USCG Captain's License Exam Prep
Pass your Coast Guard exam with 2,304 real practice questions — and an AI tutor that explains every miss.
2,304 USCG-exam questions across 12maritime subjects, every one with a written explanation. Built for the OUPV / Six-Pack, 100 & 200-Ton Master, and MMC. Study free, no credit card — see for yourself below.
3 subjects free forever · 15free questions a day · Sign in with Apple when you're ready to track progress.
Every question is multiple-choice with four options and a written explanation. No fabricated counts: these figures come straight from the live question bank.
See exactly what you're getting
Three real Rules of the Road questions from the bank — answer marked, explanation shown. This is the quality of all 2,304.
1. 72 COLREGS apply to vessels upon which waters?
- A.All vessels on the high seas and connected navigable waters✓
- B.Only vessels on the high seas beyond 12 nautical miles
- C.Only vessels in international waters beyond 3 nautical miles
- D.All vessels on the high seas and in U.S. inland waters
Why: Rule 1(a) states the rules apply on the high seas and in all waters connected therewith navigable by seagoing vessels. This broad application covers coastal, port, and offshore waters unless a nation has established special inland rules for specific waters.
2. Rule 34(b) allows the maneuvering signals to be supplemented by light signals. What does one flash of the light signal mean?
- A.I am altering my course to port
- B.My engines are going astern
- C.I am altering my course to starboard✓
- D.I am in doubt of your intentions
Why: Rule 34(b) mirrors the whistle signals: one flash = altering to starboard, two flashes = altering to port, three flashes = astern propulsion. Each flash lasts about one second with a one-second interval; the sequence repeats at intervals of not less than 10 seconds.
3. What is the key distinction between a vessel 'not under command' (NUC) and a vessel 'restricted in her ability to maneuver' (RAM)?
- A.NUC arises from exceptional circumstances beyond the crew's control; RAM arises from the nature of the work the vessel is engaged in✓
- B.NUC applies only to power-driven vessels; RAM applies to all vessel types including sailing vessels
- C.NUC vessels display two black balls; RAM vessels display a ball-diamond-ball shape
- D.NUC means the vessel cannot steer at all; RAM means the vessel can steer but not stop
Why: The key distinction is that NUC results from an exceptional circumstance (e.g., equipment failure, heavy weather casualty) that prevents compliance with the rules, while RAM is a deliberate operational status arising from the nature of the vessel's work (e.g., dredging, cable laying).
Every track, covered
Pick your credential and study only the 12subjects it's tested on.
OUPV / 6-Pack
1,027 q · 5 subjectsThe OUPV (Operator of Uninspected Passenger Vessels), better known as the “Six-Pack,” lets you carry up to six paying passengers. It's the most common entry-level USCG captain's license.
100-Ton Master
1,448 q · 7 subjectsThe 100-Ton Master credential lets you operate inspected vessels up to 100 gross register tons — charter boats, small tour vessels, and ferries.
200-Ton Master
1,628 q · 8 subjectsThe 200-Ton Master credential covers larger inspected vessels and adds celestial navigation and radar to the exam.
MMC Upgrade
2,159 q · 11 subjectsThe Merchant Mariner Credential (MMC) covers the full deck-officer syllabus, including engineering, tankerman, and towing endorsements.
The full 12-subject bank: Rules of the Road (322) · Navigation General (213) · Deck General (267) · Chart Plotting (154) · Meteorology (156) · Safety (191) · Celestial Navigation (158) · Radar (167) · Engineering (243) · Tankerman (135) · Towing (153) · OUPV / Master (145).
Endorsement subjects (Celestial, Radar, Tankerman, Towing) are the deeper, specialist modules and currently have fewer questions than the core deck subjects — we keep adding to them.
What each credential covers
The same bank, scoped to your exam. Question counts are the real totals for the subjects each track is tested on.
OUPV / 6-Pack
1,027 questionsThe OUPV (Operator of Uninspected Passenger Vessels), better known as the Six-Pack, lets you carry up to six paying passengers. The most common entry-level USCG captain's license — covers Rules of the Road, Navigation General, Safety, Meteorology, and the core OUPV/Master pool.
100-Ton Master
1,448 questionsThe 100-Ton Master credential lets you operate inspected vessels up to 100 gross register tons. Adds Deck General and Chart Plotting on top of the OUPV syllabus.
