Feed back from a recent 3M exam:
Here are some examples I recall that were notably different from previous study materials:
* **Law Enforcement Vessel Lights**: There was a question asking about the specific light configuration that *may* be shown by law enforcement vessels. The answer choices where a flashing light, only federal law enforcement vessels show a flashing blue light. The correct answer, was the alternating red/yellow flashing light. This seemed like a significant update to the standard Rules of the Road questions.
* **Safe Speed Determination**: Another question focused on factors to consider for “safe speed.” One of the correct answer choices presented was “taking into account the vessel’s own light back scatter.” This is a factor I hadn’t explicitly seen emphasized in the previous question sets I had prepared with.
* **Operating in Restricted Visibility**: I also noted a substantial number of new questions pertaining to operations specifically in restricted visibility. While I can’t recall the exact wording for all of them, the range and nature of these questions felt distinctly updated and challenging, going beyond what was covered in prior versions of the exams.
* **Special Flashing Light Placement**: There was a new question about the required placement of a special flashing light. The options presented were along the lines of “as far forward as possible” versus “where it can best be seen and forward.” The correct answer indicated the first choice emphasizing the light being placed most forward.
There was also a question regarding distress signals with the answer being an EPIRB. Some of the answers choices were strange like a red smoke signal vs an orange one.