Mar 18 / Tom Feakins

How to Mentally Prepare for Your MCA Oral Exam

Sitting for the MCA oral exam is an intense experience.

For my Officer of the Watch (OOW) oral exam, I was filled with adrenaline and nerves—it’s completely natural.

Despite having worked as a bouncer in a previous career, dealing with conflict on a nightly basis, nothing had quite prepared me for the pressure of sitting in front of an examiner.

I remember battling imposter syndrome, convinced that I didn’t know enough, that I hadn’t studied enough, and that every word out of my mouth was failing to justify the months of hard work I had put in.

Fast forward eight years to my Master’s oral exam. I still felt anxious, but my mindset had completely changed. I was relaxed, focused, and ready. When the examiner was changed at the last minute, I simply smiled and carried on. I knew that was beyond my control, so I didn’t waste energy worrying about it. Instead, I concentrated on passing the exam.

Between those two exams, I had gained experience sailing worldwide on a variety of ships, developing my competence as an OOW and later as a Chief Officer. I had also been lucky to work under experienced mentors who guided me along the way. But just as important as that real-world experience was the mental preparation I had learned.

Being psychologically ready for an exam is just as vital as knowing the content itself.

Psychological Preparation: Controlling Your Mindset

When preparing for an MCA oral exam, it’s easy to become overwhelmed. The key is controlling your emotions so that nerves don’t cloud your judgment.

I relied on three key principles to help me prepare:

1. Avoid Mental Burnout Before the Exam

Some people swear by last-minute cramming, studying into the early hours and hoping their brain will hold onto every last bit of information.

But, realistically, this leads to fatigue, making it much easier for emotions to take over instead of applying a logical, structured approach to answering questions.

A well-rested mind will always perform better under pressure. Instead of squeezing in last-minute study sessions at 3 AM, aim for a good night’s sleep so you wake up refreshed and ready to tackle the challenge.

2. Step Away from the Study Materials the Night Before

It might feel counterintuitive, but stepping away from your textbooks and flashcards the evening before the exam can actually improve your performance.

Giving your brain space to process information allows it to consolidate what you’ve already learned.

A short walk, a workout, or even a relaxed conversation with someone outside the maritime industry can be beneficial.

The goal is to give yourself a mental reset so that you walk into the exam room clear-headed and confident.

3. Focus Only on What You Can Control

One of the biggest stressors in exam preparation is worrying about things beyond your control.

A mindset based on stoicism helps eliminate unnecessary stress by shifting your focus only to things within your power.

Things you can control:
  • Practising under pressure by having friends or colleagues test you.
  • Ensuring you have a solid knowledge base.
  • Dressing appropriately for the exam.
  • Planning your journey so you arrive on time.
  • Managing your caffeine intake so you stay sharp without overloading on adrenaline.


Things you can’t control (and shouldn’t waste energy worrying about):
  • How the previous candidate performed.
  • What other students got right or wrong in their exam.
  • What the examiner is thinking.
  • Questions you don’t know—just do your best and move on.

Rehearsing Under Pressure

A useful way to reduce anxiety is to simulate the exam environment as much as possible.

Mock oral exams, where someone puts you under pressure with random questions, are one of the best ways to prepare. These can be conducted with you study group of friends.

This not only tests your knowledge but also trains your brain to stay calm and respond logically when faced with unexpected scenarios.

This type of rehearsal can be done in a peer group, where friends take turns playing the examiner and the candidate.

This benefits both parties—the person answering gets practice under pressure, while the person acting as the examiner also gains knowledge by listening to responses and identifying areas for improvement.

Constructive feedback should always be positive and solution-focused, helping to refine answers rather than increasing stress.

Understanding Your Mind: The Chimp Paradox

Anxiety before an exam is normal, but when it becomes overwhelming, it can cloud your ability to think clearly.

The Chimp Paradox by Dr. Steve Peters is a great resource that helped me understand how to control my emotions.

The book explains how the “chimp” part of your brain reacts emotionally, while the logical part of your brain processes facts and reasoning.

Learning to override emotional responses with logical thinking is a valuable skill for exam success.

Final Thoughts

Anxiety before an exam is inevitable, but by applying these strategies, you can train your mind to remain clear and focused.

The MCA oral exam preparation process is about more than just knowing the rules and regulations—it’s about being able to think and respond confidently under pressure.

If you take one thing away from this, let it be this: control what you can, prepare your mindset, and trust in the hard work you’ve already done.

By combining knowledge with psychological preparation, you will give yourself the best possible chance of success.