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Armed Forces · Last updated November 2026

Royal Navy Rating (Regular, Non-Commissioned Sailor): free practice test

Ratings are the Royal Navy's non-commissioned sailors, working in engineering, warfare, logistics, medical, aviation and submarine roles. You apply online, take the six-part Defence Aptitude Assessment, have a Selection Interview by video, then pass a 4-day Candidate Preparation Course with the Pre-Joining Fitness Test (from 1 October 2026: bleep test level 6.6, a mid-thigh pull and a 4 kg medicine ball throw) and a medical. After a Security Check you start 10 weeks of Initial Naval Training at HMS Raleigh in Cornwall.

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About the Royal Navy Rating exam

Ratings are the Royal Navy's non-commissioned sailors, working in engineering, warfare, logistics, medical, aviation and submarine roles. You apply online, take the six-part Defence Aptitude Assessment, have a Selection Interview by video, then pass a 4-day Candidate Preparation Course with the Pre-Joining Fitness Test (from 1 October 2026: bleep test level 6.6, a mid-thigh pull and a 4 kg medicine ball throw) and a medical. After a Security Check you start 10 weeks of Initial Naval Training at HMS Raleigh in Cornwall.

What's on the exam

Royal Navy Rating
The Rating Role and Eligibility
8 key facts
DAA: Verbal and Numerical Reasoning
6 key facts
DAA: Work Rate and Spatial Reasoning
6 key facts
DAA: Mechanical and Electrical Comprehension
6 key facts
Fitness Test, Medical and the Candidate Preparation Course
7 key facts
Selection Interview and Royal Navy Values
6 key facts
Application Strategy and Timeline
7 key facts
Initial Naval Training at HMS Raleigh
5 key facts

Each branch is a topic in the official outline. Members see every key fact on the full mind map. Read the free study guide →

How to pass the Royal Navy Rating exam

  • Use the official DAA familiarisation questions on the Royal Navy and RAF websites first, then practise each of the six sections against a timer. Required scores vary by role, so a stronger score widens your choice of Profession.
  • Mechanical and electrical comprehension count for engineering roles. Revise levers, gears, pulleys, pressure, series and parallel circuits and Ohm's law (V = I x R) at GCSE level.
  • The fitness test changed on 1 October 2026: train for the bleep test to level 6.6 or better, plus lower-body pulling strength and upper-body power, instead of the old 2.4 km run.
  • For the Selection Interview, know your chosen branch: its training, where you might serve, the terms of service, and why you want it. Prepare short, real examples about school, work, sport and teamwork.

Save your results and get your Readiness Score

Create a free account after the test: your score by topic, a mistakes bank, the complete study notes for the first topic, flashcards and the UK Public-Service Hiring Process Cheat Sheet.

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What's in the premium Royal Navy Rating prep

Premium Royal Navy Rating prep is studied one topic at a time. Each step starts with that topic's key notes and flashcard deck, then its own question sets of 25, so you master one topic before you move to the next. When every topic is strong, the 6 full mock exams show you're ready.

3,000practice questions, every answer explained
6full-length mock exams, 50 questions each, timed
800flashcards with spaced repetition, sorted by topic
60comprehensive key notes across 8 topics

Your step-by-step study path

  1. 1
    The Rating Role and Eligibility8 key notes, 100 flashcards, then 375 practice questions in 15 sets of 25
    Notes free with an account
  2. 2
    DAA: Verbal and Numerical Reasoning8 key notes, 100 flashcards, then 375 practice questions in 15 sets of 25
    Premium
  3. 3
    DAA: Work Rate and Spatial Reasoning8 key notes, 100 flashcards, then 375 practice questions in 15 sets of 25
    Premium
  4. 4
    DAA: Mechanical and Electrical Comprehension8 key notes, 100 flashcards, then 375 practice questions in 15 sets of 25
    Premium
  5. 5
    Fitness Test, Medical and the Candidate Preparation Course7 key notes, 100 flashcards, then 375 practice questions in 15 sets of 25
    Premium
  6. 6
    Selection Interview and Royal Navy Values7 key notes, 100 flashcards, then 375 practice questions in 15 sets of 25
    Premium
  7. 7
    Application Strategy and Timeline7 key notes, 100 flashcards, then 375 practice questions in 15 sets of 25
    Premium
  8. 8
    Initial Naval Training at HMS Raleigh7 key notes, 100 flashcards, then 375 practice questions in 15 sets of 25
    Premium
  9. Final step: 6 full mock exams50 questions each, timed like test day. Pass them, then book your exam.
    Premium
Free with an account

Read the complete Royal Navy Rating study notes for “The Rating Role and Eligibility”

Our first full set of comprehensive notes, about 11 minutes of reading: What ratings do · Age and nationality · Medical, convictions and tattoos · Pay and terms, a worked exam example, the traps examiners use and a one-minute recap. Create a free account to read it and see how premium notes work before you decide.

