Exam simulation
50 questions · 50 minutes · pass with 44 correct (our practice pass mark)
Your first test is free without an account; a free account adds 2 more.
With the Exam Pass (, one payment for 12 months): every question of every module, unlimited timed tests and your mistakes retrained.
Start the timed test50 questions from every subject · 50 min · result per subjectThe exam's subjects
- Your licence and the lawStart here: who can drive, how to get licensed, and what to check before you borrow, buy or hire a boat in NSW.Free: lesson + 10 questions · Exam Pass: all 32 questions, unlimited practice tests, your mistakes retrained
- Lifejackets: when to wear and which typeChoose a lifejacket that fits, know when you must wear it, and keep it ready to work.Free: lesson + 10 questions · Exam Pass: all 28 questions, unlimited practice tests, your mistakes retrained
- Safety equipment for enclosed and open watersChoose the right checklist for your boat and waters, then make sure every item works and can be reached.Free: lesson + 10 questions · Exam Pass: all 32 questions, unlimited practice tests, your mistakes retrained
- Before you go: planning, weather and loadingPlan a trip your boat and crew can handle, check the weather, and launch with a balanced load and fuel in reserve.Free: lesson + 10 questions · Exam Pass: all 26 questions, unlimited practice tests, your mistakes retrained
- Lookout and giving wayLook all around, recognise who must keep clear and act early enough for everyone to stay safe.Free: lesson + 10 questions · Exam Pass: all 27 questions, unlimited practice tests, your mistakes retrained
- Safe distance, speed, wash, alcohol and towingGive people room, control your speed and wash, stay sober and plan every tow around the person behind you.Free: lesson + 10 questions · Exam Pass: all 30 questions, unlimited practice tests, your mistakes retrained
- Navigation marksRead the colours, shapes and lights so you can choose the safe side of a channel or hazard.Free: lesson + 10 questions · Exam Pass: all 27 questions, unlimited practice tests, your mistakes retrained
- Lights and sound signalsShow the right lights, recognise other vessels and use sound signals to make your actions clear.Free: lesson + 10 questions · Exam Pass: all 29 questions, unlimited practice tests, your mistakes retrained
- Waterways, coastal bars, mooring and anchoringKnow the waterway, make a careful bar-crossing decision, keep clear of restricted areas and secure your boat safely.Free: lesson + 10 questions · Exam Pass: all 22 questions, unlimited practice tests, your mistakes retrained
- Emergencies and the environmentCall for the right help, protect people in the water and leave NSW waterways healthy for the next crew.Free: lesson + 10 questions · Exam Pass: all 29 questions, unlimited practice tests, your mistakes retrained
How you pass
The real test has 50 multiple-choice questions in two sections. In Section A you need at least 24 of 30 right; in Section B you must get all 20 right. Transport for NSW doesn't publish which topics fall in which section, so our practice exam can't split them: it asks for 44 of 50 (88 %), the lowest total that could pass the real test. Aim to get every safety question right.
Our practice exam has 50 questions, 5 from each of the ten topics. NSW doesn't publish a time limit for the real test; we give you 50 minutes. The questions are our own, written from the Boating Handbook. For questions from the real test pool, also do the official practice test on the Service NSW website.
The exam programme and where to study it
Every item of the official programme and the block that covers it.
