Date: 2021-12-20Category: DGS CircularState: Union GovernmentCountry: India
Changes in the Question Pattern of written examination for Marine Engineering Officer (MEO) CL-IV written examinations (Superseded by DGS(EAC) Circular 02 of 2022
**Executive Summary**
This circular, issued by the Directorate General of Shipping (DGS) on December 20, 2021, announces changes to the question pattern for written examinations for Marine Engineering Officer (MEO) CL-IV. Effective March 1, 2022, there will be no fixed pattern, and the Directorate will impose a mandatory E-Learning course. The purpose is to better assess candidate competence and enhance preparation for the written examination.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Examination Pattern Changes:**
* Effective March 1, 2022, the written examination pattern for Operational Level Engineers (issuance of CoC under Regulation III/1 of STCW Convention 1978) will not be fixed.
* Questions can be descriptive or a combination of descriptive, multiple-choice, true/false, and matching formats.
* The examination will be offered in both remote and off-line modes.
* **Mandatory E-Learning Course:**
* A mandatory 180-hour E-Learning course has been imposed to prepare candidates for the written examination.
* Candidates applying for their Class IV Eligibility Assessment for the first time from March 2022 must complete the E-Learning course before applying.
* Candidates whose eligibility was assessed previously are exempt from the mandatory E-Learning course, but their question paper will follow the new pattern.
* The E-Learning course completion certificate will be digitally forwarded to the candidate's seafarer profile.
* The E-Learning course is for exam preparation and not to fulfil mandatory education requirements.
* **Assessment:**
* The passing rate in the written examination will assess the education and training provided by pre-sea MTIs and Organizations conducting CIP rating assignment inspections.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Candidates for MEO CL-IV written examinations**
* **Impact:** Changes in the question pattern and the introduction of mandatory E-Learning before taking the test.
* **Action Required:** From March 2022, candidates applying for Class IV eligibility assessment must complete the 180-hour E-Learning course before applying. All candidates must prepare for a new format that includes various question types (descriptive, multiple choice, true/false, etc).
**Stakeholder: Pre-Sea Maritime Training Institutes (MTIs) and Organizations conducting CIP rating assignment inspections**
* **Impact:** Performance will be assessed based on the passing rate of their trainees in the new written examination format.
* **Action Required:** Need to align their training programs with the revised examination pattern and the content of the E-Learning course to improve candidate performance.
**Stakeholder: Directorate of Shipping (DGS)**
* **Impact:** Responsible for implementing the new examination pattern, administering the E-Learning course, and monitoring its effectiveness.
* **Action Required:** Issue separate instructions for E-Learning enrollment and examination application. Upload document to DGS website and translate it to Hindi.
Key Entities Referenced
Directorate General of Shipping (DGS): The issuing authority and regulator of maritime affairs in India, responsible for the changes in the examination pattern.
Marine Engineering Officer (MEO) CL-IV: The specific certification level affected by the changes to the written examination pattern outlined in the circular.
IMO Model Course 7.04 (Officer in Charge of an Engineering Watch): A standard for pre-sea training that the examination assesses.
STCW Convention 1978: International standards for seafarer competency, impacted by the changed examination pattern.
Mercantile Marine Department: Location where examinations will be offered in-person.
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DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF SHIPPING' MUMBAI
EAC Branch (Engineering) Circular No. 28 of 2021
File No.13-11/5/2021-ENGG - DGS Datez20.12.202l
Subject : Changes in the Question Pattern of written examination for
Marine Engineering Officer (MEO) CL-IV written
examinations.
1. Whereas the Competence Examination for Officer ln-Charge of Engineering Watch at
present constitute written and oral examinations. The written examinations are multiple-
choice questions being conducted on-line at approved examination centers.
2. Whereas the Directorate has now developed a digitized system for conducting onJine
written examinations through Remote Proctoring for all Competence grades and the pilot
trial for it has been conducted.
3. Whereas the present on-line system of examination for Officer ln-Charge of Engineering
Watch present a constraint of only allowing the questions to be multiple choice types
limiting the ability to assess a candidate situational awareness, demonstration of work
procedures and the ability to formulate arguments supported with reasoning and
evidence among other aspects.
4. Whereas the feedback received from external and internal stake holders, suggest shifting
to a mode of written examination, which is not only objeqtive or multiple-choice type but
may be either only subjective or include a multitude of question types such as subjective,
multiple-choice, true and false, match the following etc. to assess various aspects of a
candidate competence.
5. Whereas the complete lMo Model course 7.04 (officer in charge of an Engineerin8
watch) is covered during pre-sea training, whether it is 4-Yedrs Marine EngineerinS or 1-
Year course for degree engineers etc.
6. Whereas the passing rate in this written Competence examination is an assessment of the
education and training provided in the pre-sea MTI and an assessment of the
Organization conducting in section of these Pre-sea MTI for assignment of CIP rating.
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whereas based on all the above the chief Examiner of Engineers has decided that with
effect from 1't March 2022 therc will be no fixed pattern for written Examination for
operational Level Engineers for issuance of Coc under Regulation lll/1 of srcw
convention 1978 as amended. The questions scan only be descriptive or can be a
combination of descriptive, multiple choice, true and false, match the following etc. This written
examination shall be offered on both remote mode through Directorate Remote Competence
Examination system and off-line mode at various Mercantile Marine Department, where the
candidate can appear in person.
8.
E-Learning Course for Class lV Written Examination:
8.1.
ln order to prepare Candidates for this written examination the Directorate has
decided to impose mandatory E- Learning course of 180 hrs. at no additional cost to
the candidate through Directorate E-Learning portal.
8.2.
With effect from March 2022, the Candidates who are applying for their Class tV
Eligibility Assessment for the first time shall be required to complete mandatory E-
Learning course prior applying.
8.3.
The candidates whose eligibility has been assessed in previous months shall be
exempted from mandatory completion of this E-Learning course; however, the
question papershall be in accordance with this new pattern and methodology.
8.4.
The E-Learning Course completion certificate shall be digital and forwarded
automatically to the candidate seafarer profile after satisfactory completion of these
classes.
8.5.
The purpose of this E-Leaming course is only to make a Candidate prepare for written
examination and not to fulfill any mandatory education requirements under STCW
Convention and therefore can be mmpleted any time prior or after mmpletion of mandatory
eligible sea-service for Class lV CoC examination.
8.6. Necessary instructions for enrolment in E-Learning Course, application for
examination etc. shall be issued separately.
9. lt may also be noted that the performance of pre-sea MTI and Organizations conducting
CIP rating assignment inspections for these pre-sea MTI shall be assessed through the
passing rate in these written examination.
Page 2 of 310. This issue with the approval of the Chief Examiner of Engineers.
(Vikrant Rai)
E&SS cum DDG (Tech.)
To,
1.
Sr. PS to DG(S)/Addt.DG(s)/cs/NA(t/C) for information.
2'
Principal officer, Mercantire Marine Department Mumbai/chennai/Korkata/Kandla/
Kochi.
3.
Training & e-Governance Branch, DGS for necessary action.
4.
|NSA/FOSMA/MASSA/ICCSA
5.
Computer Cell, DGS for uploading on DGS Website.
6.
Hindi Cell for Hindi translation_
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