Which line would NOT be used in handling a mainsail?
- A Downhaul
- B Sheet
- C Uphaul
- D Halyard
10,000+ real USCG exam questions
OUPV / Six-Pack License Practice Tests
Passing your USCG OUPV Captain’s License exam, better known as the six-pack license, can be tough. Practice with the real question pool until it isn’t.
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Even after weeks of study, many candidates fail on their first attempt, and many fail on their second. That includes people who have been on or around boats their whole lives!
And the final thing we learned is that no matter how long you have been a boater and no matter how much you think you know about boating, there is plenty more to be learned to pass the exam!
We have helped over 15,000 students get their licenses over the last 10 years, and along the way we discovered a few secrets.
Our expert advice: avoid days of wasted time and frustration by making sure you are ready before taking the exam.
“How do I know when I’m ready?” you may ask.
In our humble opinion, there is only one way to know: take OUPV practice tests until you pass them all with flying colors.
My conclusion from those experiences is that the general ideas will stay with you for a lifetime but the exam picks out little minor details to ask about and words the questions in sneaky ways about 30% of the time. To pass the exam, you should learn the basics at your leisure and then cram the ‘nitpicking’ stuff for a few days just before the exam.
Taking OUPV practice exams quickly shows you exactly where your knowledge is lacking and teaches you to spot those tricky, sneaky questions instantly.
It is much better to discover your weak areas now than in the exam!
USCGQ Practice Test Question Bank
We have compiled a database of over 10,000 unique questions released directly by the United States Coast Guard. These are the exact questions you are likely to encounter on your Operator of Uninspected Passenger Vessels (OUPV) licensing exam.
The questions cover every module that makes up the USCG OUPV exam:
Rules of the Road
Right of way, lights and shapes, and sound signals. The module with the strictest passing score.
1,025 questions · Start an instant quiz →
Navigation General
Charts, buoys and beacons, the magnetic compass, tides, and currents.
2,138 questions · Start an instant quiz →
Navigation Problems
Plotting courses, time, speed, and distance runs, and compass error corrections.
1,708 questions · Start an instant quiz →
Deck General
Seamanship, lines and knots, anchoring, weather, and small vessel handling.
5,076 questions · Start an instant quiz →
Deck Safety
Firefighting, lifesaving gear, emergencies, and pollution regulations.
2,841 questions · Start an instant quiz →
There are four ways to use this USCG question bank to prepare for the exam.
- Quiz mode (normal mode) presents a question with its multiple-choice answers. The moment you pick your choice, the system shows you whether you are correct. Try the Rules of the Road quiz to see it in action.
- Study mode (answers mode) lets you browse questions with the correct answer shown immediately, a fast way to review a topic.
- Generated tests reveal your results and the solutions only at the end of the test. This is the most accurate simulation of your final Coast Guard OUPV exam, and we recommend taking as many generated tests as you can before exam day. Sign up free to generate your own tests.
- Question search helps you find a specific question, or every question on a given topic. It is especially useful when your license renewal is an open-book test and you want to verify your own answers. Try the question search.
Advantages of Doing Practice Tests
- Discover your weak areas quickly and focus your study time where it counts.
- Get comfortable with the style of the questions so the real exam feels familiar.
- Learn how to spot trick questions so you won’t be caught out by them in the exam.
- Log your questions so you can revisit the ones you struggled with.
- Feel confident on exam day. Step into your exam knowing you will pass.
Remember, you can’t get your 6-pack without some exercise!
What Is a Six-Pack License?
OUPV stands for Operator of Uninspected Passenger Vessels. The license allows you to carry up to six paying passengers on an uninspected vessel, which is exactly why mariners call it the six-pack (or 6-pack) license. It is the license most fishing guides, charter skippers, and sailing instructors start with.
To qualify you generally need documented sea time, a medical certificate, a drug test, first aid and CPR credentials, and a passing score on the USCG exam, either at a Regional Exam Center or through an approved course provider. The exam itself is the part you can fully control, and it is the part this site is built for.
If you plan to carry more than six passengers or run inspected vessels, you will want the Master up to 100 tons instead. The subjects overlap heavily, so start with our captains license practice tests and step up when you are ready.
Sample OUPV 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.
Using the Guidance Manual for Loading the M.V. Grand Haven, determine the amount of ballast required in tank No. 5 (P & S) to maintain drafts of 17'-00" forward and 22'-06" aft for a vessel loaded with grain which has a test weight of 33 lbs.
- A 1010 tons each
- B 1025 tons each
- C 1050 tons each
- D 1070 tons each
When the pilot is embarked he or she __________.
- A relieves the Master of his duties
- B relieves the officer of the watch
- C is a specialist hired for his or her local navigational knowledge
- D is solely responsible for the safe navigation of the vessel
OUPV / Six-Pack License FAQ
Q What is on the OUPV six-pack exam?
The exam covers Rules of the Road, Deck General, Navigation General, and chart navigation problems. Every module is multiple choice with four answer options, drawn from the published USCG question pools you can practice on this site.
Q What score do I need to pass the six-pack test?
You need 90 percent on Rules of the Road and 70 percent on the other modules. On a typical 30-question rules module, that means missing four questions is a fail.
Q How long should I study for the OUPV exam?
Most candidates spend four to eight weeks. A good benchmark: keep taking practice exams until you consistently score above 90 percent on Rules of the Road and above 80 percent everywhere else, with several passes in a row.
Q Is the six-pack license the same as a captains license?
The OUPV is the entry-level captains license. It limits you to six paying passengers on uninspected vessels. The Master up to 100 tons is the next step and covers inspected vessels with larger passenger counts.
Take Your First Practice Test
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