Your MAR Certificate Questions Answered: Get MAR FAQ

Got Questions About MAR or Get MAR? We've Got Answers!

Figuring out MAR (Mandatory Additional Requirements) and how to get the certificates you need can definitely raise some questions. We put together this FAQ to clear up the most common stuff about MAR itself and how to use the Get MAR tool without headaches. If you don't find your answer here, just give us a shout via our Contact Page – we're happy to help!

Section 1: Getting the Hang of MAR

Okay, so what is MAR, really?

MAR stands for Mandatory Additional Requirements. Basically, it's a system universities like MAKAUT use to make sure you're doing stuff outside of just going to classes. Think of it as required activities that help you build practical skills, learn stuff beyond books, and maybe even do some good for the community. You have to collect a certain number of MAR points from these activities to graduate – it's not optional!

But why do we have to do it?

Good question! Universities want you to be more than just book-smart. MAR activities are designed to give you real-world experience. They help you develop skills like teamwork, leadership, and communication that employers look for, boost your personal growth, and give you a chance to get involved in your community.

How many MAR points do I actually need?

It usually depends on how long your course is:

3-Year Course: Generally, you need 75 points total.
4-Year Course: Typically, it's 100 points total.
5-Year Course: Usually around 125 points total.

Plus, you normally have to earn a minimum amount each year (often about 25 points) so you don't leave it all to the last minute. Super important: Always double-check the official rules from your university and department! These numbers can sometimes change, so make sure you have the latest info.

Where can I find the official list of MAR points and activities?

Your best bet is always your university's official website or student portal. That's where you'll find the most up-to-date MAR rules, including exactly which activities count and how many points they're worth. We've linked to a commonly used MAR table here as a handy resource, but please, confirm it's the right one for your batch and specific college before relying on it.

Section 2: All About the Get MAR Tool

So, what's this Get MAR tool?

Get MAR is a free online helper we built. Its job is to make it super easy for students like you to quickly create nice-looking, standard certificates for common MAR activities – things like Blood Donation, Tree Planting, Debates, Yoga Camps, and District Sports. Plus, they have QR codes for easy verification!

Is it actually free?

Yep! Get MAR is 100% free for students to use.

Why do I have to sign in with my Google account?

We use Google Sign-In to make things work smoothly and securely:

It's Secure: Google provides a safe way to confirm it's really you.
Makes it Personal: It lets us grab your name (from your Google profile) automatically so it appears correctly on the certificate – no typos!
Keeps Your Certs Safe: Logging in links the certificates you create to your account. This means you can find them again later on the "My Certificates" page right here on Get MAR.
Keeps Things Fair: It helps us manage how many certificates are being made and spot if someone's trying to misuse the tool.

Don't worry, we only need basic info like your Name, Email, and Google User ID to make these features work. You can read more about it in our Privacy Policy.

What activities can I make certificates for right now?

At the moment, Get MAR can help you create certificates for:

We're hoping to add more activity types later on, based on what students tell us they need!

Section 3: Your Certificates and How They're Verified

Are these Get MAR certificates considered "official"?

The certificates Get MAR makes follow a standard format that's usually accepted for MAR submissions. They include all the key details and that handy QR code for verification. However, here's the important part: whether or not your college or university accepts a specific certificate is ultimately up to them. If you have any doubts, it's always best to check with your Faculty Advisor or MAR coordinator to make sure the format is okay for your institution.

What's the QR code on the certificate actually do?

Think of the QR code as an anti-fake feature. When someone (like your MAR coordinator) scans it with their phone's QR reader app, it takes them to a special verification webpage (hosted at scan-q-r.netlify.app). This page shows the basic details from the certificate – like your name, the activity, date, and a unique ID. It's a quick way for them to see that the certificate details came from our system and haven't just been made up.

How does that verification thing work behind the scenes?

It's pretty simple, really. When you create a certificate, we save its main details securely, along with a unique ID number. The QR code on your certificate just contains a web link that includes this unique ID. When scanned, the link goes to the verification service, which looks up the ID and displays the saved details. This helps prove the certificate is legitimate and wasn't easily tampered with.

Oops, I made a mistake! Can I edit the certificate?

Sorry, no. Once a certificate is made, you can't edit it. This is to make sure they stay accurate and trustworthy. If you spotted a mistake after generating it, you'll need to create a new one with the correct info (just keep the daily limit in mind!).

Help! Where did my certificates go after I made them?

No worries! As long as you were logged in when you created them, you can find all your certificates listed on the "My Certificates" page on the Get MAR website. You can easily re-download them from there if you need to.

Section 4: Limits and Fixing Problems

Why can I only make a few certificates each day?

Good question! We have a daily limit for a few reasons:

Fair Play: It makes sure everyone gets a chance to use the tool without hitting slowdowns.
System Health: It prevents our servers from getting overloaded and helps stop people from abusing the system.
Keeping it Free: It helps us manage the costs of running the service.

The limit usually resets about 24 hours after you hit it.

I hit the daily limit, but I really need one more certificate!

Ah, that's a bummer! Unfortunately, you'll have to wait for the 24-hour reset. The screen that tells you you've hit the limit usually gives an idea of when it will reset. Best advice? Try to plan ahead when you need to generate certificates!

I'm seeing an error message when I try to make a certificate. What now?

First, take a breath! Then, quickly double-check everything you typed into the form. Look for typos, especially in dates or your mobile number. Make sure your name on your Google profile looks okay (usually Firstname Lastname, not too long, no weird characters). If it still gives an error, try refreshing the webpage or just wait a couple of minutes and try again. Sometimes, it might be a temporary glitch on our end (if it says something like "server error"). You can check our Blog for any news about technical issues, or reach out to us if the problem just won't go away.

My name is spelled wrong on the certificate! How do I fix this?

The name comes straight from your Google Account profile name *at the moment you generate the certificate*. So, to fix it, you need to:

Go into your Google Account settings and update your name there.
Sign out of Get MAR completely, then sign back in. This makes sure Get MAR sees your updated name.
Now, generate a new certificate. It should have the correct name.

Just make sure your Google name is in a standard "First Name Last Name" format and doesn't have anything unusual in it.

The download link isn't working, or the PDF file looks broken.

Okay, let's try a few things:

Refresh the page where you got the success message and click the download link again.
Check if your internet connection is stable.
Try using a different web browser (like Chrome, Firefox, Edge) or even a different device (like your phone instead of your laptop, or vice versa).
Go to the "My Certificates" page and try downloading it from there.
If none of that works, please get in touch with us. If you can tell us the Certificate ID (if you see one) and what's going wrong, that would be super helpful!

Still Have Questions?

Hopefully, this FAQ cleared things up! We built Get MAR to make at least one part of the MAR process a little bit easier for you. Go get those points, and good luck!