The Marlins Test is the most common English screening for seafarers. 70% is the minimum for most crewing agencies; 80%+ for premium fleets. Here’s how to nail it on attempt one.
1. Listening is where most fall down
Listening is 35% of the test and where candidates die.
- Listen 30 minutes daily — BBC and NPR podcasts. Get used to the pace.
- Pre-read all answers while the instructions play. Adds 10%.
- Never stall on one question. Missed it? Move on.
2. Vocabulary — the bank barely changes
Marlins uses a fixed set of topics. Learn 200 key terms and you’ve covered 70% of the questions.
Tip: build flashcards. 20 minutes a day for 2 weeks = 280 terms.
3. Grammar — don’t lose points on the obvious
Conditionals and passive voice are where Russian-speaking seafarers haemorrhage points.
The bottom line
Marlins isn’t a test of English in general — it’s a test of maritime English.