The UK MCA SQA syllabus has been updated and a new syllabus is in place from March 2025. We have analysed what is new and what has been removed to help you pass your UK MCA SQA Navigation Written exams.
The upcoming SQA Navigation exam dates are:
- 7th October 2025
- 25th November 2025
- 3rd February 2026
- 30th March 2026
- 19th May 2026
- 7th July 2026
The link to the syllabus can be found here.
The navigation syllabus is made up of questions from:
In this blog post, I will briefly explain what the examiner will be looking for. This blog post can also form a study plan. All materials, including explainer videos, worked examples, infographics and written theory are available through the SafeSeas Training Learning Platform for £7.99 per month. You can sign up here.
The first thing you’ll notice is the different verbs: Explain, list, state, identify and describe as some of them.
If the question asks you to explain something – it will want you to say what is happening and why it is happening. So an example question could be “Explain the different position fixing methods on making landfall.” What they are not looking for is a list of these! They want you to state the different methods that are appropriate (Hint: GPS is not appropriate!) and why they are appropriate. So I would state as part of my answer about using a three point fix, from three separate obvious and distinct parts, which preferably had 120 degrees between each point. I would list all the methods, explaining why I would use them. If I just put three point fix, horizontal sextant angle, leading lights, depth and left it at that, I wouldn’t get much – as I have just given a list. Describe is along the same lines, you are telling the examiner what you are doing and why.
State, identify and list are all shorter form questions, so you are just giving short answers and not having to justify them!
I have listed the navigation syllabus below, questions will come from this syallbus, so this is your bible to study from! If it does not appear it this list, it should not be assessed.
I have put down some links to the SafeSeas Training learning platform, for ease of use for our subscribers, however, these can also be mapped to your college notes to create your own study guide. If you print and combine your notes for this section, it will make your study a lot easier if using your college notes and you won’t be trying to study for something that won’t come up.
The Navigation Syllabus
1. Stages of making a passage plan
a. Explains appraisal, planning, execution and monitoring of a passage plan.
We have these listed here. Remember all they want to know what the four stages are called and a brief explanation of what happens at each stage of the passage plan.
2. Following a passage plan
a. Describes the procedures for monitoring the progress and executing
a passage plan of a vessel on a pre-planned track.
Note that the question is asking just for monitoring and executing. So ensure you have an in depth answer for what happens at these two stages. Detailed information, including a model answer can be found here.
b. Applies passage planning principles to navigate through specialised
areas, such as, Traffic Separation Schemes and Offshore Renewable
Energy Installations
The examiner wants to know when you are planning a passage that you are using the correct lanes of a traffic separation scheme, not using the inshore traffic zone unless appropriate and avoiding the separation zone.
Rule 10 can be found here.
c. Identifies charted objects suitable for position fixing.
This will not normally be a question on its own, but is usually assessed by using the charted object as part of a position fix e.g. North lighthouse was sighted at 21:00… so you need to know the symbol for the lighthouse. It is well worth ensuring that you know the common chart symbols found in Chart 5011.
d. Identifies chart symbols and abbreviations.
Again, studying with Chart 5011 by your side is your friend!
5. Explains the precautions to be taken when making a landfall.
What the examiner will be wanting to know is that you know the difference between coastal and ocean navigation and you may be asked about preparing the bridge for arrival in port, which can be found here.
3. Routeing instructions and guidelines
a. Describes content and use of IMO Ships Routeing Guide.
Our free guide can be found here.
b. Interprets IRPCS Rule 10.
c. Explains use of Admiralty chart 5500, Mariners Routeing Guide.
The examiner wants you to show that you know this is for the English Channel and Dover Straits. Further explanation can be found in our free overview here.
4. Adjusts vessels course and speed to take account of passage plan requirements
a. Plots the position of the vessel on a chart using latitude and longitude, or position lines derived from charted objects or from celestial observations including running fix and horizontal angles.
This is where a variety of different questions comes in, so you need to be able to do all different types of position fixes, such as:
- Estimated positions
- Course to steer
- Running fixes with ranges and bearings
- Horizontal Sextant Angles
b. Determines the effect of current/tidal stream by construction on a chart.
The examiner will be assessing whether you know where to apply the set to a ship’s course, but may also combine this question with leeway as shown in b.
c. Determines the effect of wind on ship’s track.
d. Applies leeway to find course to steer.
This will probably be a combination question, where you are calculating the effect of wind on paper, before plotting it on the chart. This could be either working out what to steer to counteract the wind, or what position the wind will take you off track.
e. Determines course to steer to counteract tidal stream by construction on a chart.
How to do this question can be found here.
f. Determines speed made good by measurement on the chart and calculates ETA.
The examiner for this question will want to see that you can accurately plot a distance between two points and measure it accurately, before then dividing the distance by the ship’s speed.
These can be found here.
g. Determines speed required to make ETA at a passage plan waypoint by measurement on the chart.
The examiner will expect you to be able to accurately measure the distance between two points, then complete a speed/distance/time calculation.
ETA calculations can be found here.
h. Applies magnetic and/or gyro compass errors to convert True to Compass and vice versa for ship’s head and bearings.
i. Calculates adjustments to course for a change in standard or gyro compass error.
