“How many questions are on the CDL permit test?” is one of the most frequently asked questions of candidates preparing to take the CDL. Understanding the test format is crucial to success.
Overall, you will encounter a total of 95 questions on the CDL permit test, assessing your knowledge of safe driving practices, vehicle operations, and important regulations. In this comprehensive post, we break down the different sections in the CDL permit test, ensuring you understand the test’s structure. Scroll down for more details right now!
How many questions are on the CDL permit test?
The CDL permit test normally consists of 50 to 95 questions and may vary based on the regulatory authority of the particular state. All questions for the CDL permit test are multiple-choice and true/false. The test involves three major sections: general knowledge, combination vehicles, and air brakes. Each of these areas covers essential topics that assess your readiness to operate a commercial vehicle safely. Here are details of how many questions on each part:
How many questions are on the CDL general knowledge test?
The General Knowledge section generally consists of 50 multiple-choice questions. This section will test your general knowledge about commercial driving, including vehicle inspections, basic vehicle control, safe driving practices, and the effects of alcohol and drugs on driving. You will be allowed one hour to complete this portion of the test, and must accurately answer 80% of the total question.
How many questions are on the CDL combination test?
The section contains 20 questions. The Combination Vehicles section is set aside for drivers who would be driving vehicles with trailers attached to them. You are required to answer correctly with a minimum of 16 to pass. Questions in this section cover topics such as hooking up and disconnecting a trailer, inspecting combination vehicles, and safety operating practices with these particular vehicles.
How many questions are on the air brakes CDL test?
This portion of the test contains 25 questions, of which you need to answer at least 20 questions correctly to achieve a passing score. Questions deal with understanding the components of air brake systems, proper use of air brakes, and driving safety protocols on such vehicles.
How to study for questions on the CDL permit test?
Passing all portions of the CDL permit test requires proper preparation. Therefore, we provide some crucial study tips and resources to help you achieve this:
- Study materials: If you are a newbie in this field, study material is necessary
- Study guide: It is very important to employ a structured study guide when taking the general knowledge test, combination vehicle test, and air brakes test comprehensively.
- Practice test: Practice makes perfect. Consistent practice is key to helping you familiarize yourself with the test structure and enhance your chances of success. We believe that the free practice tests by CDL Prep are perfect for you to be well-prepared. Our practice simulates the actual test for hands-on testing of your knowledge before the real thing. Take a look at the practice tests by CDL Prep right now.
FAQs
1. What are three tests for a CDL permit?
The three main areas covered in the CDL permit test are General Knowledge, Combination Vehicles, and Air Brakes. These tests are on the general knowledge of a standard commercial vehicle, however, the exact nature of this test would also depend on the kind of vehicle that you would be driving.
2. How long is the CDL permit test?
The average length of the whole test is 1,5 hours to 2,5 hours but the test length depends on the state you reside in and the number of questions you have to take. There is a time limit for each section, such as one hour for the General Knowledge part.
3. How many questions can you miss on the CDL permit test?
Generally, you must pass 80% of the total questions. Each section has its passing score. Therefore, you can only miss up to 10 questions in the General Knowledge section, 4 questions in the Combination Vehicles sections, and the Air Brakes section, you are allowed to miss 5 questions.
4. How many questions are on the CDL permit test by state?
While the federal guidelines ensure a standard structure, the number of questions on the CDL permit test might vary slightly by state. In most states, the count is anywhere between 50 to 95 questions. It is recommended that you check your state DMV for more accurate information.
5. How many questions are on the CDL test?
The CDL test normally includes multiple sections with specific numbers of questions as follows:
- General knowledge test: Including 50 questions.
- Air brake test: Consisting of 20 questions (if applicable for vehicles with air brake systems).
- Combination vehicles test: Including 20 questions (if applicable for Class A CDL).
- Endorsement tests (if applicable for additional endorsements). Each endorsement requires a separate test with a different number of questions as shown in the table below:
| Endorsement tests | Total number of questions |
| Hazardous Materials | 30 |
| Passenger Transport | 20 |
| Doubles/Triples | 20 |
| School Bus | 20 |
| Tank Vehicle | 20 |
The number of questions can vary slightly depending on your state and the type of vehicle you want to operate. Most written tests require an approximate passing score of 80% in each section.
Final thoughts
Hope that with our explanation, you understand how many questions are on the CDL permit test and what you should expect. To confidently address all these questions on the test day and receive the required passing scores, ensure you go through the materials and practice our tests. Ready to begin your journey to get a CDL? Start with CDL Prep today!