| H1 | Staying safe on NSW waterways: marine safety rules, Transport for NSW, types and parts of vessels, maritime terms (Handbook ch. 1) | Block 1 |
|---|---|---|
| H2a | Getting a general boat licence and a PWC licence: the knowledge test, practical experience, age and identity (Handbook pp. 13–19) | Block 1 |
| H2b | Licence restrictions under 16, renewing, interstate and overseas licences, driving without a licence (Handbook pp. 20–22) | Block 1 |
| H2c | Registering, transferring, commercial use and hiring a vessel (Handbook pp. 23–31) | Block 1 |
| VQ1 | Victoria and Queensland: when you need a licence and how the test differs | Block 1 |
| H3a | When to wear a lifejacket: boat length, enclosed, alpine and open waters, alone, at night, coastal bars, skipper's direction (Handbook pp. 33–38) | Block 2 |
| H3b | Carrying lifejackets, approved types and levels (Level 150, 100, 50, 50S) and looking after them (Handbook pp. 39–41, 44–47) | Block 2 |
| H3c | Children and lifejackets, dog lifejackets (Handbook pp. 42–43) | Block 2 |
| VQ2 | Victoria: different wear rules and levels | Block 2 |
| H3d | Essential safety equipment and what each item is for (Handbook pp. 48–55) | Block 3 |
| H3e | The safety equipment checklist for enclosed and open waters (Handbook pp. 56–62) | Block 3 |
| H3f | Recommended extra equipment (Handbook p. 63) | Block 3 |
| H4a | Before you go on the water: trip plan, log on with Marine Rescue NSW, checks (Handbook pp. 65–69) | Block 4 |
| H4b | Checking the weather: forecasts, warnings, wind, waves and tides (Handbook pp. 70–72) | Block 4 |
| H4c | Loading your vessel and maintaining it: capacity label, stability, fuel (Handbook pp. 73–77) | Block 4 |
| H5a | Keeping a proper lookout (Handbook pp. 79–81) | Block 5 |
| H5b | Giving way: head-on, crossing, overtaking, sail and power, vessels restricted in their ability to manoeuvre (Handbook pp. 82–88) | Block 5 |
| H5c | Avoiding collision and keeping to the starboard side of channels and rivers (Handbook p. 88) | Block 5 |
| H5d | Safe distance: 60 m from people in the water, 30 m from vessels, land and structures at 6 knots or more (Handbook pp. 89–91) | Block 6 |
| H5e | Safe speed, speed limits and wash (Handbook pp. 92–93, 98–99) | Block 6 |
| H5f | Alcohol limits and people on board (Handbook pp. 94–97) | Block 6 |
| H6 | Towing a person: observer, lifejackets and distances; towing a trailer (Handbook pp. 101–107) | Block 6 |
| VQ3 | Victoria and Queensland alcohol limits | Block 6 |
| H7a | Lateral marks and the direction of buoyage (Handbook pp. 109–110) | Block 7 |
| H7b | Cardinal, isolated danger, safe water and special marks (Handbook pp. 110–115) | Block 7 |
| H5g | Bridges and navigation aids (Handbook p. 99) | Block 7 |
| H7c | Lights to display: power under 12 m, under 7 m, sail and at anchor (Handbook pp. 116–121) | Block 8 |
| H7d | Identifying vessels at night by their lights (Handbook pp. 122–126) | Block 8 |
| H7e | Sound signals (Handbook p. 127) | Block 8 |
| H8a | Open, enclosed and alpine waters (Handbook pp. 129–134, 138) | Block 9 |
| H8b | Coastal bars: planning, crossing out and back in, lifejackets (Handbook pp. 135–137) | Block 9 |
| H8c | Sydney Harbour rules and exclusion and restriction zones (Handbook pp. 139–143) | Block 9 |
| H8d | Mooring and anchoring (Handbook pp. 144–147) | Block 9 |
| H9a | Alerting search and rescue: VHF 16, 27 MHz 88, Mayday, Pan pan, Securite, EPIRB, flares, 000 (Handbook pp. 149–150) | Block 10 |
| H9b | Incidents, fire, carbon monoxide and gas leaks (Handbook pp. 151–156) | Block 10 |
| H9c | Person overboard, cold water, capsizing and swamping, propeller strikes (Handbook pp. 157–165) | Block 10 |
| H10 | Protecting the environment: waste and sewage, marine life, marine mammals, noise (Handbook pp. 167–173) | Block 10 |
What is free
Every lesson, explanation, worked case, exercise and the first 10 questions of each check are free without an account, as is your first practice test with the mistakes of that attempt. A free account adds two more practice tests and saves your progress. The Exam Pass adds unlimited practice tests, checks from the whole block and the review of all your mistakes until you get them right.
