Navy BM2 Advancement Exam Practice Test: Boatswain's Mate E-5 Questions

432 practice questions for the BM E-5 advancement exam: ground tackle, mooring and towing, marlinspike, UNREP, boats and davits, bills and safety. We wrote every one from the public references on the March 2027 BM bibliography, and each answer links the page it comes from. Practice tests are 50 questions; aim for 35.

The real test: Your Navy-wide advancement exam is drawn from your rate's bibliography and comes back as a standard score that counts toward your final multiple; the Navy publishes no pass mark. Our practice test is 50 of our own questions with a 70% target.

Here: 432 questions. Our own practice questions, written from public references on the Navy BM bibliography (NAVEDTRA 14067 Seaman, the U.S. Navy Towing Manual, OPNAVINST 3120.32D SORM, OPNAVINST 5100.19F NAVOSH, USCG Navigation Rules, U.S. Navy Regulations). Not Navy exam questions. Free.

What's on the test

10 sample questions

1. The Watch, Quarter and Station Bill is:

   • A.A composite of the other bills, summarizing everyone's assignments
   • B.The general quarters bill for the gun crews
   • C.The daily watch list posted by the OOD
   • D.The bill for berthing and locker assignments only, kept by the personnel officer
   Show answer

   A. A composite of the other bills, summarizing everyone's assignments

   BM5-1ln26 · Administration: records, logs and bills · SORM OPNAVINST 3120.32D p. 239

2. Under the Boat Bill, every boat crewmember must be at least:

   • A.A second class swimmer
   • B.A third class swimmer
   • C.A qualified rescue swimmer
   • D.A first class swimmer
   Show answer

   A. A second class swimmer

   BM5-s9ay4 · Boat handling · SORM OPNAVINST 3120.32D p. 281

3. Per the Heavy Weather Bill, what is done to the anchors at sea?

   • A.Walk them out to the waterline
   • B.Put preventers on the anchors
   • C.Unshackle them and stow them below
   • D.Veer extra chain and leave it slack
   Show answer

   B. Put preventers on the anchors

   BM5-1vx80 · Mooring, anchoring and towing · SORM OPNAVINST 3120.32D p. 301

4. In heavy weather, personnel on weather decks must wear:

   • A.Safety harnesses clipped to the lifelines at all times on deck
   • B.Hard hats with chin straps in place
   • C.Foul weather gear and safety shoes only
   • D.Life jackets with a Man Overboard Indicator installed
   Show answer

   D. Life jackets with a Man Overboard Indicator installed

   BM5-1trh4 · Seamanship fundamentals · SORM OPNAVINST 3120.32D p. 303

5. During replenishment, the lifebuoy watch on each engaged side must have:

   • A.A rescue swimmer in a wet suit
   • B.An 18-inch life ring and a whistle
   • C.A line-throwing gun and shot line
   • D.A 24-inch life ring with a light
   Show answer

   D. A 24-inch life ring with a light

   BM5-11i0k · UNREP operations · SORM OPNAVINST 3120.32D p. 318

6. If you must lower the ready lifeboat, you use:

   • A.Whichever is nearer the bridge
   • B.The leeward boat
   • C.The windward boat
   • D.The port boat
   Show answer

   B. The leeward boat

   BM5-1wsuo · Safety (NAVOSH) · Seaman NAVEDTRA 14067 p. 21

7. Per the SORM, a unit bill consists of:

   • A.An order and a checklist
   • B.A preface and a procedure
   • C.A watch bill and a station bill
   • D.A purpose and a muster list
   Show answer

   B. A preface and a procedure

   BM5-lhc2o · Administration: records, logs and bills · SORM OPNAVINST 3120.32D p. 239

8. Each ship's boat must carry how many 18-inch life rings, and where?

   • A.Four: one at each quarter
   • B.Two, both at the stern
   • C.Two: one forward and one aft
   • D.One, at the coxswain's station
   Show answer

   C. Two: one forward and one aft

   BM5-fgtlx · Boat handling · SORM OPNAVINST 3120.32D p. 284

9. To control a synthetic line while easing out or surging, take:

   • A.Two round turns, then one or two figure eight bends
   • B.Three round turns and no figure eights
   • C.Figure eights only, as many as the bitts hold
   • D.One round turn, then four figure eight bends
   Show answer

   A. Two round turns, then one or two figure eight bends

   BM5-zymx3 · Mooring, anchoring and towing · NAVOSH OPNAVINST 5100.19F p. 287

10. Under the Cleaning, Preservation and Maintenance Bill, who supervises the side cleaners?

    • A.The First Lieutenant, through the Ship's Boatswain
    • B.The executive officer, through the CMAA
    • C.The engineer officer, through the DCA
    • D.Each division officer for their own area, with no central supervisor
    Show answer

    A. The First Lieutenant, through the Ship's Boatswain

    BM5-dfs2q · Seamanship fundamentals · SORM OPNAVINST 3120.32D p. 244

What the study guide does

• Short study rounds and flip cards.
• A practice test built like the real one: 50 questions, 35 to pass.
• Pass Meter: your chance of passing if you sat the test today, worked out from your own answers.
• An explanation for every answer.