Question About the Written Driver's Test

Animeboye · **on:** October 13, 2010, 12:27:54 PM

So next month I'm going to finally be taking my written driver's test and I've been wondering: just how hard is the test? Is there anything I'll really need to study? Are the tests different depending on which state you live in? And just how many questions are on the test? Oh yeah, and how many points do you need to pass the written test(I know with the actual driving portion, you need like, 30 or something)?

Malte279 · **Reply #1 on:** October 13, 2010, 01:51:15 PM

I don't know about the tests in the US, but over here they can be done. there are many hundred or thousand possible questions for the tests all of which are published over here for people to practice. One just doesn't know which of the questions will be picked. However so long one knows the traffic rules and has a little common sense (the later in case of such questions as the scenario of playing kids on the road in front of you and the options to pick from (multiple choice tests are very uncommon at schools over here, but they are the rule for the theoretical driving tests) are such like "hit the gas pedal to pass them by quickly" or "slow down and stop".
If the US driving tests are comparable to ours you need little more than knowledge of the traffic rules, common sense, and a little practice of the questions that might be asked.

aabicus (LettuceBacon&Tomato) · **Reply #2 on:** October 13, 2010, 02:13:19 PM

In the US you get to take the test as many times as you want till you pass, so just remember the answers you guessed and try new ones until you're right. And I don't mean the next day; you can retake it immediately afterward. Just grab a new Scantron and sit back down.

oogaboo · **Reply #3 on:** October 13, 2010, 02:39:26 PM

Quote from: LettuceBacon&Tomato,Oct 13 2010 on 01:13 PM

In the US you get to take the test as many times as you want till you pass, so just remember the answers you guessed and try new ones until you're right.

True, but if you mess up once and have to take it again you'd have to pay a fee.
Written re-exam is $5 and Driving re-exam is $10.
In Florida their is a total of 20 questions in road signs and 20 in traffic and you should not miss more than five questions in one of these subjects. I don't remember how many points you need in the driving test but it might depend on the location.

DarkHououmon · **Reply #4 on:** October 13, 2010, 02:58:19 PM

Quote from: oogaboo,Oct 13 2010 on 02:39 PM

True, but if you mess up once and have to take it again you'd have to pay a fee.
Written re-exam is $5 and Driving re-exam is $10.

This isn't true. Where I am, I did not have to pay a fee to take an exam a second or third time. You just take a number, wait until it's called, talk with a person, and they set you up to take the test. There's no fee at all. The only time you have to pay is when you actually pass the test, then you must pay for a permit license, which lasts for a few months, then you get a driver's license.

Malte279 · **Reply #5 on:** October 13, 2010, 03:11:34 PM

Well, given the fact that with drivers training and everything my license cost about 3000 Euros I cannot deny I am not very shocked about the $10 for redoing the test in the US. I think the theoretical test alone was about a 100 Euro over here. Same as with gas prices there are rather different standards in the US than there are over here.

Mumbling · **Reply #6 on:** October 13, 2010, 03:12:28 PM

Where we live, taking a re-exam costs loots of money, a lot more than $5 or $10.. haha!

But I dont actually have my driving licence, so I dont know.

Petrie. · **Reply #7 on:** October 13, 2010, 09:41:58 PM

I've heard some states charge to take the test. I know when I did it, there wasn't a fee (not that I can recall anyway). Its all common sense questions really. I didn't study at all and passed.

pokeplayer984 · **Reply #8 on:** October 13, 2010, 11:07:56 PM

Quote from: LettuceBacon&Tomato,Oct 13 2010 on 12:13 PM

In the US you get to take the test as many times as you want till you pass, so just remember the answers you guessed and try new ones until you're right. And I don't mean the next day; you can retake it immediately afterward. Just grab a new Scantron and sit back down.

Quote

Where I am, I did not have to pay a fee to take an exam a second or third time. You just take a number, wait until it's called, talk with a person, and they set you up to take the test. There's no fee at all. The only time you have to pay is when you actually pass the test, then you must pay for a permit license, which lasts for a few months, then you get a driver's license.

Quote

Its all common sense questions really. I didn't study at all and passed.

I think I now see why there's so many sucky drivers in the US. We make it too easy to get a license. The rules should be more strict.

