First, it is strongly recommended that users go to the      brown menu bar  across the top of your screen after logging in and get the Instruction sheets for the proper use of LAPWARE to prepare for your exam. You can also download files the LAPWARE administrator(s) have uploaded to the server for you to use. You can download thsoe files you feel you need for YOUR credential rather than all of them.

LAPWARE, in the STUDY mode, records the number of times a user has answered each individual question as well as the score that has been achieved on each question. LAPWARE records your overall grade for all questions answered under the Review Questions screen. It does NOT record grades for questions taken on real or study tests. The user has the capability of reviewing ALL of the questions in a section or by setting filters (selecting categories), up to 4 levels deep. The student has the capability of studying, training or testing his/her skill on just the limited number of questions selected. This gives the user chance to improve his/her skills and knowledge just in the categories where he/she determines or knows he/she is weak. Use LAPWARE to study for your original license or upgrade to a higher level license. A system that can't be beat!

You can also filter questions from the "ALL QUESTIONS" button below distractre "D". Finally you can filter based upon the question you are viewing on your screen. For example, if you have an AZIMUTH displaying and want to see the list of Azimuth questions displayed, simply go to the Question Filters box and select "SET FILTER TO QUESTION DISPLAYED".

As of 2024-25, an important thing to note is that there is a CLEAR ALL FLTERS button on the right middle of the Review Questions screen. The background of this button "Clear All Fiters" will turn yellow displaying "Clear All Filters" and remain that way until either you Click on Clear All Filters from the button are reset your filter to CLEAR under the Question Filter button. This is important because one logically might not be able to then filter to display Azimuth probems while JUST the Azimuth questions are displayed. An error message of "Question ID NOT FOUND" could be displayed. ALSO, if you select a Category and/or Subcateogries (on any one or more levels) from the Question Fiters button, IF THAT CATEGORY does NOT apply to your credential the "Question ID NOT FOUND" would be displayed.

If the wrong answer is selected, by double clicking on an answer, or using the keyboard (A, B, C, or D), the background turns red and the correct answer background turns green. If the user selects the correct answer the background turns green.  A record of the student's score is maintained as the user progresses through the questions, studying and/or testing. The user has the capability of seeing which questions in a particular category have not yet been answered, or allows the user to review just those questions selected that were incorrectly answered. LAPWARE allows the user to identify and concentrate on individual weaknesses to sharpen his/her knowledge and skills. This allows the candidate to work at his/her own pace. No one does it better! 

A RE-TAKE WRONG button (also described below) allows the questions answered corrctly to be hidden and display just the questions that were wrong, reset set their answer to be clear (as if NOT answered) and the user can review just those he/she go wrong. NOW BE CAREFUL here, You should do this just under Filtered Questions. If you do this on the entire database then those questions you got incorrect will be cleared.

LAPWARE, in the TRAINING mode, the correct answer (A, B, C, D) background is highlighted in green allowing the student to study the questions and the correct answer. Grades are not recorded in this training mode. 

LAPWARE, in the TESTING mode, the user selects the answer and the background turns grey. Upon completion of reviewing all of the desired questions, the user can select the study mode and review the correct and wrong answered questions and see his/her final grade. The user can reset the grade scoring at any time and review the same questions over and over, WITHOUT LIMIT, until the skill or desired level of knowledge is mastered! A system that can't be beat.

The authors painstakingly reorganized the sequence of the examination questions into clear cut categories for each of the five engine disciplines. The objective of this effort is to provide the license candidate with quick access to definitive areas of required expertise in order to accelerate systemic study and stimulate cognitive learning.

LAPWARE allows the user to select questions based upon these pre-defined categories, from 1 to 4 levels. Finally, you have the option of selecting just one of the levels. For example, you could select to view all of the USCG questions classified one specific Sub Category (1, 2 or 3). This "Cascade Filter" capability is seen throughout the entire LAPWARE program for questions, reports, exams, etc.

