Wheelhouse Prep exists to give you practice you can trust. This page explains where the questions come from, how each one is checked, and what we do not do.
Last reviewed 12 October 2026.
Where the questions come from
The National Maritime Center's published sample examinations (US government works, public domain), with the answers the NMC gives.
Explanations written by us. The live exam bank is confidential, so expect different questions on the day.
How every question is checked
Questions are taken from the NMC's published sample exams exactly as published, with the NMC's answers; our explanations are written against the source.
A separate checking pass then re-derives every answer from that source without trusting the draft's own explanation. It confirms the keyed answer is right, that no other option is also right, and that every figure and citation matches. Anything it cannot confirm is fixed or removed before publication, and the finding is recorded.
Automated checks look for answer patterns that would let you guess without knowing the material, such as the longest option or a word echoed from the question.
Every exam page shows the official exam facts (format, pass mark, fee, booking) with the sources and the date we checked them.
We use AI tools to help draft questions and to run the checking pass. Nothing is published until it has been checked against its cited source, and we fix reported errors.
Keeping it current
We check every month for new or revised NMC sample exams, and re-download the full set every quarter. Competitor comparisons and the exam facts on each page are re-checked every month.
What we do not do
We do not use recalled, leaked or reconstructed live exam questions.
We do not promise you will pass. If the full bank does not work for you, you can have a refund within 14 days.
Wheelhouse Prep is an independent study aid and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Coast Guard.
Spotted an error?
Email [email protected] with the question and what you think is wrong. We check it against the source, correct it if needed, and the fix goes into the next update.