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On-board Assessor

Mintra 12 questions

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An on-board assessor confirms that a candidate can actually do the job, not just talk about it. This guide covers the assessment types, the process and the STCW basis.[1][2]

Key terms

Competence is "the ability to do a task adequately" — it is the combination of knowing the theoretical and the practical, described as KNOWLEDGE + SKILLS. The purpose of competence-based assessment is to collect sufficient evidence of workplace performance to demonstrate that individuals can perform or behave to the specified standards for a specified occupational role. A skills-based assessment normally tests the candidate's practical ability, demonstrated through action.

The assessment process

A typical on-board assessment runs through these steps:

  1. Prepare for the assessment — gather materials, conduct the necessary safety checks, and inform affected personnel.
  2. Conduct a pre-assessment briefing with the candidate — this is where the assessor informs the candidate about the documents involved in recording the outcome (for example the Training and Assessment Record Book).
  3. Observe the candidate's performance and record the results.
  4. Evaluate the process and determine the assessment outcome.
  5. Conduct an assessment debrief.

During Step 5, the assessor should start with the areas where the candidate's performance did not fulfil expectations. A performance improvement plan is a document clarifying to the candidate all the areas where improvement can be made.

The STCW basis

STCW Regulation I/14 stipulates that the Company has responsibility for ensuring that seafarers meet minimum standards of competency. STCW Regulation I/6 is about training and assessment and requires that all assessors are appropriately qualified and competent.

Key facts to remember

  • Competence = ability to do a task adequately = KNOWLEDGE + SKILLS; assessed to collect evidence of workplace performance.
  • Skills-based assessment tests practical ability through action.
  • Steps: prepare → pre-assessment briefing → observe/record → evaluate/determine outcome → debrief.
  • Step 2 covers the documents (e.g. Training and Assessment Record Book); Step 1 covers materials, safety checks and informing personnel.
  • Debrief starts with areas that did not meet expectations. Improvement plan clarifies where to improve.
  • STCW I/14 = Company's responsibility for competency; STCW I/6 = assessors qualified and competent.

Sources

  1. STCW Convention and Code — Regulation I/6 (training and assessment; assessors) and Regulation I/14 (company responsibilities).

Compiled from the sources above and cross-checked against the official documents. Published by the MaritimeTest editorial team.

First 5 of 12 questions — with answers

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  1. Question 1

    Which type of assessment will normally test the candidate's practical ability, which is demonstrated through action?
    • Skills-based assessment.
    • Knowledge-based assessment.

  2. Question 2

    In which step of the on-board assessment process should the assessor inform about the documents involved in the recording the outcome? (For example, the Training and Assessment Record Book).
    • Step 2 (Conduct a pre-assessment briefing with the candidate).
    • Step 1 (Prepare for the assessment).
    • Step 3 (Observe the candidate's performance and record the results).
    • Step 4 (Conduct an assessment debrief).

  3. Question 3

    During Step 5 of the assessment (Conduct an assessment debrief), the assessor should start with the areas where the candidate’s performance did not fulfil expectations.
    • True.
    • False.

  4. Question 4

    Which STCW Regulation stipulates that the Company has responsibility for ensuring that seafarers meet minimum standards of competency?
    • Regulation I/14.
    • Regulation I/6.
    • Regulation I/2.

  5. Question 5

    The purpose of competence-based assessment is to collect sufficient evidence of workplace performance to demonstrate that individuals can perform or behave to the specified standards for a specified occupational role.
    • True.
    • False.

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