The RYA SRC - Short Range Certificate (Marine Radio) exam costs £76, payable to the RYA, and pairs a written theory paper with a practical marine VHF radio assessment.
Candidates must be 16 or older on exam day, and the SRC course takes about 10 hours plus exam time. Check the official RYA SRC exam requirements and fee before you book.
Our comprehensive collection of free RYA SRC practice questions covers all exam domains and topics. Use these detailed study materials to build confidence and improve your test performance.
Numbers in brackets link to the official sources listed under Sources & last verified. Dates that have passed are removed automatically.
| Item | Detail | Source · Verified |
|---|---|---|
| Number of questions | Written theory question paper and practical VHF assessment[1] | Royal Yachting Association · Oct 31, 2026 |
| Exam fee | £76[1] | Royal Yachting Association · Oct 31, 2026 |
| Delivery | In the classroom at an RYA Recognised Training Centre[2] | Royal Yachting Association · Oct 31, 2026 |
| Eligibility | Age 16+ and completion of RYA SRC course or recognized prior radio certificate[1] | Royal Yachting Association · Oct 31, 2026 |
| Score release | Around 21 working days (within 5 working days with Fast-Track)[3] | Royal Yachting Association · Oct 31, 2026 |
| Registration deadline | Prior to taking the exam[1] | Royal Yachting Association · Oct 31, 2026 |
The RYA SRC - Short Range Certificate (Marine Radio) exam costs £76, payable to the RYA, and pairs a written theory paper with a practical marine VHF radio assessment.
Candidates must be 16 or older on exam day; see the official RYA SRC exam requirements and fee before you book.
Important: The RYA SRC examination requires thorough understanding of all core subject areas. Review the official UK exam guidelines and ensure you meet all eligibility requirements before scheduling your test date.
Interactive RYA SRC resources on PracticeTestGeeks, free to start:
According to Royal Yachting Association, “SRC exams include a written theory question paper and a practical assessment on the use of marine VHF radios.”[1]
Prepare for the RYA SRC - Short Range Certificate (Marine Radio) exam with our free practice test modules. Each quiz covers key topics to help you pass on your first try.
These are practice questions written for this site, not questions from the real exam. Each explanation shows why the right answer is right and why the others are wrong.
Question: On which frequency does a 406 MHz EPIRB primarily transmit its distress signal?
Answer: B. 406 MHz
Explanation:
The correct answer is 406 MHz. A 406 MHz EPIRB sends its distress signal on that frequency, which is monitored by the COSPAS-SARSAT satellite system, so the alert is detected quickly and the position can be located accurately.
156.8 MHz (Channel 16) is the VHF distress and calling channel for voice and DSC radios, not the beacon's main transmission. 2182 kHz is an older medium frequency radiotelephone distress frequency. 243 MHz is an older homing frequency, and it is not what the satellite system listens for on a modern beacon.
Rule to remember: the satellite beacon works on 406 MHz, while the handheld or fixed VHF set works on Channel 16. Keep the two systems separate in your head.
Question: What does the proword 'OVER' signify at the end of a VHF radio transmission?
Answer: B. The speaker has finished their message and is awaiting a reply
Explanation:
The correct answer is that the speaker has finished their message and is awaiting a reply. OVER hands the turn to the other station.
It does not mean the communication is finished. That is the job of a different proword, used when both sides have nothing more to say. Closing the exchange early would leave the other station unsure whether to answer.
It does not signal an emergency either. Distress traffic uses its own words and procedure, and OVER is routine in every ordinary exchange. It is also not a channel change, which is agreed in words before anyone switches.
Rule to remember: OVER means your turn to speak, and the end-of-conversation word means the exchange is closed. Do not mix them.
Question: Which VHF channel is designated as the UK Small Craft Safety channel, commonly used for communications with HM Coastguard by small vessels?
Answer: B. Channel 67
Explanation:
The correct answer is Channel 67. It is the UK Small Craft Safety working channel, used by HM Coastguard to talk with small craft after initial contact has been made on Channel 16.
Channel 16 is where that first contact happens, so it is the calling and distress channel rather than the working channel the question asks about. Channel 72 and Channel 14 are other channels with different uses, and neither is the Small Craft Safety channel.
Rule to remember: call on Channel 16, then move to the working channel the Coastguard directs. Learn Channel 67 as the small craft safety channel for UK waters, and practise the switch from Channel 16 in the VHF channel usage set.
Start with the official material from your training centre and the RYA pages on the SRC exam, so you know what the written paper and the practical assessment involve. Then use the practice sets to find weak spots.
Take the free RYA SRC practice test first as a cold check. Note which topics cost you marks, then work through the matching sets:
After each set, read the explanation for every question you missed, not only the ones you guessed. Say the distress call and the phonetic alphabet aloud, because the practical assessment tests speaking, not recognition. Finish with a second run of the free practice test and compare it with your first. Our questions are written by us and are not real exam questions, so treat them as practice for understanding.
Join thousands of candidates who have used our free practice tests to prepare for the RYA Short Range Certificate VHF Marine Radio. Start practising today and build the confidence you need to succeed. Practice with the free RYA SRC practice test on PracticeTestGeeks (7 questions with answer explanations).
Try these questions from our free RYA SRC practice tests. The correct answer and an explanation follow each question.
When should the self-test function of an EPIRB be carried out?
Answer: C. Periodically as specified by the manufacturer, typically monthly
Manufacturers typically recommend monthly self-tests using the built-in test mode, which does not transmit a live distress signal via satellite.
What colour light does a float-free EPIRB flash to indicate it is transmitting after deployment?
Answer: A. Red
An activated EPIRB flashes a red LED to indicate that the distress signal is being transmitted.
What is a 'float-free EPIRB' designed to do?
Answer: B. Automatically release from its mounting bracket and activate if the vessel sinks, transmitting a distress signal via satellite
A float-free EPIRB is mounted in a hydrostatic release unit that automatically releases the EPIRB if the vessel sinks below a certain depth (typically 1.5-4m). It then activates and transmits a distress signal via the COSPAS-SARSAT satellite system.
Under SOLAS, the battery of a float-free EPIRB must be replaced or recharged when:
Answer: B. The battery expiry date has passed or the unit has been activated for more than one hour
SOLAS requires the battery to be replaced or recharged by the marked expiry date or after cumulative activation exceeds one hour, whichever comes first.
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