Marlins Test: what scores seafarers actually get
We measured first attempts at the 60-question Marlins mock test on seatrainer.pro. The median score is 88.5%, and two out of three candidates clear 80% on their first try. Only one section is consistently weaker than the rest: Reading, at 65%.
First-attempt results on the mock test
Sample: 46 people, each counted once (first attempt only at "Marlins Test · Mock 1", 60 questions, real exam format).
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Candidates | 46 |
| Median score | 88.5% |
| Mean score | 83% |
| Scored 80% or higher | 31 of 46 (67%) |
| Scored 60% or higher | 43 of 46 (93%) |
| Best result | 100% |
The distribution is skewed upwards: half of all candidates score 88.5% or more, and only three of 46 stayed below 60%. The mean (83%) sits below the median because of a few abandoned attempts.
Which Marlins Test section is the hardest
Reading is the only section where scores drop noticeably. Below are the averages from the short per-section sampler quizzes in the free course.
| Section | Average score | Attempts |
|---|---|---|
| Time & Number | 100% | 24 |
| Listening | 93% | 56 |
| Grammar | 92% | 26 |
| Vocabulary | 90% | 23 |
| Reading | 65% | 21 |
The gap is consistent: Reading trails the next weakest section by 25 percentage points. The practical takeaway is simple - if your preparation time is limited, spend it on reading technical texts, safety instructions and ship documentation rather than on general grammar.
The free mock test
The free course ends with a 12-question final mock test. Across first attempts by 21 candidates the median is 93% and the mean 92%. A short test produces a higher score than the full 60-question one - worth keeping in mind when you compare your result against a crewing requirement.
Method
Source: the seatrainer.pro learning database (Moodle platform), extracted on 26 August 2026. Only finished attempts by registered users are counted; test and service accounts are excluded.
The main table uses first attempts only for each user on "Marlins Test · Mock 1" (60 questions), so that scores are not inflated by practising on the same question set.
The section breakdown comes from the short sampler quizzes in the free course (1 to 3 questions each, 21-56 attempts per section) - a small sample, and Time & Number is represented by a single question. Treat it as an indication, not as exam-grade measurement.
These are figures from a preparation trainer, not from the official Marlins Test. Question mix and difficulty approximate the exam format, but your result on the real test may differ.
What to do with this
- Test yourself before the crewing office does. Take a full mock test and compare it with your employer's requirement - the Marlins Test has no single pass mark, the bar is set by the company.
- Look at sections, not just the total. An overall 85% with 55% in Reading is a risk: the question mix on the real test can shift.
- Train Reading separately. It is the section with the most headroom for almost everyone.
More on the exam structure in What the Marlins Test looks like. You can take a mock test in the Marlins Test trainer: the free sampler is open with no payment and no time limit.