BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND What is the minimum vessel length which must show two white masthead lights, one forward and one aft, when underway at night?
- A 100 meters
- B 50 meters
- C 20 meters
- D 7 meters
20,000+ real USCG exam questions
USCG Captains License Practice Tests
Are you studying for your Captains License or 100 Ton Masters License? Practice with the real question pool and walk into your exam knowing you will pass.
★★★★★ Trusted by mariners since 2008
Free questions every day · No credit card
Step into your exam with confidence by taking USCG Captains License practice tests online. A few practice sessions will quickly show you which sections you are weak on and need to spend more time studying. The real exam is not the place to find out what you do not know!
Over the last 10 years we have collected more than 20,000 questions released directly by the United States Coast Guard. These are the same questions you will encounter on your USCG licensing exam. If you are looking for a comprehensive 100 Ton Masters License practice test, you will especially appreciate the depth of this question bank.
Practicing with real questions gives you the most realistic simulation of what to expect. Getting comfortable with the style of questioning, learning to spot the trick questions, and identifying your weak areas are just some of the benefits of taking practice tests.
More Than Just Practice Tests
The USCGQ system offers much more than practice tests alone.
You can study questions together with their answers using “answer mode”, or switch to “normal mode” for a random quiz on your selected topic, where the correct answer is shown the instant you make your choice.
Registered members can generate a formal Captains License practice test where the answers are only revealed at the end: the best simulation of the actual exam. You can also print generated practice exams to study offline or take a paper test.
What Is on the Captains License Exam?
The USCG captains license exam is a multiple-choice test split into subject modules. Every question offers four possible answers, and the questions are drawn from the same published Coast Guard pools you can practice right here. The modules you sit depend on the license you are applying for, but for an OUPV (six-pack) or Master up to 100 tons they cover the areas below.
Pay special attention to Rules of the Road: most modules require a score of 70 percent to pass, but the Rules of the Road module requires 90 percent. On a typical 30-question rules module that means you can only miss three questions.
Rules of the Road Practice Test
Steering and sailing rules, lights and shapes, sound signals, inland and international. Requires 90 percent to pass.
1,025 questions · Start an instant quiz →
Deck General Practice Test
Seamanship, marlinespike, anchoring, mooring, weather, ship handling, and vessel operations.
5,076 questions · Start an instant quiz →
Navigation General Practice Test
Charts, aids to navigation, the compass, tides and currents, and navigation publications.
2,138 questions · Start an instant quiz →
Deck Safety Practice Test
Firefighting, lifesaving equipment, emergency procedures, first aid, and pollution prevention.
2,841 questions · Start an instant quiz →
Navigation Problems Practice Test
Chart plotting: courses, distances, set and drift, and time, speed, and distance problems.
1,708 questions · Start an instant quiz →
Click any module to start an instant practice quiz and test your knowledge.
OUPV Six-Pack vs. 100 Ton Masters License
The two most common entry-level captains licenses are the OUPV (Operator of Uninspected Passenger Vessels, better known as the six-pack license) and the Master up to 100 gross tons. An OUPV license lets you carry up to six paying passengers on an uninspected vessel, which is why it earned the six-pack nickname. A 100 Ton Masters License lets you operate inspected vessels certified to carry more passengers, such as charter boats, dive boats, and small ferries.
Both exams draw from the same USCG question pools you can study on this site. The Master exam adds more questions and digs deeper into subjects like ship handling and stability, so if you are preparing for a 100 ton captains license practice test, work through the Deck General and Navigation General modules until you consistently score above 80 percent. Studying for the six-pack specifically? Our dedicated OUPV practice test page walks through that exam in detail.
Sample Captains License Exam Questions
These are real questions from the U.S. Coast Guard question pool, exactly as they appear in the bank. Click through to any question to answer it and see whether you got it right.
BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND Which vessel would have no white lights visible when meeting her head-on?
- A A vessel mineclearing
- B A vessel trawling
- C A vessel not under command
- D A vessel restricted in her ability to maneuver
BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND For identification purposes at night, U.S. Navy submarines on the surface may display an intermittent flashing light of which color?
- A Red
- B Blue
- C White
- D Amber (yellow)
How to Study for the Captains License Test
- Start with Rules of the Road. It has the highest passing requirement and the most trick questions. Drill it daily until you consistently score above 90 percent.
- Take module quizzes to find weak spots. Answer questions in each module and note the topics you keep missing. Your missed questions are tracked automatically when you create a free account, so you can review exactly what to restudy.
- Learn the navigation math cold. The Navigation Problems module is pure plotting: time, speed, and distance, set and drift, and compass error. Practice until the formulas are automatic.
- Finish with full exam simulations. Generate timed practice exams where answers are revealed only at the end, exactly like the real test. When you pass several in a row comfortably above the required score, you are ready.
Want a complete week-by-week plan? Read our full captains license study guide.
Captains License Practice Test FAQ
Q How many questions are on the captains license exam?
It depends on the license. An OUPV six-pack exam typically includes a Rules of the Road module of around 30 questions plus Deck General, Navigation General, and chart plotting modules. A Master 100 ton exam covers the same subjects with additional questions. All questions are multiple choice with four answer options.
Q What score do I need to pass the USCG captains license exam?
You need 90 percent on the Rules of the Road module and 70 percent on most other modules. The 90 percent rules requirement is what catches most candidates, so make it the center of your study plan.
Q Are these the actual USCG exam questions?
Yes. The questions in this bank were released by the United States Coast Guard, and the exam draws from the same published pools. Practicing here means studying the real material, not lookalike questions.
Q How hard is the captains license test?
Plenty of lifelong boaters fail on their first attempt because the exam tests precise regulatory details and uses tricky wording. The candidates who pass comfortably are the ones who practiced with the real question pool until the phrasing felt familiar.
Q Can I take a captains license practice test for free?
Yes. You can answer free practice questions on this site every day without an account, and a free account raises your daily limit and tracks the questions you miss.
Ready to Pass Your Captains License Exam?
Sign up free to generate formal practice tests, track your progress, and study 20,000+ real USCG exam questions.