Free practice test
PNB practice test
A free PNB mock exam with 27 questions. Take it against the clock and the pass mark, or read through the answers: every one is explained, so you learn from each mistake.
Reviewed by Ramon Curto, Nautical teacher at IECNPC
- 27 questions
- 45 minutes
- Pass: 17 of 27
- Max. 2 errors in buoyage
- Max. 5 errors in COLREG
Same format as the official theory exam: 27 questions in 45 minutes, with 17 right answers needed to pass.
This mock covers only the parts our question bank teaches: the steering and sailing rules and IALA buoyage. The official exam also tests other subjects, so study those from the official syllabus.
These are IALACOLREG's own study questions, not official exam questions.
Take it as a timed test
45 minutes on the clock. The answers stay hidden until you finish, then you see your score against the pass mark.
Questions and answers
1.A head-on situation exists at night when you see:
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Correct answer: B. Both sidelights and masthead lights nearly in line
Rule 14(b): head-on exists when a vessel sees both sidelights and/or masthead lights in a line or nearly in a line.
2.Which is a clear violation of the look-out requirement?
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Correct answer: B. Assigning the look-out person administrative paperwork during the watch
A proper look-out must be able to give full attention to the task. Assigning unrelated duties that distract the watch violates the rule.
3.Both an isolated danger mark and a safe water mark have navigable water around them. What sets them apart?
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Correct answer: B. Only the safe water mark's own position is safe
A safe water mark indicates navigable water all around its own position (fairway, mid-channel or landfall). An isolated danger mark stands on or over a danger of limited extent: the water around it is navigable, but its own position is not. Both may carry a white light and a topmark, and both may be pillar-shaped.
4.A vessel may properly use an inshore traffic zone when:
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Correct answer: B. It is bound to or from a port, offshore installation, or station within the zone
Rule 10 allows inshore-zone use in specific cases, including vessels bound to or from a port, offshore installation or station within the zone, and for certain small craft, sailing vessels, fishing vessels or immediate danger.
5.If fitted, the topmark of a special mark is:
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Correct answer: B. A yellow X-shape (cross)
Special marks have a yellow X-shaped (St. Andrew's cross) topmark. (if fitted).
6.The Steering and Sailing Rules in Section I (Rules 4–10) apply:
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Correct answer: C. In any condition of visibility
Rule 4: rules in Section I apply in any condition of visibility — clear, restricted, day or night.
7.Which white light characteristic belongs to an East cardinal mark?
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Correct answer: B. VQ(3) every 5 s or Q(3) every 10 s
East cardinal: VQ(3) 5 s or Q(3) 10 s — three flashes, like 3 o'clock. West uses 9 flashes, South 6 plus a long flash, North continuous flashing.
8.By day you see a spar buoy, black with a broad red horizontal band, carrying two black spheres one above the other. Which mark is it?
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Correct answer: C. Isolated danger mark
Black with one or more red horizontal bands and a topmark of two black spheres identify an isolated danger mark, set on or near a danger with navigable water around it.
9.In thick fog another vessel is detected only by ARPA and is not in sight. Its bearing is steady and range is closing fast. Which rule governs the avoiding action?
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Correct answer: C. Rule 19 — restricted visibility, because vessels are not in sight
Rule 11 restricts Section II (including crossing, head-on and overtaking) to vessels in sight of one another. A target detected only on radar is not 'in sight'; Rule 19 governs instead.
10.If fitted, the topmark of an East cardinal mark is:
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Correct answer: C. Two black cones, base to base
East cardinal: two black cones base to base, black-yellow-black bands, and a white light (if fitted) of 3 quick or very quick flashes.
11.Which light could a lit safe water mark show?
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Correct answer: D. White, one long flash every 10 s
A safe water light, if fitted, is white: isophase, occulting, one long flash every 10 s, or Morse A. White Fl(2) marks an isolated danger; VQ(9) a West cardinal.
12.Two sailing vessels in sight have wind on the same side and approach with risk of collision; neither is overtaking. Which gives way?
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Correct answer: B. The windward vessel gives way
Rule 12(a)(ii): when both have wind on the same side, the windward vessel keeps out of the way.