Sources
- Transport for NSW, Boating Handbook (2026 edition, 05/26) · checked
- TfNSW: licence and test fees effective 1 July 2026 · checked
- TfNSW: practical boating experience and logbook requirements · checked
- TfNSW: proof of identity for maritime transactions · checked
- Service NSW: book a knowledge test; practical evidence and the 12-month application window · checked
- Service NSW: official boating practice quiz; questions from the actual test pool · checked
- TfNSW: moving an interstate or overseas boat or PWC licence to NSW · checked
- TfNSW Boating Handbook 2026 (05/26), staying safe and licences and registration, pp. 6–31 · checked
- TfNSW: get a boat or PWC licence; compare under-16 restrictions with Handbook p. 20 · checked
- TfNSW: knowledge and practice tests; compare the test description with Handbook pp. 15–16 · checked
- Safe Transport Victoria: marine licensing and registration, including restricted licences and PWC endorsements · checked
- Queensland Government: recreational marine licences, BoatSafe and supervised operation · checked
- Safe Transport Victoria Boating Safety Handbook 2024, p. 136: marine and PWC test pass marks · checked
- VicRoads: marine licence eligibility, including the minimum age of 12 · checked
- Maritime Safety Queensland: BoatSafe theory and practical assessment · checked
- TfNSW Boating Handbook 2026: wear rules, types, children and care, pp. 33–47; waterway definitions, pp. 129, 137–138 · checked
- NSW Government: when to wear a lifejacket — compare Handbook pp. 33–38 and the 4.8 m boundary · checked
- NSW Government: children and lifejackets — compare Handbook pp. 42–43 and length boundaries · checked
- Safe Transport Victoria: wear a lifejacket — Victorian wear rules and levels · checked
- TfNSW Boating Handbook 2026: essential safety equipment, pp. 48–55 · checked
- TfNSW Boating Handbook 2026: equipment checklists, pp. 56–62, and recommended equipment, p. 63 · checked
- TfNSW safety equipment checklist: enclosed and open waters; compare Handbook pp. 56–58 · checked
- TfNSW essential safety equipment: uses and care; compare Handbook pp. 48–55 · checked
- TfNSW Boating Handbook 2026: open waters, p. 129, and enclosed waters, p. 133 · checked
- Boating Handbook 2026: Before you go on the water, pp. 65–69 · checked
- Boating Handbook 2026: Checking the weather, pp. 70–72 · checked
- Boating Handbook 2026: Loading your vessel, pp. 73–74 · checked
- Boating Handbook 2026: Maintaining your vessel, pp. 75–77 · checked
- Transport for NSW: Checking the weather on waterways; forecasts and Marine Rescue log-on advice · checked
- Boating Handbook 2026: Proper lookout, pp. 79–81 · checked
- Boating Handbook 2026: Giving way and overtaking, pp. 82–87; Sydney Harbour ferries, p. 141 · checked
- Boating Handbook 2026: Avoiding collision; Channels and rivers, p. 88 · checked
- Transport for NSW: Giving way, overtaking and avoiding collisions · checked
- Transport for NSW: Proper lookout · checked
- TfNSW Boating Handbook 2026: safe distance, speed, alcohol, passengers and wash, pp. 89–99 · checked
- TfNSW Boating Handbook 2026: towing a person and towing a trailer, pp. 101–107 · checked
- Safe Transport Victoria: operating a boat safely, alcohol and drugs (other-state guidance) · checked
- Maritime Safety Queensland: alcohol and drug rules (other-state guidance) · checked
- Boating Handbook 2026: Navigation marks and lateral marks, pp. 109–110 · checked
- Boating Handbook 2026: Cardinal marks, leads and other marks, pp. 111–115 · checked
- Boating Handbook 2026: Proper lookout — structures and clearance heights, p. 81 · checked
- Boating Handbook 2026: Bridges and navigation aids, p. 99 · checked
- Transport for NSW: Navigation marks · checked
- Boating Handbook 2026: lights to display, pp. 116–121 · checked
- Transport for NSW: Lights to display · checked
- Transport for NSW: Boating sound signals · checked
- TfNSW: Crossing coastal bars — preparation and crossing out and in · checked
- TfNSW: Webcams for coastal bars and alpine waters — limitations and full camera cycle · checked
- TfNSW: Coastal bar safety resources — alternative harbour and Marine Rescue trip planning · checked
- Boating Handbook 2026: alerting rescue services, incidents, fire and gas, pp. 149–156; flares, p. 53 · checked
- Boating Handbook 2026: person overboard, cold water, capsizing and propeller strikes, pp. 157–165 · checked
- Boating Handbook 2026: protecting the environment, pp. 167–173; marine mammals, pp. 171–172 · checked
- Transport for NSW: alerting search and rescue services · checked
- Transport for NSW: carbon monoxide and gas leaks on vessels · checked