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  • Updated for January 2025
  • Based on official California Driver's manual

CA DMV Written Test Simulator – Study Online 2025

The possibilities are nearly unlimited: Drive to Disneyland or Napa Valley. Take in the sights from the Tioga Pass Road or the Death Valley Scenic Byway. And, of course, commute to work anywhere in the state by car. These are just a few of the things you’ll be able to do once you get a California driver’s license.

What’s standing in your way? Three official tests, for one thing. One of the most important requirements for a driver’s license is to pass a vision test, a knowledge test, and a behind-the-wheel drive test. Passing the knowledge test demonstrates an adequate grasp of driving theory. The number of questions on your knowledge test will depend on your age. If you’re under 18, the test will have 46 questions, and you must answer at least 38 of them correctly. If you’re at least 18 years old, the test will have 36 questions, and you must answer at least 30 of them correctly. All knowledge test questions are based on the official driver’s manual (California DMV Driver's Handbook 2025: Interactive Manual w/Audio).

If you fail the knowledge test, you may take it again, but you’ll have to wait a full week if you’re under 18. If you fail the knowledge test three times in a row, you’ll have to restart the application process. Unfortunately, failure happens all too often. In 2020 – 2023, 55.3% of applicants – more than half – failed the knowledge test on their first try.

Our knowledge test preparation program includes various interactive tools you can use to greatly improve your chances of passing. Once you’ve used our tools to learn all about safe driving, we have one final study aid for you: our special Exam Simulator test. This test will give you more of a feel for the official knowledge test itself.

This Exam Simulator test closely resembles official knowledge test conditions. The test questions are based on the official driver’s manual, just like those on the official DMV knowledge test. The passing score is 83%, just like the official test. There are no hints or explanations to help you. And the test ends prematurely if you fail it (i.e., you miss more than 17% of the questions).

This Exam Simulator test is so realistic that you may even experience a little test anxiety when taking it. That’s how you would have reacted to the official knowledge test! By giving you a realistic test experience now, your fear of the unknown will be reduced, and you’ll be more confident that you’re ready to ace the official test.

Good luck!

  • Perfect for Senior Refresher Test
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About this test

5 min to complete
Available in EN, ES, RU
Verified by Steven Litvintchouk, M.S., Chief Educational Researcher, Member of ACES. See our detailed commitment to accuracy and quality in our practice tests.

What to expect on the actual CA DMV exam

46

questions

38

correct answers to pass

83%

passing score

15 ½ y/o

minimum age to apply

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