13.At a channel division in IALA Region A, the preferred channel is to port. Which mark shows this?
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Correct answer: C. Green with one broad red band; green cone, point up
A modified lateral mark keeps its main colour and topmark and adds one broad band of the opposite colour. For a preferred channel to port in Region A it is a modified starboard-hand mark: green with a broad red band and a green cone, point up. Its light, if fitted, is Fl(2+1) green.
14.A large vessel fine on the starboard bow shows only a slight bearing change over time, and range is decreasing. What is the safest conclusion?
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Correct answer: B. Risk may still exist and should be treated as real
Rule 7 warns that even when bearing changes, collision risk may still exist, especially with a large vessel or at close range. If in doubt, deem the risk to exist.
15.In a Rule 15 crossing encounter, the give-way vessel shall, if circumstances admit:
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Correct answer: C. Keep well clear and avoid crossing ahead of the other vessel
Rule 15 requires the give-way vessel to keep out of the way and, if circumstances admit, avoid crossing ahead. Rules 8 and 16 require early, substantial and effective action; the safe choice of course or speed depends on the whole situation.
16.The light of an emergency wreck marking buoy is:
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Correct answer: B. Alternating blue and yellow, period 3 s
The emergency wreck marking buoy shows alternating blue and yellow: 1 s blue, 0.5 s dark, 1 s yellow, 0.5 s dark — a 3 s period.
17.How should you use an isolated danger mark when planning to pass it?
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Correct answer: B. Check charts and publications for the danger's extent and safe distance
An isolated danger mark is on or near a danger with navigable water around it. Consult charts and nautical publications for the extent of the danger and a safe passing distance.
18.What does a special mark by itself tell you?
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Correct answer: D. Charts and publications describe its area
A special mark indicates an area or feature whose nature is described in charts and nautical publications; the mark itself gives no passing side. Navigable water all around is the meaning of a safe water mark.
19.In IALA Region A, which description fits a starboard-hand lateral mark?
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Correct answer: B. Green, usually conical
In Region A, starboard-hand marks are green and usually conical; port-hand marks are red and usually can-shaped. Sides are read in the conventional direction of buoyage.
20.A succession of small course alterations should be avoided because:
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Correct answer: B. They may not be apparent to the other vessel and could create confusion
Rule 8(b): a succession of small alterations should be avoided as they may not be readily apparent to the other vessel.
21.For vessels with operational radar, safe speed must additionally consider:
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Correct answer: B. Characteristics and limitations of radar equipment
Rule 6(b) applies to vessels with operational radar and requires consideration of its characteristics, efficiency and limitations, among other radar-related factors.
22.So far as possible, the give-way vessel shall take action that is:
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Correct answer: B. Early and substantial
Rule 16 requires every vessel directed to keep out of the way, so far as possible, to take early and substantial action to keep well clear.
23.The stand-on vessel MUST take action to help avoid collision when:
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Correct answer: B. Collision cannot be avoided by the give-way vessel acting alone
Rule 17(b): once so close that the give-way vessel alone cannot avoid collision, the stand-on vessel shall take action that best helps avoid it. Rule 17(a)(ii) separately permits earlier action when the give-way vessel is not taking appropriate action.
24.In a narrow channel, a vessel should keep to:
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Correct answer: C. As near the outer limit on her starboard side as is safe and practicable
Rule 9(a): a vessel shall keep as near to the outer limit on her starboard side as is safe and practicable.
25.For vessels in sight of one another, an overtaking vessel:
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Correct answer: B. Shall keep out of the way of the vessel being overtaken
Rule 13(a): any vessel overtaking shall keep out of the way of the vessel being overtaken.
26.A special mark's yellow light may use any rhythm except those reserved for which marks?
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Correct answer: C. Cardinal, isolated danger, safe water or MAtoN marks
R1001 lets a special mark use any yellow rhythm except those reserved for cardinal, isolated danger, safe water or MAtoN marks, so it cannot be mistaken for them at night.
27.If fitted, the topmark of an emergency wreck marking buoy is:
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Correct answer: A. An upright yellow cross
The emergency wreck marking buoy carries a standing (upright) yellow cross. The yellow X (St Andrew's cross) is the special mark topmark.
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