What score do I need to pass the Illinois permit test?

You must answer at least 80% of the questions correctly. On a 35-question test, that is 28 correct answers, so you can miss no more than 7.

How long must I hold my instruction permit before getting a license?

If you are under 18, you must hold your instruction permit for at least 9 months and complete at least 50 hours of supervised driving, including 10 hours at night.

Can I take the test in a language other than English?

Illinois rules say the test is given in English and may also be offered in other languages. Ask your Secretary of State facility which languages are available.

Illinois DMV Permit Test

Past exam questions and practice questions based on official past exams

Checked 10/18/26

Full mock exam35 questions · 30 min · 4 choices →Key conceptsAI-written · VerifiedRead the key concepts by subject and unit before you practice.1 subjects · 6 unitsOpen key concepts →

Exam info

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Type: State license
Field: Driving
Provider: Illinois Secretary of State
Sections: Written Knowledge Test (35)
Questions · Time: 35 questions · 30 min
Format: At least 35 multiple choice questions on traffic signs, Illinois driving laws, and safe driving practices. The Illinois Secretary of State does not post a time limit for the written test, so this practice mock uses 30 minutes. This practice mock uses 4 answer choices per question.
Passing score: You must answer at least 80% of the questions correctly, which is 28 of 35.
Eligibility: In Illinois you can apply for an instruction permit at age 15 if you are enrolled in an approved driver education course. Applicants under 18 must hold the permit for at least 9 months and log 50 hours of supervised driving, including 10 hours at night, before getting a license. Check the Illinois Secretary of State website for the current documents, forms, and fees before you go.

Exam outline

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Tap a unit name to see its key concepts and sample questions.

Written Knowledge Test35 questions

Unit 1: Signs, Signals, and Pavement Markings★★★★★Weight 30%Concepts
Unit 2: Right of Way and Intersections★★★★★Weight 15%Concepts
Unit 3: Speed, Passing, and Parking★★★★☆Weight 15%Concepts
Unit 4: Safe Driving★★★★☆Weight 15%Concepts
Unit 5: Instruction Permit and Teen Licensing★★★☆☆Weight 13%Concepts
Unit 6: Alcohol and Drug Laws★★★★☆Weight 12%Concepts

Illinois DMV Permit Test study tips

Written by our team

Study order: Start with Signs, Signals, and Pavement Markings, because it is the biggest chapter and the other chapters build on it. Next study Right of Way and Intersections, Speed, Passing, and Parking, and Safe Driving. Finish with Instruction Permit and Teen Licensing and Alcohol and Drug Laws, which are shorter but full of numbers.
Topics people often miss: Speed, Passing, and Parking has many distances that are easy to mix up, such as 15 feet from a fire hydrant, 20 feet from a crosswalk, 30 feet from a stop sign, and 50 feet from a railroad crossing, so keep them in one list. The teen licensing chapter has months, hours, night limits, and passenger limits. Alcohol and Drug Laws uses different rules for drivers under 21 and for adults.
Test day tips: You need 80% to pass, which is 28 correct answers out of 35, so you can miss no more than 7 questions. Read every answer choice before you pick one, because wrong choices often differ by a single number or word. If a question is hard, think about which choice keeps pedestrians and other drivers safest.

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Illinois DMV Permit Test exam trends

The test mixes traffic signs with driving laws. Sign shapes and colors, signals and pavement markings, right of way, school bus and emergency vehicle rules, speed limits, parking distances, the teen licensing rules, and Illinois alcohol laws are the topics new drivers most often need to review. The chapters on this site follow the Rules of the Road manual but are study groupings, not official test sections.

Start with signs, signals, and pavement markings, because they are the biggest chapter. Then practice right of way, speed and parking, and safe driving, and finish with the teen licensing rules and alcohol laws, which are full of numbers. Redo every missed question the next day, and before test day take a full 35-question Mock Exam and aim for at least 30 correct.

Illinois DMV Permit Test Sample Questions and Explanations →

About Illinois DMV Permit Test

The Illinois permit test is the written test you take to get an instruction permit or a Class D driver's license. It has at least 35 multiple choice questions on traffic signs, Illinois driving laws, and safe driving practices, and you must answer 80% correctly to pass, which is 28 of 35. The questions are based on the Illinois Rules of the Road manual and the Illinois Vehicle Code.

FAQ

Q. What score do I need to pass the Illinois permit test?: You must answer at least 80% of the questions correctly. On a 35-question test, that is 28 correct answers, so you can miss no more than 7.
Q. How long must I hold my instruction permit before getting a license?: If you are under 18, you must hold your instruction permit for at least 9 months and complete at least 50 hours of supervised driving, including 10 hours at night.
Q. Can I take the test in a language other than English?: Illinois rules say the test is given in English and may also be offered in other languages. Ask your Secretary of State facility which languages are available.
Q. Are these the real test questions?: No. Every question here is an original practice question written from the rules in the Illinois Rules of the Road manual and the Illinois Vehicle Code. Use this site to learn the rules and read the official manual as well.

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