How many questions are on the permit test?
It depends on your state. Most permit tests have between 18 and 50 questions and need roughly 70% to 83% correct to pass: Pennsylvania has 18, New York 20, Massachusetts 25, Texas 30, California 46 and Florida 50. Your state's DMV sets the number, so look up its current figure before you start studying.
In more detail
There is no national permit test. Each state writes its own knowledge test from its driver's manual, so the number of questions and the pass mark change at the state line. Some states also split the test. New York asks 20 questions and wants 14 right, including at least two of the four road-sign questions, while Virginia asks 10 road-sign questions that must all be right, then 30 general questions with 24 needed.
Pass marks mostly sit between 70% and 83%, which leaves room for about 3 to 10 wrong answers on most tests. Teens, adults and people with a license from another state can get different versions, and states change their tests, so check your DMV's page in the week you book the exam. The table uses figures from state DMV pages and driving-school guides, checked in October 2026.
Permit test questions and pass mark by state
| State | Questions | Correct to pass | Pass mark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | 18 | 15 | 83% |
| New York | 20 | 14 (and 2 of the 4 sign questions) | 70% |
| Massachusetts | 25 | 18 | 72% |
| Texas | 30 | 21 | 70% |
| Virginia | 40 (10 signs + 30 general) | 10 of 10 signs and 24 of 30 general | 100% signs, 80% general |
| California | 46 | 38 | 83% |
| Florida | 50 | 40 | 80% |
Step by step
- 1
Find your state's driver's manual and its DMV page for the knowledge test, and write down the number of questions and the pass mark.
- 2
Work out how many you can miss. With 38 right needed out of 46, the answer is 8.
- 3
Study the manual one chapter at a time and make flashcards for road signs and every number in it.
- 4
Take practice tests until you pass several in a row with a few questions to spare. The page on how to study for the permit test shows how.
How StudyPDF helps
Upload your state's driver's manual as a document and StudyPDF turns it into flashcards for signs, speed limits and right-of-way rules, plus practice quizzes whose answers link back to the manual page. Your mastery per topic shows which chapters still cost you points before test day.
See also
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More questions
How many questions can you miss on the permit test?
In most states between 3 and 10. Pennsylvania lets you miss 3 of 18, New York 6 of 20, Texas 9 of 30, California 8 of 46 and Florida 10 of 50.
Is the permit test multiple choice?
Mostly yes. The questions are largely multiple choice, and some states add true-or-false questions. Your state's DMV site has a sample test.