Class 12th student, wants to to make career

Hey everyone, ⚓

I am currently in the 12th standard (PCM stream in India) and my ultimate goal is to build a successful career in the Merchant Navy as a Deck Officer. I want to take the DNS route, and my focus is on cracking a solid company sponsorship and doing well in the IMU-CET.

Since I want to set myself up for a great career on board, I wanted to seek some advice from seniors and serving officers here.

I have a few questions regarding my preparation strategy:

Class 12th vs. Merchant Navy Prep: Right now, should my focus strictly be on my Class 12th board exams, or should I be actively studying separate material for the IMU-CET and sponsorship tests simultaneously?

Target Percentage for Top Sponsors: To stand out and get sponsored by top-tier companies (like Anglo-Eastern, Maersk, Synergy, Great Eastern, Samundra, etc.), what is a safe PCM percentage I should aim for in my boards? I know the minimum eligibility is lower, but what do top companies actually look for?

Key Subjects & Study Hours: Which subjects/topics within PCM require the deepest focus for the sponsorship exams? Also, roughly how many hours a day should I dedicate to balancing boards with entrance prep.

Interview & Personality Prep: How heavily do companies weigh the interview and the written exam? How early should I start preparing for the interview, and what do they test besides basic PCM concepts (e.g., psychometric tests, English communication, general awareness)?