200-Ton Master
1,628 questionsThe 200-Ton Master credential covers larger inspected vessels and adds Celestial Navigation and Radar Observer to the exam.
MMC Upgrade
2,159 questionsThe Merchant Mariner Credential covers the full deck-officer syllabus, including Engineering, Tankerman, and Towing endorsements — essentially the whole question bank.
Endorsement subjects (Celestial, Radar, Tankerman, Towing) are the deeper specialist modules and are still lighter than the core deck subjects — we keep adding to them.
More than a question bank
A full study system — the AI tutor, adaptive engine, and spaced repetition are live today, on web and iOS.
Ask Binnacle — your 24/7 instructor
Stuck on a rule? Ask in plain English and get a grounded answer. Powered by Claude, tuned for the USCG syllabus.
AI mistake tutor
Miss a question and the tutor explains exactly why your answer was wrong and the right one is right — citing the rule behind it.
Custom mnemonics
Generate a memory aid for the rules you keep missing, built around the exact item you're trying to remember.
Identify by photo
Snap a real light configuration, day shape, or chart symbol and the AI tells you what you're looking at.
License coach
Not sure whether you need an OUPV, 100-Ton Master, or MMC? A 60-second intake points you to the right credential and a plan.
Credential guide
Walks you through sea-time, TWIC, medical, and the NMC application for your target license. (Always verify final requirements with the NMC.)
Timed exam simulator
60-question runs in the real USCG format — 70% to pass most modules, 90% on Rules of the Road. See your pass/fail history.
Adaptive difficulty
Questions are matched to your skill level and get harder as you improve, instead of repeating what you already know.
Weak-area drills
The engine watches your attempts and resurfaces the categories you're most likely to fail, so you study where it counts.
Spaced repetition review
Missed questions come back on a schedule built to resurface them right before you'd forget — so it sticks for exam day.
Streaks, XP & daily goals
A daily goal, streaks, streak-freezes, and achievement badges to keep you coming back until the test date.
Readiness score & progress
A single readiness percentage rolls up every attempt so you know — before you book — whether you're ready.
18 tools, working together
Every one is live today on web and iOS. Grouped into five systems that take you from your first diagnostic to walking into the exam already passing.
Study engine
Four ways to drill the bank, plus a full timed exam built to the real USCG structure.
Work any category at your own pace with every answer explained — no clock, no penalty, just reps.
A full timed mock exam built to the real USCG structure — 70% to pass, 90% on Rules of the Road.
A short up-front assessment that pinpoints your weak categories before you waste study time.
Pulls your next questions from your own miss history, so you drill exactly what you keep getting wrong.
A bite-sized daily question set that keeps your streak alive and your knowledge warm.
AI tutor suite
Live Claude-powered help that explains your specific miss — not a static answer key.
A grounded multi-turn chat tutor that answers maritime questions in plain language, on demand.
Stuck on a question? Get an instant AI breakdown of why the right answer is right and yours wasn't.
Turns any rule, light, or signal into a memory hook you'll actually recall on exam day.
Describe what you see on the water and the AI names the vessel, light configuration, or day shape.
Reference library
Look things up fast and lock them in with spaced repetition.
The Navigation Rules at your fingertips for fast lookup while you study give-way and stand-on duties.
Searchable definitions for the terms that trip up candidates, from set and drift to ground tackle.
Working calculators for the math behind chart plotting — set, drift, course to steer, and more.
An SRS deck that resurfaces cards right before you'd forget them, so review time compounds.
Tracking & planning
Map your goal to the right license and keep the paperwork from sneaking up on you.
Gamification
Momentum that survives a busy week — streaks, XP, and honest self-assessment.
Earn XP, build a streak, and hit a daily goal you set — momentum that survives a busy week.
See where your certainty outruns your accuracy, so you stop trusting answers you haven't earned.
Compete on the leaderboard or study in a cohort — accountability that pushes you to the test date.
Free tier samples 3 OUPV / Six-Pack subjects — Rules of the Road, Safety, and Meteorology (669 questions) — plus one full timed exam. Pro unlocks the rest of the Six-Pack exam (Navigation General and the OUPV/Master pool), all 12 categories and the full 2,304-question bank, unlimited timed exams, and weak-area tracking.
Every question is explained
This is the written explanation that ships with all 2,304 questions. When you miss one, the AI tutor goes further — breaking down why your specific answer was wrong, grounded in the rule behind it.
