The Coast Guard released 11,970 total questions for the 2026 sample exams. A huge portion of these were duplicates spread across different modules, so we rebuilt everything from the ground up.

We processed the entire set by matching every question to the correct module, identifying duplicate and variant versions, reorganizing categories and subcategories, updating wording and diagrams, refreshing explanations and hints, and fully integrating all 2026 material.

We also expanded 13,185 existing questions into new modules based on where the Coast Guard used them in the 2026 sample exams. These were already in the database, but the Coast Guard released them again under additional modules this year—meaning they now legitimately apply to more licenses than before. Nothing was moved; coverage simply expanded.

This is the cleanest, most accurate, and most organized version of the question bank we’ve ever released.

2026 Summary Table

(Note 1) Expanded Module Coverage reflects how many existing questions now appear in additional modules based on the 2026 sample exams. These are expanded assignments, not new questions. (Note 2) Chart Plot modules were completely rebuilt from the ground up and follow a new structure, so they are tracked separately and excluded from this count.

Download the full 2026 detailed report: Sea Trials 2026 Question Update Report (PDF)

Everything Is Fully Updated

Every module is now synced with the 2026 Coast Guard release. No partial updates. No missing licenses. All relevant chart plots have been fully rebuilt, cleaned, corrected, and aligned so that only the chart problems that actually apply to your license are included. Because our update system is now automated, future yearly updates will be significantly faster and even more accurate.

We also added the entire FCC question bank, including all Elements such as GMDSS, Maritime Radio, Radar Endorsements, and Deck/Engine-related communication requirements. This adds 2,860 brand-new questions covering everything the FCC tests radio operators on. Mariners can now turn this on directly in Licenses & Ratings. Whether you're a Deckie needing GMDSS for your radio endorsements or an Engineer sailing on vessels that require all officers to hold GMDSS qualifications, the full FCC Elements are now available directly in Licenses & Ratings.

Why Mariners Keep Seeing Unfamiliar Questions

The Coast Guard continues to use a large pool of unreleased internal exam questions that never appear in public sample exams. Nobody has access to these—not us, not schools, not unions, not competing apps. That’s why mariners often see completely unfamiliar questions during testing. It’s the Coast Guard’s system—not a reflection of how you studied. This is why explanation-based learning and concept understanding now matter more than pure memorization.

We’ve also received multiple reports from mariners—especially those taking Third Assistant Engineer exams—that some versions included up to 50% brand-new questions not found in any sample exam. At the same time, other mariners testing in different regions reported seeing almost every question they studied in Sea Trials. This is normal: the NMC dynamically regenerates different exam sets for different testing centers, meaning some people get a straightforward exam while others get a heavily skewed one. It’s luck of the draw.

To prepare for this, pure memorization is no longer enough. You need to understand the structure and reasoning behind questions—how to find information quickly in the CFR, how to break down Nav Gen and Engine math, how stability questions are built, and how the Coast Guard tends to write distractors and variations. Old questions still matter because they reveal how the Coast Guard thinks and tests.

For engineering licenses, you can also switch your rating to MEWB in Licenses & Ratings to access the most comprehensive engineering pool available. MEWB includes every engineering-related question ever released, including older questions that were removed from the public bank years ago but have started reappearing on real exams recently. It’s a huge dataset—over 14,000 questions—but if you want the widest possible coverage, MEWB is the place to study from.

It Takes a Village to Beat the Coast Guard

If you come across a question on your exam that wasn’t in Sea Trials, we need:

• The module code from the exam
• The question from memory — any wording or detail you can recall

We cannot accept screenshots, photos, or any secure exam material. Coast Guard test content is protected by law. But memory-based reports are fully legal and extremely helpful.

(And yes… your memory is always appreciated 😉)

Sea Trials is built by Mariners, for Mariners—and the community is how we all stay ahead of the Coast Guard’s constant changes.

If you remember anything new, send it to support@seatrials.net.

— Alex Founder, Sea Trials