This will normally be within a question, for example a ship’s heading was seen to be 310 C, so you will need to convert this to true before you plot the bearing / course on the chart. Remember: CADET – Compass to true, add EAST.
For gyro errors, you may need to calculate if the gyro is high or low, or you will get given it and need to apply it to your course.
Compass, true and gyro courses
5. The Sailings (Plane, Parallel and Mercator)
These are all calculation questions, with the exception of a. So it is just knowing how to do these calculations and remembering the correct method every time. Practice makes perfect and we have written step-by-step instructions for all these calculations as part of the learning platform.
a. Describes the navigational properties of a Mercator chart.
This is new for 2025. Information on mercator charts and mercator sailings can be found here.
b. Calculates course and distance by Plane, Parallel or Mercator
sailing formula.
You should be able to identify which method needs to be used and the rules for them (e.g. a plane sailing can only be used for 600nm).
You should notice you have not been asked to find a final position, so just study the course and distance.
c. Calculates ETAs (including the use of time zones if required) and
average speed/speed required.
This is another ETA question, however, you also need to know how to calculate time zones and UTC.
So breathe a sigh of relief when you get to here – there is no great circle sailing. Again, you have one descriptive question, on what is a mercator chart (the charts you use on board!) and the rest are calculations.
6. Bridge Watchkeeping procedures and communications
The title of this has been updated for 2025 to include communications.
a. Demonstrates a knowledge of current national and international regulations and guidelines for bridge watchkeeping procedures.
b. Lists occasions for calling the Master.
This wording has changed in 2025, from critical situations to just when to call the Master.
We have added a free resource on when to call the master.
c. Specifies operational tests to shipboard navigational equipment.
This has been tweaked from tests to operational tests for 2025. This will usually be what would you check and when type question. So think back to your watch handovers, preparing for arrival / departure and pilotage and try and visualise those checks. The ICS Bridge Procedures Guide will also help you with this.
d. Calculates Compass error by Azimuth/Amplitude/Polaris.
Polaris is new for 2025.
Know how to calculate the compass error by all three of these methods:
e. Explains the need to keep accurate bridge records
The examiner will want to see you know what needs to be updated, when it needs to be updated and why it is important these records are kept.
f. Describes routine and emergency internal communication procedures in
the following scenarios: steering checks, telegraph checks, engine failure,
steering failure, total power failure.
This is new for 2025, although it is very similar to a previous outcome. The examiner is looking to see that you know how to communicate with the Engine Room in routine and emergency situations. They are also looking to know that you know basic(!) engineering as to why you need to communicate with the Engine Room for speed reduction.
9. Navigation in the proximity of ice
For these questions, you have one list to remember (and don’t try and think of the Titanic scene, it won’t help you!) and then two more descriptive answers, although number 3 is just you need to let other ships in the area and the competent authority know. More detailed answers can be found here.
a. Lists signs indicating the proximity of ice.
b. Describes methods of avoiding or reducing ice accumulation and accretion.
c. List the navigational factors to consider when navigation in the proximity of
ice.
This is new for 2025.
Note: Explains obligation to report ice and ice accretion has been removed from the syllabus.
10. Cause of tides and definitions
Have your definitions ready for this and be able to say why it happens. The explanations can be found here.
a. States the cause of spring and neap tides.
3. Defines chart datum, height of tide, MHWS, MLWS, MHWN, MLWN, range of tide, drying height, height of charted objects.
b. Defines chart datum, height of tide, HAT, LAT, MHWS, MLWS, MHWN, MLWN, range of tide, drying height, height of charted objects, charted elevation, vertical clearances, and air draught.
Height of charted objects, charted elevation, vertical clearances, and air draught are new for 2025.
This will usually be done as part of the question, however, be prepared you may get a question asking what exactly it is!
11. Finding the tidal information at standard ports – Worldwide
You will need to find either a height and time for high water, low or at a set time. You could also be asked to calculate the time the tide will reach a certain point (for example to go under a bridge or over a shoal). Make sure that you know your different measurements for example MHWS, chartered height, chartered depth, UKC, air clearance as where these are measured from and to often trip people up.
a. Finds the height and time of high and low water using tide tables.
b. Calculates the height of tide at a given time using tide tables and
tidal curves.
c. Calculates the time the tide will reach a given height using tide tables and tidal curves.
d. Discusses the reliability of tidal predictions.
e. Calculates the correction of soundings to chart datum.
Note: Secondary ports have been removed from the syllabus.
How can you prepare for the SQA Navigation Exam?
Knowing what is coming up in the exam, and all the different ways the questions can be asked is the first part of making yourself feel confident in the assessment. Focus on what you do know, opposed to what you don’t!
The next part is having a method for approaching each question and calculation, ensuring the method works and then sticking with that method.
SafeSeas Training have put together learning materials to help you understand the different types of questions, including video tutorials for each calculation and plotting question, showing you how to solve these questions. I have also put together a handy “how to” guide to help you with your studies. These how to guides also help you identify what type of question it is and how to solve the problem step-by-step.
The content for the Chartwork and Tides and the Navigational Maths and Science parts of the SafeSeas Training learning platform, which form the basis of the SQA Navigational exams. Should you wish to subscribe, this is available for £7.99 per month and you can cancel at any time.
You can sign up here.
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