Two sailing vessels are approaching one another so as to involve risk of collision. Vessel A has the wind on her port side. Vessel B has the wind on her starboard side. Which vessel is the give-way vessel?
- A.Vessel A, because she has the wind on the port side✓
- B.Vessel B, because she has the wind on the starboard side
- C.The vessel that is more close-hauled
- D.The vessel to leeward
Why: Rule 12(a)(i) states that when each sailing vessel has the wind on a different side, the vessel with the wind on the port side shall keep out of the way. Vessel A has the wind on port; she gives way. The close-hauled state and leeward position are irrelevant to this specific sub-rule.
How it works
Tell us your target license
Take the 60-second coach or pick your credential — OUPV, 100/200-Ton Master, or MMC. We map you to the exact subjects you'll be tested on.
Take a 2-minute diagnostic
A short diagnostic finds your strong and weak subjects and gives you a readiness score to start from.
Study where it counts
Drill your weak areas, lean on the AI tutor when you're stuck, and let spaced repetition resurface what you're about to forget.
Sit timed exams until you pass
Run full USCG-format timed exams, watch your readiness climb, and walk into the real test having already passed dozens of them.
Why trust a new app with your exam?
Binnacle School is new, so we won't show you fake five-star reviews. Here's the real case instead — then try it free and judge the quality yourself.
2,304 questions, every one explained
Not a bare answer key — each question ships with a written explanation of why the right answer is right.
Built to the real NMC format
Timed exams mirror the actual USCG structure: 70% to pass most modules, 90% on Rules of the Road.
AI tutor grounded in exam material
The tutor explains and reinforces against maritime exam content — always confirm anything safety-critical against the Navigation Rules.
Try it before you trust it
Work 669+ questions free with no signup. We'd rather you test the quality than take our word for it.
Simple pricing
Start free. Upgrade only when you want the whole bank and every tool.
- ✓ 3 core subjects
- ✓ 15 questions a day
- ✓ Study mode + 1 timed exam
- ✓ Progress tracking
- ✓ All 12 subjects · all 2,304 questions
- ✓ Unlimited questions, no daily cap
- ✓ Every AI tool + adaptive mode
- ✓ Weak-area drills & full exams
- ✓ Everything in Pro Monthly
- ✓ Best price — about $2.50 a month
- ✓ Cancel anytime
Pro is an auto-renewable subscription. Cancel anytime — your access runs to the end of the billing period. Pro status syncs to the iOS app within minutes.
How Binnacle School compares
We're not the biggest bank or the cheapest option — some free sites and one-time apps win on those. Where we win is curation: an explanation on every question, a live AI tutor, and adaptive review, synced across web and iOS.
| Option | Type | Price | AI tutor | Per-Q explanations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Binnacle School | Web + iOS app | $9.99/mo · $29.99/yr | Yes | Yes |
| The Nautical School ExamTutor+ Instructor-written explanation on every question — genuinely matches us on that axis. iOS-only; no AI tutor, no adaptive/SRS. | iOS app | Free + one-time $24.99 unlock | No | Yes |
| Sea Trials — USCG License Exam The one real AI-tutor rival. A public App Store reviewer reports its AI explanations are “often wrong.” | iOS / web app | Free + subscriptions seen $29.99–$49.99/mo or $199.99–$299.99/yr | Yes | Partial |
| USCG Exam Prep Largest synced competitor. Per-question explanations not documented — so we don't claim it lacks them. The ~20,000 includes FCC + engine, not a like-for-like deck count. | iOS / web app | Free tier; web $25/3mo, $40/6mo; in-app $9.99 / $24.99 / $39.99 | No | Not stated |
| Mariners Learning System (OUPV course) A one-time, 12-month approved course, not a subscription drill app — listed for honest price context, not as apples-to-apples. Human expert support, but no AI tutor. | USCG-approved course | $695 one-time (OUPV); $895 (100-Ton Master) | No | Not stated |
| SeaSources.net The classic free option (since 1996). Huge raw NMC dump — quantity, not curation. Answers + diagrams only, no explanations, no AI, no adaptive engine. | Free web site | Free | No | No |
| USCGQ.com(price unverified) Shows the correct answer instantly but no written explanations. Price for a formal practice test not disclosed on the page. | Free web site | Not public | No | No |
| Official USCG / NMC sample exams The free baseline every candidate has. “Correct answer: C” with zero explanation, no interactivity, no tracking. We build the explanations, AI tutor, and adaptive review on top. | Free PDFs | Free | No | No |
- ›A live AI tutor on every missed question (Ask Binnacle + AI mistake tutor, powered by Claude) — only Sea Trials offers anything comparable, and a public reviewer reports its AI explanations are often wrong. Most competitors have none.
