Free practice test
RYA Day Skipper practice test
A free RYA Day Skipper mock exam with 30 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
- 30 questions
- 25 minutes
- Pass: 24 of 30
This is our practice format, not the official one: check the current exam format with the exam authority.
This mock covers only the parts our question bank teaches: the steering and sailing rules, lights and shapes, sound signals, 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
25 minutes on the clock. The answers stay hidden until you finish, then you see your score against the pass mark.
Questions and answers
1.Local harbour authorities may make special rules that:
Show answer
Correct answer: B. Must conform as closely as possible to COLREGs
Rule 1(b) permits appropriate authorities to make special rules for connected navigable roadsteads, harbours, rivers, lakes and inland waterways; these must conform as closely as possible to COLREG.
2.In restricted visibility, a vessel aground gives the anchor bell signal (and the gong if required). What must she add?
Show answer
Correct answer: C. Three separate, distinct bell strokes just before and after the ringing
Rule 35(h): a vessel aground gives the bell signal and, if required, the gong signal of Rule 35(g), and in addition three separate and distinct strokes on the bell immediately before and after the rapid ringing of the bell. She may also sound an appropriate whistle signal.
3.Both an isolated danger mark and a safe water mark have navigable water around them. What sets them apart?
Show answer
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.Rule 38 provides exemptions for:
Show answer
Correct answer: B. Specified light and sound requirements for eligible older vessels complying with the 1960 rules
Rule 38 concerns vessels complying with the 1960 Collision Regulations whose keels were laid, or which were at a corresponding construction stage, before 15 July 1977. It grants only listed exemptions, some permanent and others for transition periods; navigation duties remain.
5.If fitted, the topmark of a special mark is:
Show answer
Correct answer: B. A yellow X-shape (cross)
Special marks have a yellow X-shaped (St. Andrew's cross) topmark. (if fitted).
6.Under the normal arrangement in Rule 23(a), a power-driven vessel of 50 metres or more underway must show:
Show answer
Correct answer: B. Two masthead lights, sidelights, and sternlight
Rule 23(a): vessels 50m+ must show two masthead lights (forward and aft), sidelights, and sternlight.
7.What body shape does an emergency wreck marking buoy have?
Show answer
Correct answer: A. Pillar or spar
R1001: the emergency wreck marking buoy is a pillar or spar buoy. Can and conical shapes are lateral shapes; spherical is used by safe water marks.
8.Under Rule 36, which kind of light shall be avoided when attracting another vessel's attention?
Show answer
Correct answer: D. High-intensity intermittent or revolving lights, such as strobes
Rule 36: attention signals must not be mistaken for any signal authorized elsewhere in the Rules or for an aid to navigation, and a searchlight may be directed toward the danger. For this purpose the use of high-intensity intermittent or revolving lights, such as strobe lights, shall be avoided.
9.How does IALA Region B differ from Region A?
Show answer
Correct answer: B. The colours are reversed — red to starboard
Region A: port-hand red, starboard-hand green. Region B: port-hand green, starboard-hand red. Interpret both in the charted conventional direction of buoyage.
10.If an emergency wreck marking buoy carries a RACON, which Morse letter does it transmit?
Show answer
Correct answer: D. D (dash–dot–dot)
The RACON on an emergency wreck marking buoy, if fitted, is coded Morse D (dash–dot–dot).
11.The day shape for a vessel engaged in fishing is:
Show answer
Correct answer: C. Two cones point to point
Rule 26: fishing vessels display two cones point to point in a vertical line as a day shape.
12.In a narrow channel, in sight of the vessel ahead, you intend to overtake her on her port side. Which whistle signal do you give?
Show answer
Correct answer: C. Two prolonged blasts followed by two short blasts
Rule 34(c)(i): two prolonged followed by two short blasts means 'I intend to overtake you on your port side'; two prolonged and one short is for her starboard side. Prolonged-short-prolonged-short is the agreement signal of the vessel being overtaken (Rule 34(c)(ii)).
13.Safe speed means a speed that allows:
Show answer
Correct answer: C. Effective collision avoidance and stopping within an appropriate distance
Rule 6 requires a speed allowing proper and effective action to avoid collision and stopping within a distance appropriate to the prevailing circumstances and conditions.
14.A vessel under oars at night, if she does not exhibit the lights for sailing vessels, shall:
Show answer
Correct answer: C. Have ready an electric torch or lantern showing a white light, to exhibit in time to prevent collision
Rule 25(d): a vessel under oars may exhibit the lights prescribed for sailing vessels; if she does not, she shall have ready at hand an electric torch or lighted lantern showing a white light to be exhibited in sufficient time to prevent collision.
