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USCG QMED Practice Test

521 QMED questions from the National Maritime Center’s published sample exams for QMED, each with the NMC’s answer key. Questions that need an illustration, a chart or a reference book are left out.

144 of them come with the closest regulation or reference section, shown with the answer.

Take a quiz of 10 drawn at random, or read the 10 sample questions and answers below.

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10 sample QMED questions with answers

The same 10 on every visit. A related section is the closest match RegKnot found in the regulations and references; it is not part of the NMC’s answer key.

  1. Question 1 · QMED

    Under what circumstance would a hand-held portable phase sequence indicator be used should the main switchboard mounted fixed phase sequence indicator be inoperative?

    • A.installing a new synchroscope
    • B.replacing a defective solenoid
    • C.paralleling alternators
    • D.preparing to make the shore power connection (correct answer)

    Answer: D. preparing to make the shore power connection

    Related regulation: 46 CFR 111.30-25 ↗ — Alternating-current ship's service switchboards

  2. Question 2 · QMED

    What type of respiratory protection provides the greatest protection from the various respiratory hazards, is specifically designed for emergency and rescue situations, but has time constraints associated with its use?

    • A.Emergency escape breathing apparatus
    • B.Self-contained breathing apparatus (correct answer)
    • C.Powered air-purifying respirator
    • D.Reusable full-mask respirator

    Answer: B. Self-contained breathing apparatus

    Related regulation: 46 CFR 197.550 ↗ — Respiratory protection

  3. Question 3 · QMED

    Where would a coarse screen wire mesh strainer normally be found on a diesel engine lubrication system?

    • A.pump suction line (correct answer)
    • B.filter bypass return line
    • C.pump discharge line
    • D.gravity tank inlet line

    Answer: A. pump suction line

    Related regulation: 46 CFR 63.15-5 ↗ — Strainers

  4. Question 4 · QMED

    What is an engine room bilge oily-water separator designed to do?

    • A.Remove small amounts of oil from small amounts of water.
    • B.Remove small amounts of oil from large amounts of water. (correct answer)
    • C.Remove small amounts of water from small amounts of oil.
    • D.Remove small amounts of water from large amounts of oil.

    Answer: B. Remove small amounts of oil from large amounts of water.

    Related regulation: IMO MEPC Resolution MEPC.107(49) Ch.2 — IMO MEPC Resolution Chapter 2 — The requirements of Annex I of MARPOL 73/78 relating to pollution prevention

  5. Question 5 · QMED

    Allowances may be made for the expansion and contraction in piping by the use of expansion joints or __________.

    • A.retractable flanges
    • B.unions
    • C.bends or loops in the line (correct answer)
    • D.union bulkhead fittings

    Answer: C. bends or loops in the line

    Related regulation: 46 CFR 154.506 ↗ — Mechanical expansion joint: Limits in a piping system

  6. Question 6 · QMED

    On a ship with a continuously manned engine room, with a three-person watch rotation, what is the watch and rest period rotation?

    • A.4 hours on watch followed by 8 hours rest (correct answer)
    • B.6 hours on watch followed by 6 hours rest
    • C.8 hours on watch followed by 4 hours rest
    • D.8 hours on watch followed by 8 hours rest

    Answer: A. 4 hours on watch followed by 8 hours rest

    Related regulation: 46 CFR 15.1111 — Work hours and rest periods

  7. Question 7 · QMED

    Under what circumstances could equipment be operated when tagged with DANGER tags?

    • A.Never. (correct answer)
    • B.Whenever there is a break in the actual maintenance activity.
    • C.Whenever you feel that it is safe to do so.
    • D.Whenever permission is granted by your supervisor.

    Answer: A. Never.

    Related regulation: 33 CFR 142.90 ↗ — Lockout and tagout

  8. Question 8 · QMED

    How is the emergency bilge suction valve typically used?

    • A.to inject cleaning additives when the bilges are extremely dirty
    • B.when the main condenser becomes fouled, in order to provide additional cooling water circulation
    • C.if the bilges become flooded and they cannot be emptied by any other means (correct answer)
    • D.to connect the rose box to the independent bilge suction

    Answer: C. if the bilges become flooded and they cannot be emptied by any other means

    Related regulation: 46 CFR 143.275 — Bilge pumps or other dewatering capability

  9. Question 9 · QMED

    In performing routine maintenance of a ship's service alternator, what should be included?

    • A.megger testing of all rectifying diodes
    • B.lubricating exciter slip rings
    • C.periodic cleaning of the air filters or screens (correct answer)
    • D.changing the pedestal bearing insulation yearly

    Answer: C. periodic cleaning of the air filters or screens

    Related regulation: NVIC 05-86 Encl.1 — Voluntary Standards for U.S. Uninspected Commercial Fishing Vessels — Enclosure (1)

  10. Question 10 · QMED

    If you hear the general alarm sounded 3 times supplemented by 3 short blasts of the whistle, what does this indicate?

    • A.Fire and emergency.
    • B.Abandon ship.
    • C.Dismissal from fire and emergency. (correct answer)
    • D.Dismissal from a boat drill.

    Answer: C. Dismissal from fire and emergency.

    Related regulation: 46 CFR 109.503 ↗ — Emergency signals

Exams these questions come from

  • QMED521 questions

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The questions and answer keys are from the U.S. Coast Guard National Maritime Center’s published sample exams. RegKnot is not affiliated with the U.S. Coast Guard or the National Maritime Center. A practice score does not predict your exam result; check the NMC for current exam requirements.