Comparison
Choosing a Yachtmaster revision app
Most revision tools fall into three groups: single certificate quiz sites, printed question books, and full platforms. They are priced differently because they do different jobs. Here is an honest way to compare them, and where Amidships sits.
| Feature | Amidships | Single certificate quiz sites | Question books |
|---|---|---|---|
| Question bank size | 1527+ across all levels | One level only | Fixed, per book |
| Certificate levels covered | Day Skipper to Master 200gt, plus STCW, SRC, AEC | One certificate per site | One per book |
| Explanation on every answer | |||
| Timed mock exams with pass verdict | Varies | ||
| Readiness score by topic | |||
| Spaced repetition memory drills | Varies | ||
| Spoken voice oral examiner | |||
| Answer options reshuffled per attempt | Varies | ||
| Progress synced across devices | Varies | ||
| Installs as an app on phone | Varies | ||
| Training school and group accounts | |||
| Free COLREGs reference, no account | All 41 rules | Varies |
What to actually check before you pay
- Does it explain every answer, or only mark it? Marking without explanation teaches nothing.
- Do the answer options move between attempts? If not, you will learn positions, not content.
- Can you sit a timed paper and get a pass verdict, or is it only untimed practice?
- Does it measure coverage as well as accuracy? A 95 percent score on 20 questions is not readiness.
- Does it follow you up the pathway, or will you be buying a new tool for the next certificate?
- Can you practise answering out loud, which is how an oral actually happens?
On price
A one-off unlock for a single certificate is cheap because it is a single question set. A platform costs more because it carries the whole pathway, tracks readiness across levels, generates fresh mock papers and runs a spoken oral examiner. If you only ever sit one theory exam and want a question set, buy the cheap thing. If you are working up a career pathway, the per certificate cost of one account is lower and your progress does not reset each time.
On independence
Amidships is an independent study tool. It does not issue certificates or qualifications, and it is not affiliated with any certifying body. Content is built from publicly available syllabuses and the STCW Convention. Always verify against current official publications before examination. Be wary of any revision product that implies otherwise.
Practise this properly
Reading is not revision. Answer questions, get them wrong, read the explanation and meet them again. Amidships tracks readiness topic by topic so you know where you stand.