Study Rule 25: Sailing Vessels Underway and Vessels Under Oars
15.A proper look-out requires the use of:
Show answer
Correct answer: C. Sight, hearing and all available means appropriate to the conditions
Rule 5 requires look-out by sight AND hearing as well as by all available means appropriate to the circumstances.
16.The towing light is:
Show answer
Correct answer: C. Yellow, with the same arc as the sternlight
Rule 21(d) defines the towing light as yellow with the same characteristics as the sternlight. Rule 24(a)(iv) places it in a vertical line above the sternlight.
17.Which spoken radiotelephony distress signal is internationally recognized?
Show answer
Correct answer: C. MAYDAY
Rule 37 / Annex IV recognizes the spoken word "MAYDAY" as the radiotelephony distress signal.
18.Under Rule 32, how long does a 'prolonged blast' last?
Show answer
Correct answer: C. From four to six seconds
Rule 32(c): a prolonged blast is a blast of from four to six seconds' duration. A blast of about one second is a short blast (Rule 32(b)).
19.For a vessel of 50m or more, the masthead light must be visible at:
Show answer
Correct answer: C. 6 nautical miles
Rule 22: masthead light of vessels 50m+ must be visible at a minimum of 6 nautical miles.
20.The day shape for a vessel constrained by draught is:
Show answer
Correct answer: C. A cylinder
Rule 28: the day shape is a cylinder.
21.A vessel of at least 12 metres not under command (NUC) shows which status lights?
Show answer
Correct answer: B. Two all-round red lights vertically
Rule 27(a)(i) prescribes two all-round red lights vertically. Under Rule 27(g), vessels under 12 metres, except those engaged in diving operations, are not required to show the Rule 27 lights and shapes.
Study Rule 27: Vessels Not Under Command or Restricted in Ability to Manoeuvre
22.If an isolated danger mark is lit, what light does it show?
Show answer
Correct answer: C. White, group flashing Fl(2)
When fitted, the isolated danger light is white, group flashing (2): two flashes repeated. A long flash every 10 s belongs to safe water marks.
23.A special mark's yellow light may use any rhythm except those reserved for which marks?
Show answer
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.
24.Risk of collision is deemed to exist when:
Show answer
Correct answer: A. The compass bearing of an approaching vessel does not appreciably change
Rule 7(d)(i): risk shall be deemed to exist if the compass bearing of an approaching vessel does not appreciably change.
25.A vessel of less than 12 metres does not carry the appliances of Rule 33(a). What does Rule 33(b) require?
Show answer
Correct answer: D. Some other means of making an efficient sound signal
Rule 33(b): a vessel of less than 12 m is not obliged to carry the Rule 33(a) appliances, but if she does not, she shall be provided with some other means of making an efficient sound signal.
26.Compliance with the COLREGs:
Show answer
Correct answer: B. Does not exonerate a vessel from the consequences of neglecting good seamanship
Rule 2(a) states nothing in the rules exonerates any vessel from the consequences of neglecting good seamanship.
27.A 'vessel not under command' (NUC) is one that:
Show answer
Correct answer: C. Through exceptional circumstances cannot manoeuvre as required and therefore cannot keep out of another vessel's way
Rule 3(f) requires both inability to manoeuvre as required because of exceptional circumstances and consequent inability to keep out of another vessel's way.
28.The Steering and Sailing Rules in Section I (Rules 4–10) apply:
Show answer
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.
29.A vessel at anchor in restricted visibility rings the bell rapidly for about 5 seconds. At what intervals?
Show answer
Correct answer: A. Not more than one minute
Rule 35(g): a vessel at anchor shall at intervals of not more than one minute ring the bell rapidly for about 5 seconds. Most underway fog signals use intervals of not more than 2 minutes instead.
30.An East Cardinal mark shows how many quick flashes?
Show answer
Correct answer: B. 3 flashes
White lights, when fitted: North Q or VQ; East VQ(3) 5 s or Q(3) 10 s; South VQ(6)+LFl 10 s or Q(6)+LFl 15 s; West VQ(9) 10 s or Q(9) 15 s. The long flash lasts at least 2 s.
IALACOLREG Exam Pass
Want a fresh mock every time?
The Exam Pass gives you unlimited random mock exams, a mistake bank that brings back every question you miss until you get it right, and your exam-readiness score.
once · 12 months · no subscription