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Study tools included

3,000 practice questions

3,000 exam-style questions per exam, organized topic by topic in sets of 25. Every answer explained, with the rule it comes from.

6 full mock exams

6 full-length timed mock exams per exam, with real question counts and time limits, so test day feels like practice day.

Exam Readiness Score

One 0 to 100 number that tells you when you're ready to book. Reach 80 and you're covered by our Pass Guarantee.

800 flashcards + spaced repetition

800 flashcards per exam, in a deck for each topic, that come back right before you'd forget them. Five minutes a day keeps every number fresh.

60 comprehensive key notes

60 key notes per exam, split across its topics and each explained in full: the concepts, worked exam examples, the traps examiners use and a quick recap. Your first set is free with an account.

Mind maps

See the whole exam on one screen: every topic and the facts under it.

Sample questions with answers

These are the questions in the free test above, with answers. Try the test first. You'll learn more by getting some wrong.

1. Passage: "Ships at sea run a watch system so that key positions are manned around the clock. On many ships the day is divided into watches of four hours, with two shorter 'dog watches' in the early evening so that the pattern rotates." Which statement is supported by the passage?
Answer: The dog watches make the watch pattern rotate. The passage says the two shorter dog watches exist 'so that the pattern rotates'. It does not say how long each sailor works in total, says the dog watches are shorter (not longer), and says watches run around the clock at sea, not only in wartime.
2. A ship burns 12 tonnes of fuel an hour at 18 knots and has 300 tonnes available. For how many hours can it steam at that speed?
Answer: 25 hours. 300 / 12 = 25 hours. The speed (18 knots) is extra information you do not need for this question, though you would use it to work out distance: 25 x 18 = 450 nautical miles. Numerical tests often include irrelevant data.
3. A ship's company of 240 has 35% ashore on leave. How many are on board?
Answer: 156. 35% of 240 is 84 (10% = 24, so 30% = 72, plus 5% = 12). The number on board is 240 - 84 = 156. Choosing 84 answers the wrong question; always check whether the question asks for the part or the remainder.
4. Using the code 7 = K, 3 = R, 9 = P, 2 = E, 5 = T, which letters stand for 3 9 2 7?
Answer: R P E K. 3 = R, 9 = P, 2 = E, 7 = K, giving R P E K. Work rate tasks are simple but fast: look up each symbol in order and do not try to hold the whole code in your head. Speed comes from a steady rhythm, not from skipping checks.
5. On a standard die, opposite faces add up to 7. The die sits with 1 on top and 2 facing you. Which number is on the bottom face?
Answer: 6. The bottom face is opposite the top, so it is 7 - 1 = 6. The face at the back is 7 - 2 = 5. Using the 'opposite faces add to 7' rule turns many spatial questions about dice and cubes into simple arithmetic.
6. The lower-case letter 'b' is rotated 180 degrees in the plane of the page (turned upside down, not flipped). Which letter does it look like?
Answer: q. Rotating 'b' by 180 degrees moves the loop from the bottom right to the top left, giving 'q'. A mirror image (flip) would give 'd'. Spatial questions often hinge on telling rotations apart from reflections.
7. A 600 N load sits 0.5 m from the pivot of a lever. How much effort is needed 2 m from the pivot on the other side to balance it?
Answer: 150 N. Moments balance: load x its distance = effort x its distance, so 600 x 0.5 = effort x 2, giving effort = 150 N. A longer effort arm means less force is needed, which is why long spanners make tight nuts easier to turn.
8. In a hydraulic jack, the small piston has an area of 10 cm2 and the large piston 100 cm2. A force of 50 N is applied to the small piston. What force does the large piston exert?
Answer: 500 N. Pressure is the same throughout the fluid: 50 N / 10 cm2 = 5 N per cm2, and 5 x 100 = 500 N. The trade-off is distance: the small piston must move ten times further than the large one.
9. Two 6-ohm resistors are connected in parallel across a 12 V supply. What total current flows from the supply?
Answer: 4 A. Two equal resistors in parallel give half the resistance: 3 ohms. Current = V / R = 12 / 3 = 4 A (2 A through each branch). In series they would total 12 ohms and only 1 A would flow.
10. Near the end of a long night watch, you notice a gauge reading slightly outside its normal range. Your relief is due in ten minutes and you are tired. What should you do?
Answer: Report it straight away to the person in charge of the watch and log it. Commitment and Integrity mean doing your job fully to the last minute and being honest about what you see. On a ship a small fault can become a fire or flood, so you report and record it at once. Assuming it is a faulty gauge is not your call to make.
11. In your mess, some ratings keep leaving a new shipmate out of conversations and mocking her accent. What is the best response?
Answer: Include her yourself, tell the others it is not acceptable and raise it with a senior rating if it continues. Respect for Others is a core Royal Navy value, and in close quarters at sea exclusion and mockery quickly damage a team. Acting early and using the chain of command if needed is the expected response.
12. Your leading hand orders you to clean an area of the ship you cleaned an hour ago. You think it is pointless. What is the best response?
Answer: Do it properly, and if you have a concern raise it calmly afterwards. Discipline means carrying out lawful orders promptly and to a high standard, even when you do not see the reason. There may be an inspection or a reason you do not know about. You can ask questions calmly afterwards, but you do not refuse or sabotage a task.
13. From 1 October 2026, which test replaced the 2.4 km run in the Royal Navy Pre-Joining Fitness Test for most candidates?
Answer: The multi-stage fitness test (bleep test) to level 6.6, regardless of age or gender. The Royal Navy's PJFT page says that from 1 October 2026 candidates must pass the bleep test to at least level 6.6 over 20 metres, regardless of age or gender. The new PJFT also includes an isometric mid-thigh pull and a seated 4 kg medicine ball throw. Diver candidates need level 10.5 plus press-ups, sit-ups and pull-ups.
14. You receive your Defence Aptitude Assessment link in your candidate portal. Which statement about taking it is correct?
Answer: The link is valid for 14 days and, once started, the test must be finished in one sitting. The link stays valid for 14 days, and once you start you must finish in a single sitting. The real test needs a screen of at least 10.2 inches (practice can be on a phone), and you must attempt all six sections. You can also arrange to take it at your local Armed Forces Careers Office.
15. A Commonwealth citizen living in Kenya wants to apply to the Royal Navy from her home country. What is the minimum age for her to apply from there?
Answer: 18. The Royal Navy's eligibility page says Commonwealth citizens can apply from inside their own country from age 18, or as UK residents from age 16, and must hold a valid passport. Some roles have stricter nationality and residency rules for security reasons.

