FirstTryEn españolHow many questions are on the permit test?
It depends on the state. California gives 46 questions to applicants under 18 (38 right to pass) and 36 to adults (30 right). Florida gives 50 (40 right), New York 20 (14 right, plus 4 road-sign questions) and Pennsylvania 18 (15 right). Texas and Illinois publish a passing percentage (70% and 80%) rather than a fixed count. Every number below links to the DMV page it comes from.
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Questions and passing marks by state
| State | Questions | Right to pass | You can miss | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California, under 18 | 46 | 38 (83%) | 8 | DMV page |
| California, 18 or older | 36 | 30 (83%) | 6 | DMV page |
| Florida | 50 | 40 (80%) | 10 | DMV page |
| Illinois | 35 (practice format) | 28 (80% on the real test) | 7 (practice) | DMV page |
| New York | 20 | 14 (70%) | 6 | DMV page |
| Pennsylvania | 18 | 15 (83%) | 3 | DMV page |
| Texas | 30 (practice format) | 21 (70% on the real test) | 9 (practice) | DMV page |
| CDL General Knowledge | 50 (practice format) | 40 (80% on the real test) | 10 (practice) | DMV page |
- New York: The real New York test also has 4 road-sign questions, and you need 2 of them right. This practice covers the written rules.
- CDL General Knowledge: Federal rules require at least 80 percent on every CDL knowledge test. Many states give 50 General Knowledge questions (40 right to pass), but the count varies by state and license class, so check with yours.
How many can you get wrong?
Subtract the passing mark from the question count. In California an adult can miss 6 of 36; under 18, 8 of 46. In Florida you can miss 10 of 50, in New York 6 of 20, in Pennsylvania 3 of 18. Texas and Illinois set a percentage, so the number you can miss depends on how many questions your test has: at 70% a 30-question Texas test allows 9 misses, and at 80% a 35-question Illinois test allows 7.
What the questions look like
Multiple choice, written from the state's official driver handbook: rules of the road, signs and signals, speed limits, right-of-way, alcohol and license rules. FirstTry's practice tests use each state's published format and the same handbook, with the section linked on every answer. One full practice test a day is free.
Permit test, written test, knowledge test
These are the same test: the multiple-choice test you take before a learner's permit. Some DMVs call it the knowledge test, some the written test (it is on a screen in most offices now). The driving test (road test) is separate and comes later.