- ›A written explanation on every one of the 2,304 questions — matched only by The Nautical School ExamTutor+ (~1,300 Rules-focused questions).
- ›Adaptive / spaced-repetition review that re-surfaces your weak areas — none of the verified competitors advertise an adaptive engine.
- ›A modern web + iOS experience with progress synced across both — ExamTutor+ is iOS-only; the free sites are web/PDF only.
- ›12 maritime subjects in one curated bank, spanning OUPV/Six-Pack, 100 & 200-Ton Master, and MMC.
- ›Price: a $9.99/mo or $29.99/yr subscription — a fraction of the $695+ one-time approved courses like Mariners Learning System.
Competitor facts and prices link to each source and were observed in June 2026; pricing and features change — verify on the provider's site. “Not stated” means a provider does not document the feature, not that it's absent. We don't claim the most questions or the lowest price — larger free banks (SeaSources, USCGQ) and one-time apps exist; our edge is curation, explanations, an AI tutor, and adaptive review.
On the way
Built but not finished — we'd rather tell you straight than dress up a stub as shipped.
Oral Exam — Voice Grading
The examiner flow is built and the questions are real, but the voice layer (spoken questions plus answer transcription) isn't wired yet — today it runs as a text walkthrough, with hands-free voice connecting later.
Flashcard Deck Depth
The spaced-repetition engine is live and scheduling real reviews, but the bundled deck content is still being expanded category by category to match the full question bank.
Study on web, finish on your phone
Sign in once with Apple and your progress, streak, and weak-area data sync between this site and the Binnacle School iOS app. Pick up exactly where you left off.
Frequently asked questions
Is Binnacle School an official USCG product?+
No. Binnacle School is independent exam-prep, not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Coast Guard or the National Maritime Center. Our questions are written to mirror the structure and subject matter of the real USCG deck exams, but the official exam is administered by the Coast Guard.
How many practice questions are there?+
2,304 questions across 12 categories, each with a written explanation. Coverage scales by credential: 1,027 for the OUPV / Six-Pack, 1,448 for the 100-Ton Master, 1,628 for the 200-Ton Master, and the full bank for MMC upgrades.
Is there a free tier?+
Yes. Three OUPV / Six-Pack subjects — Rules of the Road, Safety, and Meteorology — are free, with explanations included, plus one full timed exam. Pro unlocks the rest of the Six-Pack exam (Navigation General and the OUPV/Master pool), all 12 categories, the full question bank, unlimited timed exams, and weak-area tracking.
What does Pro cost and can I cancel?+
Pro is $9.99/month or $29.99/year ($2.50/mo) — an auto-renewable subscription you can cancel anytime; access runs to the end of the current period. A one-time Lifetime unlock is also available in the iOS app.
How does the AI tutor work, and is it accurate?+
The AI tools (Ask Binnacle, Explain This, mnemonic generator, and light/shape identifier) run on a live Anthropic Claude model and are grounded in maritime exam material rather than answering from open-ended guesswork. Treat the AI as a study aid that explains and reinforces — always confirm anything safety-critical against the official Navigation Rules.
Where do the questions come from?+
The bank was authored in-house to match the subject areas and weighting of the USCG deck-license exams (Rules of the Road, Navigation, Deck General, Chart Plotting, Meteorology, Safety, and the upper-tonnage and endorsement modules). Each item ships with a detailed written explanation.
Do web and iOS share my progress?+
Yes. Study on the web or in the iOS app and your account, Pro status, streaks, and progress sync across both — Pro purchased on one platform unlocks the other within minutes.
Will this guarantee I pass the exam?+
No prep can promise a passing score — the official exam is the Coast Guard's. What Binnacle School gives you is realistic timed simulations built to the actual passing thresholds (70% on most modules, 90% on Rules of the Road) plus tracking that shows your weak areas before test day.
Your study dashboard
Sign in with Apple to track progress, build a streak, and let the engine target your weak areas. Already in the iOS app? Use the same Apple ID to sync.
Binnacle School is an independent study aid and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the United States Coast Guard or the National Maritime Center. For exam preparation only — always verify license requirements with the USCG NMC and official references.