Mate 500-1600 Ton Rivers Practice Test

Watch officer on the big river passenger boats and paddlewheelers. Coast Guard exam code RVR03.

145 real questions from the Coast Guard National Maritime Center's public sample exams, free. Rules of the Road needs 90%. Every other module needs 70%.

Passing score: Coast Guard pass marks module by module, and the retest rules

What's free: daily rounds, the Brig, the drills and the Pass Meter, for every license. Your first module test is free too. After that, the full Exam Room is $19, once. No subscription.

What's on the test

The Q393 Chart Plot (Mississippi River) module is done on a paper chart at the exam, so it isn't here. Practice it with the chart and tools.

10 sample questions

1. For the purpose of the Inland Navigation Rules, the term "Inland Waters" includes which of the following?

   • A.The coastline of the United States out to one mile offshore
   • B.The Great Lakes on the United States side of the boundary
   • C.The waters surrounding any islands of the U.S.
   • D.Any lakes within state boundaries
   Show answer

   B. The Great Lakes on the United States side of the boundary

   Q100, Rules of the Road: International & Inland

2. How can the spread of fire be prevented?

   • A.Cooling surfaces adjacent to the fire
   • B.Shutting off the oxygen supply
   • C.Removing combustibles from the endangered area
   • D.All of the above
   Show answer

   D. All of the above

   Q161, Deck Safety

3. You have been informed that dredging operations may be underway in your vicinity. Which buoy indicates the dredging area?

   • A.Yellow and black vertically striped buoy
   • B.White and international orange buoy
   • C.Yellow buoy
   • D.White buoy with a green top
   Show answer

   C. Yellow buoy

   Q171, Navigation General: Near Coastal

4. In fog you observe your radar and determine that risk of collision exists with a vessel which is 2 miles off your port bow. Which action should you take?

   • A.Take avoiding action as soon as possible
   • B.Sound five short and rapid blasts at two-minute intervals
   • C.Hold course and speed until the other vessel is sighted
   • D.Stop your engines
   Show answer

   A. Take avoiding action as soon as possible

   Q100, Rules of the Road: International & Inland

5. Which color of rockets, shells, or rocket parachute flares are used to indicate that the vessel is in distress and requires immediate assistance?

   • A.Green
   • B.Red
   • C.White
   • D.Yellow
   Show answer

   B. Red

   Q161, Deck Safety

6. Aneroid barometers are usually calibrated to indicate atmospheric pressure in which units?

   • A.Inches of mercury and centimeters
   • B.Feet of mercury and millibars
   • C.Inches of mercury and millibars
   • D.Inches of mercury and millimeters
   Show answer

   C. Inches of mercury and millibars

   Q171, Navigation General: Near Coastal

7. Which is TRUE for a vessel using a traffic separation scheme?

   • A.only anchor in the separation zone
   • B.avoid anchoring in areas near the termination of the scheme
   • C.use the separation zone for navigating through the scheme if she is hindering other traffic due to her slower speed
   • D.avoid crossing traffic lanes, but if obliged to do so, shall cross on as small an angle as is practical
   Show answer

   B. avoid anchoring in areas near the termination of the scheme

   Q100, Rules of the Road: International & Inland

8. What is the period of validity of a Merchant Mariner Credential?

   • A.2 years
   • B.1 year
   • C.5 years
   • D.3 years
   Show answer

   C. 5 years

   Q170, Deck General / Safety

9. When observing a rapid rise in barometric pressure, what may you expect?

   • A.Clearing weather, possibly accompanied by high winds
   • B.Deteriorating weather with rain or snow
   • C.Heavy rain or severe thundershowers
   • D.Clear weather with no wind, but the possibility of rain or snow within 24 hours
   Show answer

   A. Clearing weather, possibly accompanied by high winds

   Q171, Navigation General: Near Coastal

10. A power-driven vessel shows the same lights as which vessel?

    • A.a vessel engaged in towing, when not underway
    • B.a vessel towing astern
    • C.a sailing vessel
    • D.a pushing vessel and a vessel being pushed, when they are rigidly connected in a composite unit
    Show answer

    D. a pushing vessel and a vessel being pushed, when they are rigidly connected in a composite unit

    Q100, Rules of the Road: International & Inland

What the study guide does

• Short daily rounds of 10 questions, with a streak.
• Practice tests built like the real one, scored with the real pass marks (first one free, then $19 once for the full Exam Room).
• The Brig: questions you miss come back until you get them right twice.
• Pass Meter: your chance of passing every module if you sat it today, worked out from your own answers.
• Lights, shapes and sound signal drills (Rules 21-35).