Petrie. · **Reply #9 on:** October 14, 2010, 08:13:46 PM

^ I think if people used more common sense when driving there wouldn't be so many sucky drivers in the US.

Cancerian Tiger · **Reply #10 on:** October 14, 2010, 11:06:01 PM

Quote from: Petrie,Oct 14 2010 on 07:13 PM

^ I think if people used more common sense when driving there wouldn't be so many sucky drivers in the US.

I believe the rules vary state by state. I got my license in Michigan, which requires minors to go through a Graduated Drivers License (GDL) program. I had to take two segments of Drivers Ed, put in 60 hours of daytime driving and 20 hours of nighttime driving with a parent or responsible relative/friend aged 21 or older, pass both written exams for both DE segments, AND take a driving test with a cop before I got my driver's license, which altogether took over two years to get through the program and cost somewhere around $400

.

They're not as strict in Virginia, and I notice a huge difference in the quality of folks' driving skills

.

As far as the written test is concerned, I agree that it is mostly common sense and knowledge of traffic rules/laws and signs.

Animeboye · **Reply #11 on:** October 16, 2010, 03:01:57 AM

Well I took an online test earlier today and scored 16 out of 25. I'm not sure how good that is(although I'm happy with the results). Just how many questions do you have to get right in order to pass?

Petrie. · **Reply #12 on:** October 16, 2010, 06:32:22 AM

http://www.drivingdirectory.com/test/index.php

I got 18 out of 20 here and the questions I got wrong I'm not entirely positive I agree with the answer. As I said, its common sense to pass these things unless you're totally clueless about the rules of the road (eg right of way at an intersection).

Littlefoot1616 · **Reply #13 on:** October 17, 2010, 07:42:40 AM

I took the 1st written test and got 13/20 (Driving Test FAIL!!!

) bearing in mind I've never driven in the US. The UK driving tests have been suped up in recent years. The pass mark for the questions is now 43 out of 50 (this covers everything from behaviour on the road to road signs etc.) Now we also have something called "Hazard Perception". You are played a 2min video clip of someone driving (in a 1st person view) and you have to click the mouse every time you notice something that could be a potential hazard. A "hazard" is defined as something that would force you to change direction, speed or stop. It could be pedestrians at a crossing, another car approaching from a merging lane, someone on-coming overtaking...etc. You are to click the moment you think that it could be a potential danger. That's not "as it happens" you have to pre-empt that it COULD be a hazard. Normally something stupid does happen at least once in these clips. However, you can't just click constantly coz the computer will lock you out and it's an automatic fail. If anyone fancies a go at these, check out the link below and scroll right down to the bottom.

UK Hazard Perception Tests

Malte279 · **Reply #14 on:** October 17, 2010, 07:48:51 AM

I passed my theoretical driving test with zero mistakes at the first attempt (the only question I was uncertain about was about parking times). However, I failed my first attempt at the practical driving test, took a way above average number of lessons to get there (I'm still a little sorry about the money) and (mostly due to lack of training as I hardly ever drive) I consider myself a very poor driver.

Animeboye · **Reply #15 on:** November 16, 2010, 06:27:20 PM

Well I've read through the entire Drivers Book and taken several online quizzes and I think I'm finally ready to take the test. My dad is going to take me to the DMV next Tuesday. Wish me luck

Petrie. · **Reply #16 on:** November 21, 2010, 10:57:11 AM

Best of luck. Its not the written test that is hard.

Kor · **Reply #17 on:** November 21, 2010, 07:32:35 PM

I hope you do well in all the tests.

Cancerian Tiger · **Reply #18 on:** November 21, 2010, 10:42:00 PM

Truttle · **Reply #19 on:** November 22, 2010, 12:40:07 AM

I know this is a bit late for me to respond to, but I just wanted to add my two cents. Here in Los Angeles, being a HUGE city with insane traffic, they take this very seriously. You are limited to how many times you can take the test. If you fail 3 times, you are not permitted to re-test for several months. Also failing the first time makes it so much more harder because the number of mistakes you are allowed to make are drastically reduced. And the fee for each test is 30$ dollars. The best advice I can give is the obvious one: Study and practice. There's no better way and no cheating.