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Certification guide

How to join the British Army, Royal Navy or RAF: All three services start with an online application, then test your aptitude, fitness, health and motivation before you start basic training. The Royal Navy and RAF now use the same [Defence Aptitude Assessment](https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/careers/joining-process/defence-aptitude-assessment); the Army runs its own Assessment Centre. Officers face a separate, longer selection. Here is how each route works and how to prepare.

Royal Navy Rating exam FAQ

How many questions are on the Royal Navy Rating exam?

Defence Aptitude Assessment (DAA): six timed multiple-choice tests (verbal reasoning, numerical reasoning, work rate, spatial reasoning, mechanical comprehension, electrical comprehension). Question counts are not published, with a time limit of not published per section; the royal navy advises setting aside 30 to 40 minutes for the practice version. Format: closed book; take it in a quiet place with notifications off. the real test must be taken on a screen of at least 10.2 inches (practice is fine on a phone).

What is the passing score for Royal Navy Rating?

No single pass mark: required scores differ by Profession and Specialisation, so you do not need every answer right. You must attempt all six sections.

How much does the Royal Navy Rating exam cost?

No fee. Most UK public-service applications are free. The police promotion and investigators' exams are arranged through your force, and degree routes may have tuition costs, so check the job advert or your force before you start.

Which languages is the Royal Navy Rating exam offered in?

English.

Where do I take the Royal Navy Rating exam?

Defence Aptitude Assessment online at home (link valid 14 days, one sitting, screen of at least 10.2 inches) or at an Armed Forces Careers Office; Selection Interview by video; 4-day Candidate Preparation Course for fitness and medical.

Is this Royal Navy Rating practice test free?

Yes. The 15-question practice test on this page is free, with an explanation for every answer and no signup. A free account also unlocks the complete study notes for the first topic. The full Royal Navy Rating prep is Premium at £45 a month for this exam.

What's in the premium Royal Navy Rating prep?

3,000 practice questions organized topic by topic (The Rating Role and Eligibility: 375; DAA: Verbal and Numerical Reasoning: 375; DAA: Work Rate and Spatial Reasoning: 375; DAA: Mechanical and Electrical Comprehension: 375; Fitness Test, Medical and the Candidate Preparation Course: 375; Selection Interview and Royal Navy Values: 375; Application Strategy and Timeline: 375; Initial Naval Training at HMS Raleigh: 375), 6 full-length timed mock exams of 50 questions, 800 flashcards and 60 comprehensive key notes split across all 8 topics, plus a mistakes bank and the Readiness Score.

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Exam details are summarized from the official candidate information available in November 2026. The recruiting organisation changes formats and fees, so confirm with Royal Navy (Royal Navy Recruiting, royalnavy.mod.uk/careers) before you book. UKCivilServicePrep is an independent career-prep service, not affiliated with or endorsed by any government agency.

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