions: lower thresholds are accepted
Manning agencies often quote a table like the one below. It is common practice, not a rule: every company sets its own figure, so ask your agency for the number that applies to you.
| Rank | Score often quoted |
|---|---|
| Master | 85% |
| Chief Officer, Chief Engineer | 80% |
| 2nd and 3rd Officer, 2nd Engineer, ETO | 70% |
| Cadets, Bosun, 3rd and 4th Engineer, Chief Cook | 65% |
| AB, Fitter | 55% |
| OS, Wiper, Messman | 45% |
Where you take it and what it costs
There are three kinds of certificate. An approved certificate comes from one of about 200 Approved Test Centres in nearly 50 countries, where you sit the test under exam conditions; this is the format flag administrations such as the UK MCA and most serious employers accept, and each centre sets its own fee. A standard certificate is the test taken online at home without supervision (the licence itself costs about 23 USD); some employers accept it, many do not. Companies can also run an AI-proctored remote test through their own accounts. Before you pay for anything, ask your agency which format the shipowner accepts.
The certificate has no expiry date printed on it; the provider suggests employers treat it as valid for four to five years, but again each company decides. Retakes are possible, though the provider recommends no more than three attempts within 24 hours.
How to prepare, section by section
Grammar carries the most questions, 30 of them, and it is the easiest block to improve with focused drills: tenses, prepositions and modal verbs cover most of what appears. Listening comes next with 25, and it is where most candidates actually lose the points. Train your ear daily: English radio, maritime videos, podcasts, and practice questions with audio. Vocabulary means both everyday and shipboard words: mooring, galley, muster station, PPE. Time and numbers is short but free points if you practise converting spoken times like "quarter past seven in the evening" into 19:15 without hesitation.
Start by finding your level: our free 20-question English check uses the same section types and shows you exactly where you are losing points, with an explanation for every answer. Then sit the full practice test: 85 questions, 60 minutes, with a listening section recorded in the accents you hear on board, and train the ear separately in Listening Practice, where every recording can be replayed and read as a transcript. Two exercises there go beyond multiple choice and are worth the effort: the numbers dictation (a time, a course or a channel is said once, you type it) and the form filling (an agent, a VTS operator or an engineer gives four or five figures in one go, you complete the form). If you can do those, the listening section holds no surprises.
Frequently asked questions
- What score do I need to pass?
- There is no official pass mark. Employers set their own thresholds: many ask for 70-80%, senior officers often 85%+, and some ask 86%+ for DP positions.
- How many questions are there?
- 85 questions in six sections, with listening (25) and grammar (30) making up most of the test.
- How much does it cost?
- About 23 USD online as an individual; Approved Test Centres set their own prices, and many employers cover the cost.
- Can I retake it?
- Yes. The provider recommends no more than three attempts within 24 hours, and your company or flag may have its own rule. Practise until your mock results are safely above the threshold you need before you sit it again.
This guide describes the test for information purposes. SeamanEnglish is an independent training site and is not affiliated with Marlins, Seagull or Ocean Technologies Group. Details such as prices and formats can change: always confirm with the test provider or your agency.