License Exam Class of 2019
- Thread starter kpmom2013
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Along with the other 364 days of the year
Hockeymom19
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Daunting...
You can say that again, t-nav this afternoon for a 90%. I should be studying right now. It's actually oddly relaxing sitting in that big, quiet gym. Full of people but museum level silence.
Hockeymom19
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Best of luck to you and the entire Class of 2019!! That’ll be my “2021” in a couple...
beyond
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If you study the material and not just midlessly memorize lapware, this is a non issue. The questions aren't really that new, because even the "new ones" are just spin offs. There are new modules on the street for 2019, but the Q series is still mostly derived from the old database, at least enough to enable you to pass, and the only questions they've added so far are the generals. They won't get the celestial/terrestrial/stability/chart stuff in until the committee meets again in the fall. You shouldn't be nervous about the new questions.
There is so much self imposed stress that comes with testing at KP, needing to pass to graduate, being in kahkis in a room full of stressed out people, not knowing if you passed each section, testing in a prescribed order, and being worried about ringing the bell. You want relaxing zen? The Miami REC, test as fast as you want, in shorts and a t-shirt, in whatever order you want, and you can walk to lunch some place good in between exams. Plus, by wednesday you're pretty much guaranteed the testing room to yourself. I scored higher, tested faster, and studied for less than three weeks for C/M, it is tremendously easier when you're NOT doing it the KP way (... like most things).
I get that you're rooting for you kid, and please do! They need it! This isn't a knock on anyone in particular, but an overall cultural observation:
I wish everyone would quit being so obsessed with that damn bell. It adds all kinds of unnecessary pressure to the whole license process. I loved ringing it, I loved that it was this big to do, but I rang it, thought to myself "What now? Guess I better go pack? " If I could go back and not have that pressure hanging over me the entire week, and not have classmates feel like garbage because they went 6/7, but not get to ring the bell, I would gladly make that trade. It was really cool, I loved it, but it wasn't what I had hoped, especially given the amount of pressure it adds.
Ehh... our bridge has an espresso machine, and the radar makes a great foot rest, so like I'm not so sure.
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Very true. Don't sweat the time, you have plenty of it. Slow is smooth and smooth is fast. If you get stuck, don't try and think back to a cram session but think back to your education. You may be surprised how much you actually learned in class. I went back to a 3/C class to help me answer a question on my C/E exam 12+ years after graduation.
Could not agree more. I had to retake every section after doing it in the gym and passed them all doing them at the NY REC without a lot more studying. When I upgraded I took as many tests as they have all week in one day. I did 2A/E, C/E Ltd and DDE AHP in three days. Granted I didn't pass them all but between all three licenses I only had to retake three sections. When I went back for the retake a few weeks later I passed all three no sweat before coffee time.
I kind of agree. It was definitely a little anti climatic. I didn't ring it with the mass crowd but I definitely remember that "what now" moment. It is a cool culture and tradition but it should definitely NOT be something to stress over. I liked it better when it was more ad hoc and less formal.
Don't forget the cool sunglasses Mav. Just like at KP, the deckie barely works.
beyond
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I didn't want to say "anti climatic" and rain on 2019s parade, but it totally was. I think I was more hyped watching it as a plebe than when I did it myself. It quickly turned into an "Oh ****, better get packed and try and find a job or something?"
Passing license is a big deal and it's hard, good luck 19', that thing they say about great place to from is 100% truth.
I was disappointed to see the bell ringing went from something spontaneous to a formal event held in khakis. It was always a great moment when you were sitting at your desk and heard the bell ringing in the distance and knew one more person had passed. I also vividly remember running down there from Fulton Hall after scores were posted to ring that thing as hard as I could.
You pack your stuff and go across the sound to SUNY Maritime to live out your days in shame. Actually the pass rate is pretty high. People who fail retake sections until they pass. Ultimately you must pass.
I think I had that moment already sometime sitting in useless deckie classes.
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Depending on the number of sections one fails. Don't know if there still is, but there used to be a retake day where the USCG came back to school and a bunch of people retook only the sections that they failed. If you fail enough you had to go to the REC in NY and retake all of the sections.
I knew of one person who did multiple evolutions of retakes and didn't finally pass until well after graduation. After a certain number I believe you have to go back to sea for X number of days and then start all over. I know someone from another academy that had to do this.
Good question though ... I presume the academy just holds your diploma until you pass license no matter how long that is. What about the Navy? Do they hold your commission until you pass since the license is part of the requirement for being an SSO.
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I can remember the emotions of the moment I found out I passed way better than any emotions of ringing the bell. Passing license may seem like not a big deal for the first 3 and 3/4 years at KP but when you walk in to the gym that first time its a bit of a Holy Eff Batman moment and once you are done you realize that it is no small thing to get that little red book with your name and picture in it.
Fail up to 2 and retake. If you fail more than 2 you retake the whole exam. If you fail the second time you have to go to the Battery (USCG). Nobody said anything about going out to sea if you fail too much. Going out to sea would make you perform worse on these exams from the deck side at least I think. I'm 6 for 7 right now, last one tomorrow.
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46 CFR 11.217(a) …
… If an applicant fails three or more sections of the examination, a complete re-examination must be taken.
On the subsequent exam, if the applicant again fails three or more sections, at least 3 months must elapse before another complete examination is attempted, and a new examination fee is required.
If an applicant fails one or two sections of an examination, the applicant may be retested twice on these sections during the next 3 months.
If the applicant does not successfully complete these sections within the 3-month period, a complete re-examination must be taken at least 3 months from the date of the last retest, and a new examination fee is required.
The 3-month retest period may be extended by the Coast Guard if the applicant presents evidence documenting sea time that prevented the taking of a retest during the 3-month period.
The retest period may not be extended beyond 7 months from the initial examination.
All examinations and retests must be completed within 1 year of approval for examination.
… If an applicant fails three or more sections of the examination, a complete re-examination must be taken.
On the subsequent exam, if the applicant again fails three or more sections, at least 3 months must elapse before another complete examination is attempted, and a new examination fee is required.
If an applicant fails one or two sections of an examination, the applicant may be retested twice on these sections during the next 3 months.
If the applicant does not successfully complete these sections within the 3-month period, a complete re-examination must be taken at least 3 months from the date of the last retest, and a new examination fee is required.
The 3-month retest period may be extended by the Coast Guard if the applicant presents evidence documenting sea time that prevented the taking of a retest during the 3-month period.
The retest period may not be extended beyond 7 months from the initial examination.
All examinations and retests must be completed within 1 year of approval for examination.