As of 2023, at the TOP of the Review Questions screen, is the capability of YOU selecting to jump from ONE book to another to view those FILTERED questions based upon your Exam Code selected initially when entering the Review Questions screen, making it easier for the user to switch books. The MAX Number of questions is the total quesstions in that BOOK for ALL questions (no Exam Code selected). Below that will be the questions YOU have to study for YOUR credential. This is just showing you a rough estimate of the deduction of question count for your credential (Exam Code) selected.

Furthermore, ALL USCG diagrams and diagram solutions, math solutions and many references (up to TWO View PDF buttons) are built into the program and can be selected, along with a DETAIL button to see a PDF view of the diagram displayed for MORE detail. References in the public domain are stored as PDF files are available for users to download and reference on or offline.  Our goal is to have all of the mathematical solutions displayed in the program for every question requiring computations - especially those that are complex. The first solution in a series is detailed in its explanation to more adequately explain how to properly solve the problem. The LAPWARE authors are working diligently to develop the most common and practical mathematical solutions for ALL questions. Those questions containing errors will be pointed out to the National Maritime Center (NMC), hopefully, for correction. Many USCG-NMC questions contain similar question stems with different answers or distracters. These ALL exist in LAPWARE.  Most, but not all, duplicate questions (identical questions and answers) have already been eliminated after notification by the LAPWARE authors to the NMC.

NMC has expressed a desire to eventually generate computer based tests that mariners would take in the exam room, which would be instantly graded. LAPWARE has been doing this since 2004, that's over 21 years and counting PLUS mariners can quickly see REFERENCES to the question, if available, a SOLUTION if available and DIAGRAM applicable to the question.

Finally, LAPWARE reports (Diagram and Category) allow the student to more efficiently and effectively spend his/her time preparing for the exam. After all, isn't this your main goal in studying for your credential exam? LAPWARE makes this easy. Each of the USCG-NMC book sections work in an identical fashion reducing the learning curve and allowing students to concentrate on studying subject matter, questions, solving problems and moving forward towards achieving their goal - successfully passing the credential exam.  

New features added in 2013 and 2014 are "RE-TAKE WRONG" allowing students to review questions they answered incorrectly by eliminating the CORRECT answered questions and showing the user just those he/she got wrong to retake and attempt to properly answer the questions. This works in both the "REVEIW QUESTIONS" screen and on STUDY TEST. On a Real Test a user can only take it ONCE so there is no opportunity to retake it.  More recently, the capability of students to be able to "GENERATE TEMPLATE" allows mariners to generate their OWN templates from which randomly generated tests can be generated with an answer sheet. There are two limits. First, the number of tests that can be generated at a time is ONE. The second test will overwrite the first test and answer sheet which is allowed to be printed or saved to one's hard drive before generating the second test. Second, the maximum number of questions that can be created in a student generated test is 100 questions. LAPWARE authors will continue to make improvements as deemed necessary for the benefit of mariners in studying.

NOTE: This feature is often not used but is very beneficial. Upon selecting from the MAIN MENU the Review Questions screen, you then select your Book (RR, DG, SA, NG or NP) and then your EXAM CODE as assiged for the credential you are studying for and click on GO. Within the Reivew Questions screen as described above, you can use filters in various way, have answered a number of questions and then wish to go to lunch or dinner. YOU DO NOT have to memorize all of the settings you selected. Simply EXIT and CONFIRM exiting the Review Questions screen and shutdown your computer if desriied. The NEXT time you want to boot up and go use LAPWARE and the Reivew Questions screen, when you clidk on the Review Questions screen DO NOT select your Book or Exam Code. If you wish to return to your last location simply click on the button on the top middle of the screen named "RETURN TO SAVED LOCATION" and you will be taken to the last book used, with the filters selected and the last question you were on will be displayed. NEAT!

As you can see from yearly dates, LAPWARE is not just standing still with an excellent program. We are continually trying to improve its capability. Expect more improvements in the future.

The authors wish each of you success on your USCG credential exam and a long, safe career at sea.

More Information