FirstTryEn españolPennsylvania permit test study guide
The Pennsylvania knowledge test is written from the Pennsylvania Driver's Manual. Format: 18 questions, 15 right to pass (source). This guide lists what the handbook tests, the numbers people forget and four sample questions, each with its handbook section.
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What the test covers
FirstTry's Pennsylvania bank has 150 questions written from the handbook. The biggest topics, by how many questions the handbook supports:
- Sharing the road: 12 questions
- Learner's permit rules: 9 questions
- Night and weather: 9 questions
- Your driving record: 9 questions
- Junior license rules: 8 questions
- Road signs: 8 questions
- Right-of-way: 8 questions
- Alcohol and drugs: 8 questions
Numbers to know
Each line is in our words; the link opens the handbook section it comes from, so you can check it.
- The school zone limit is 15 mph while the yellow lights flash or during the hours shown on the sign. handbook section
- Pennsylvania's top speed limit is 70 mph. On interstates the maximum limit is posted after each interchange. handbook section
- A truck may not exceed 35 mph with anyone in its open bed, and a child under 18 may not ride there except in limited cases such as farm work, hunting, or a parade. handbook section
- One drink means 5 ounces of wine, 12 ounces of regular beer, or 1.5 ounces of 80-proof liquor. Know how much alcohol is in what you drink. handbook section
- Pennsylvania does not let drivers under 21 drive with any measurable alcohol; at 0.02 or more they are considered to be driving under the influence. handbook section
- At 0.08 or higher an adult is considered to be driving under the influence. A driver can also be convicted at a lower level after being stopped for erratic driving. handbook section
- Anyone under 21 is barred from buying, drinking, possessing, or transporting alcohol, and that includes having it in the vehicle they drive. handbook section
- Park as close to the curb as you can, never more than 12 inches away. Where there is no curb, pull as far off the roadway as possible. handbook section
- Parking within 15 feet of a fire hydrant is not allowed unless there is an emergency or a police officer tells you to. handbook section
- When you park, stay at least 30 feet from any flashing signal, STOP or YIELD sign, or other traffic control device at the roadside. handbook section
- Stay at least 50 feet from the closest rail of a railroad crossing when you park, and never stop on the tracks. handbook section
- PennDOT will not take a learner's permit application before your 16th birthday. Only the medical part of the form may be completed up to six months earlier. handbook section
How to study in four days
- Day 1: read the handbook chapters on rules of the road and signs. Do not skim the sign pages; shapes and colors are tested.
- Day 2: read speed limits, right-of-way, parking and the alcohol chapter. Write down every number.
- Day 3: take a full practice test in the real format. Open the handbook section on every question you miss.
- Day 4: take another test. If you pass with room to spare twice in a row, you are ready.
Sample questions
Right-of-way
A funeral procession's lead vehicle entered the intersection on green, and the light has now turned red for the procession. What should you do?
- Yield and let the procession continue through
- Drive through gaps in the procession once your light turns green
- Sound your horn to signal the procession to stop
Show the answer
Yield and let the procession continue through. Once the lead vehicle has entered on a green light, the rest of the procession may continue and other traffic must yield. Do not cut in and out of the line.
From the handbook: Chapter 3: Funeral Procession (PDF p. 68)
Speed limits
What is the maximum speed for an open-bed pickup truck when someone is riding in the bed?
- 25 mph
- 35 mph
- 45 mph
Show the answer
35 mph. A truck may not exceed 35 mph with anyone in its open bed, and a child under 18 may not ride there except in limited cases such as farm work, hunting, or a parade.
From the handbook: Chapter 3: Passengers in an Open-Bed Truck (PDF p. 63)
Road signs
A route marker shaped like a keystone identifies what kind of road?
- A U.S. traffic route
- An interstate highway
- A Pennsylvania traffic route
Show the answer
A Pennsylvania traffic route. The keystone shape marks a Pennsylvania traffic route, such as PA Route 39 in the manual's example.
From the handbook: Chapter 2: Signs, Route Markers (PDF p. 25)
Alcohol and drugs
Police arrest a driver under 21 and want a blood, breath, or urine test. Is parental consent needed?
- No, but police will notify the parents of the arrest
- Yes, a parent must agree before any test
- Only if the driver is under 18
Show the answer
No, but police will notify the parents of the arrest. Underage drivers can be tested without a parent's permission. A court may also order an alcohol evaluation or an education, intervention, or counseling program.
From the handbook: Chapter 4: Underage Drinking (PDF p. 88)