Guide to PA Permit Practice Test Questions

While learning to drive might seem like a scary prospect to some young people, it doesn’t have to be! The first step, acquiring your learner’s permit, can be quite straightforward with the help of the numerous resources available online. These include a handbook and several practice exams.

It’s also possible to get additional support with the help of professionally-led permit preparation classes, which are available at Driven2Drive. Young prospective drivers can choose between booking individual one-hour classes, or buying a package that includes three classes and a certificate that can be presented to insurance companies (which may help you get a discount on your premiums).

We are always here to assist you in answering your questions and helping you get prepared for any of your tests.

How Many Questions Are on the PA Permit Test?

There are 18 multiple-choice questions in the permit exam in 2022. Of these, you will need to answer 15 correctly to pass.

It’s important to prepare for your permit test by practicing on the free DMV sample question papers (available on their website) and even enrolling in a permit prep class if you can (such as one of the expert-led lessons curated by a professional driving instructor at Driven2Drive).

In the review sections (practice tests) on the DMV website:

• There are 110 review questions in the section “Learning to Drive”.
• There are 57 review questions in the section “Signals, signs and pavement markings”.
• There are 16 questions in the section “Driving record information”.

Common Mistakes to Avoid on Your Driving Permit Exam

Look out for answers that are similar to each other, but where something may be just a little off. The multiple-choice driving test questions often include two similar, seemingly correct answers which might confuse those who don’t know their content very well.

Other than that, there aren’t many common mistakes on the permit exam. The test is meant to test your knowledge, not catch you out.

However, many common mistakes on your driving exam can lead to automatic fails.

Studying Your Driver’s Handbook Correctly

The driver’s handbook (PA driver’s manual) is an essential tool for preparing for your permit test.

To use the manual correctly:

• Identify the correlating sections of the manual and permit tests, to help you break your studying into chunks.
• Break these chunks into even smaller chunks to make learning more manageable. Set realistic goals (e.g. one-quarter of a section every two days) and follow through.
• Make sure you understand the points first—our brains struggle to memorize facts that we don’t understand.
• If any points confuse you, speak to your permit prep class lecturer and make sure that you grasp them fully.
• Try to memorize the correct answers before bed—studies have shown that we remember things learned before sleeping at night more easily as our brains process information while we sleep.

Importance of Practice Tests

Practice tests are hugely helpful in preparing for your permit test. They allow you to identify more easily where the “holes” in your memory are. They also help you get used to the testing process so that when you do the real test it feels familiar. “The more you are accustomed to sitting for a period of time, answering test questions, and pacing yourself, the more comfortable you will feel when you actually sit down to take the test” (1).

Testing is also another fantastic way of learning. “Research in cognitive science and psychology shows that testing, done right, can be an effective way to learn. Taking tests can produce a better recall of facts and a deeper understanding than an education devoid of exams” (2).

What to Be Aware of in Your Practice Test

You can use your practice tests to maximum benefit by paying close attention to what you are doing and taking note of where your weaknesses are. Get yourself into a place of sharp focus before your practice test by making sure you’ve had enough sleep, rest, hydration, and, of course, preparation. Boost focus by having a cup of coffee and a high-protein snack before you start, and choose a place in the house where it’s quiet and there are no distractions.

If this isn’t possible at home, find a quiet local library, or ask a friend or family member whose house is generally tranquil if you could do the test at their place.

After you’ve passed your learner’s permit, be sure to take a look at our tips for first-time drivers.