ASA 105 Exam V2 Practice Questions and Answers
1. Which chart scale is best for coastal navigation?
• Large-scale harbor chart
• Coastal chart
• General chart
• Sailing chart
Answer: Coastal charts provide sufficient detail for near-shore navigation without
overwhelming clutter.
2. What is the primary use of a sextant?
• Compass bearings
• Dividing distances
• Plotting latitude and longitude
• Measuring angles between celestial bodies and the horizon
Answer: Sextants measure angular distances, essential for celestial navigation.
3. Which publication provides detailed information on lights, buoys, and beacons?
• Notice to Mariners
• Chart Catalog
• Light List
• Coast Pilot
Answer: The Light List is the authoritative source for light characteristics and buoy data.
4. What is the function of parallel rulers in chart work?
• Calculating speed over ground
• Measuring distances
• Plotting latitude and longitude
• Transferring bearings across a chart
Answer: Parallel rulers allow navigators to move a line across a chart while keeping its
angle constant.
5. Which electronic system transmits vessel identity and position data in real time?
• Radar
• GPS
• Depth sounder
• AIS (Automatic Identification System)
Answer: AIS enhances situational awareness by sharing vessel information for collision
avoidance.
6. When plotting a dead reckoning (DR) position, what must be considered?
• Only compass heading
• Only speed
• Course steered, speed, and time elapsed
,• Latitude and longitude
Answer: DR positions rely on heading, speed, and time to estimate location without
external fixes.
7. What is the primary purpose of a Coast Pilot publication?
• Provides supplemental navigation information such as harbor regulations,
currents, and hazards
• Lists light characteristics
• Updates chart corrections
• Measures distances
Answer: Coast Pilots give practical details beyond charts, aiding safe coastal
navigation.
8. Which method is used to determine position using two bearings from known
landmarks?
• Dead reckoning
• Running fix
• Cross bearings (fix)
• Estimated position
Answer: Cross bearings provide a fix by intersecting two lines of position from
landmarks.
9. What does “variation” refer to in navigation?
• Difference between true north and magnetic north
• Difference between compass north and magnetic north
• Deviation caused by ship’s metal
• Error in plotting latitude
Answer: Variation is the angular difference between true north and magnetic north.
10. Which tool is used to measure distances on a nautical chart?
• Sextant
• Parallel rulers
• Dividers
• Compass
Answer: Dividers transfer chart distances to the latitude scale for accurate
measurement.
11. What does “deviation” refer to in navigation?
• Error caused by chart scale
• Compass error due to ship’s magnetic influences
• Difference between true and magnetic north
• Incorrect plotting of latitude
12. Which line on a chart connects points of equal depth?
• Latitude line
• Longitude line
, • Contour line (isobath)
• Bearing line
13. What is the purpose of a Notice to Mariners?
• Updates charts and publications with corrections
• Lists light characteristics
• Provides tide tables
• Measures distances
14. Which tide occurs when the sun and moon are aligned?
• Neap tide
• Spring tide
• Slack tide
• Flood tide
15. What is the primary use of a GPS receiver in navigation?
• Measuring depth
• Determining precise position using satellites
• Plotting variation
• Calculating compass deviation
16. Which symbol on a chart indicates a submerged rock?
• Circle with dot
• Cross with soundings nearby
• Triangle
• Dashed line
17. What is the difference between true bearing and magnetic bearing?
• Variation
• Deviation
• Latitude
• Longitude
18. Which publication provides detailed harbor regulations and local knowledge?
• Light List
• Coast Pilot
• Chart Catalog
• Sailing Directions
19. What is a running fix?
• Position determined by advancing a line of position using DR
• Cross bearings from two landmarks
• GPS fix
• Estimated position
1. Which chart scale is best for coastal navigation?
• Large-scale harbor chart
• Coastal chart
• General chart
• Sailing chart
Answer: Coastal charts provide sufficient detail for near-shore navigation without
overwhelming clutter.
2. What is the primary use of a sextant?
• Compass bearings
• Dividing distances
• Plotting latitude and longitude
• Measuring angles between celestial bodies and the horizon
Answer: Sextants measure angular distances, essential for celestial navigation.
3. Which publication provides detailed information on lights, buoys, and beacons?
• Notice to Mariners
• Chart Catalog
• Light List
• Coast Pilot
Answer: The Light List is the authoritative source for light characteristics and buoy data.
4. What is the function of parallel rulers in chart work?
• Calculating speed over ground
• Measuring distances
• Plotting latitude and longitude
• Transferring bearings across a chart
Answer: Parallel rulers allow navigators to move a line across a chart while keeping its
angle constant.
5. Which electronic system transmits vessel identity and position data in real time?
• Radar
• GPS
• Depth sounder
• AIS (Automatic Identification System)
Answer: AIS enhances situational awareness by sharing vessel information for collision
avoidance.
6. When plotting a dead reckoning (DR) position, what must be considered?
• Only compass heading
• Only speed
• Course steered, speed, and time elapsed
,• Latitude and longitude
Answer: DR positions rely on heading, speed, and time to estimate location without
external fixes.
7. What is the primary purpose of a Coast Pilot publication?
• Provides supplemental navigation information such as harbor regulations,
currents, and hazards
• Lists light characteristics
• Updates chart corrections
• Measures distances
Answer: Coast Pilots give practical details beyond charts, aiding safe coastal
navigation.
8. Which method is used to determine position using two bearings from known
landmarks?
• Dead reckoning
• Running fix
• Cross bearings (fix)
• Estimated position
Answer: Cross bearings provide a fix by intersecting two lines of position from
landmarks.
9. What does “variation” refer to in navigation?
• Difference between true north and magnetic north
• Difference between compass north and magnetic north
• Deviation caused by ship’s metal
• Error in plotting latitude
Answer: Variation is the angular difference between true north and magnetic north.
10. Which tool is used to measure distances on a nautical chart?
• Sextant
• Parallel rulers
• Dividers
• Compass
Answer: Dividers transfer chart distances to the latitude scale for accurate
measurement.
11. What does “deviation” refer to in navigation?
• Error caused by chart scale
• Compass error due to ship’s magnetic influences
• Difference between true and magnetic north
• Incorrect plotting of latitude
12. Which line on a chart connects points of equal depth?
• Latitude line
• Longitude line
, • Contour line (isobath)
• Bearing line
13. What is the purpose of a Notice to Mariners?
• Updates charts and publications with corrections
• Lists light characteristics
• Provides tide tables
• Measures distances
14. Which tide occurs when the sun and moon are aligned?
• Neap tide
• Spring tide
• Slack tide
• Flood tide
15. What is the primary use of a GPS receiver in navigation?
• Measuring depth
• Determining precise position using satellites
• Plotting variation
• Calculating compass deviation
16. Which symbol on a chart indicates a submerged rock?
• Circle with dot
• Cross with soundings nearby
• Triangle
• Dashed line
17. What is the difference between true bearing and magnetic bearing?
• Variation
• Deviation
• Latitude
• Longitude
18. Which publication provides detailed harbor regulations and local knowledge?
• Light List
• Coast Pilot
• Chart Catalog
• Sailing Directions
19. What is a running fix?
• Position determined by advancing a line of position using DR
• Cross bearings from two landmarks
• GPS fix
• Estimated position
