Here's the excerpt from the NMC Guidance
Document that Peg sent, in case you had any questions.
• Assessments of competence (final examinations) may be sent at the rate of four
(4) words per minute or higher. Use of “long
spaces” between letters is permissible.
• Final Assessment should consist
of two sections; a Random Letter Group section, and an International Code Of Signals (Pub. 102) Code
Group section.
The Random
Letter Group section may consist of the signal identity “DE” followed
by a four (4) letter identity signal or name,
sent once. This is followed by five (5) random, three letter groups, each of which is transmitted twice. The ending signal (AR) indicates the end of the five (5) three letter groups. Five points are given for each correct letter
in a group for a possible maximum total of
75 points (15 letters x 5 points each = 75 points). The International Code Of Signals (Pub. 102) Code Group consists of the
signal identity “DE” followed by a four (4) letter identity signal or name, sent once. “YU” is
then sent (once) indicating that a Code Group
follows, after which five (5) code groups are sent, each of which are transmitted twice. The ending signal (AR) indicates the end of the five (5) letter groups. Each correctly decoded group is worth five points for a total
of 25 points (5 code groups decoded correctly
x 5 points each = 25 points). The practice
of recording all random letter groups and all code groups, will continue to be entered on the applicant’s answer sheet in the exact order as transmitted. As in
the past, any group where the letters are
misarranged will cause that group to be found in error. Minimum acceptable score for the entire exam is 70%.
• Students may copy the single
or multiple letter groups by dot and dash character on scrap paper during transmission. After transmission is completed, the student should be allowed up to one (1) hour to decipher the five code groups using Pub. 102, and
transfer the results onto the answer sheet.
• Signals may be sent either by
a tape recorder/light configuration, or computer software. Schools wishing to use computer software should submit a copy of the software to the National Maritime Center for evaluation.
• Alternative methods of demonstrating
competency in visual communications may be submitted to the National Maritime Center for evaluation.
