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IL CDL Air Brakes Practice Test 4 2025

Average pass rate for CDL tests in Illinois: 64%.
Average pass rate for this test: 74%.
Easy
9 min
Score distribution:
90-100=>12%
80-89=>40%
70-79=>28%
60-69=>12%
<60%=>8%
Avg. first-try score: 86%

If you’re preparing to drive commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) equipped with air brakes (and most of them are), it is necessary that you pass the Illinois CDL Air Brakes Knowledge Test and the Skills Test (in an air brake-equipped vehicle). Without this qualification, your CDL will have the “L” restriction, which limits you to CMVs without air brakes. Since most CMVs (including even large school buses) are air brake-equipped, it is in your best interest to go ahead and pass the tests.

The official Illinois CDL Air Brakes Knowledge Test includes 25 multiple-choice questions. You must answer at least 16 (80%) correctly to pass. If you do not pass, you’ll need to wait at least one business day and pay a retesting fee before another attempt. Our free Illinois CDL Air Brakes Practice Tests help you avoid that delay by mimicking the actual exam, providing immediate feedback with explanations and hints for each question, and avoiding unnecessary fluff often included in less effective guides found elsewhere. Our tests also take into account the common traps, distractors, tricky wording, and double negatives often found on the official exam. With our preparatory tools, you’ll walk into the official exam ready for anything they throw at you.

IL CDL Air Brakes Practice Test 4 2025
IL commercial driver's license
Based on the official IL CDL HandbookHandbook‑based (2025) + exam‑taker feedback
94 IL students practicing now
573completed today

Accuracy & authorship

Steven Litvintchouk, M.S., Chief Educational Researcher at Driving-Tests.org

Reviewed for legal and handbook accuracy:

Steven Litvintchouk

M.S., Chief Educational Researcher (ACES member)

Last verified for accuracy on

Andrei Zakhareuski, Co-founder & CEO at Driving-Tests.org

Test design and learning experience oversight:

Andrei Zakhareuski

Co-founder & CEO, Driving-Tests.org

How to use this practice test

  1. Start here. One of 4 free Illinois tests. ~9 min. Read explanations as you go.
  2. Cover more ground. All tests have different questions - no repeats.
  3. Finish strong. Try the Exam Simulator for a full-length run.

Why this works

  • Exam-like questions from the current handbook + real test-taker patterns. Explanations cite the manual.
  • AI Assistant explains tricky items in plain language.
  • Performance Insights show your weak topics and what to study next.
  • Challenge Bank™ saves your mistakes for targeted practice.

Actual DMV permit test: What to expect?

The Illinois permit test has 25 questions. You must get 20 correct (80%) to pass.
  • Where: Any Illinois DMV office (find locations)
  • Bring: ID + SSN + residency proof + permit/license fee (see checklist)
  • If you fail: Retake after 24 hours.
  • Commonly missed: right-of-way at intersections, distracted driving and mobile device restrictions.
  • Ready to schedule? Book your IL DMV appointment

About the Illinois CDL

Our practice tests also feature AI-powered feedback, an interactive Illinois DMV CDL Manual, and a challenge bank that remembers any question you miss. The Challenge Bank then confronts you again with the missed questions until you’ve mastered the material. Once you’ve aced this practice test, try another one from our Illinois series here: https://driving-tests.org/illinois/il-cdl-air-brake-practice-test/.

Illinois features driving landscapes that range from the Chicago metro area and I-55 corridor to long stretches of rural interstates. Grain, machinery, and manufactured goods are carried throughout the state, and air brake-qualified truckers help Illinois’s major industries thrive. These include logistics, agriculture, manufacturing, and construction, all of which rely on air brake-qualified drivers to keep goods moving safely through the Prairie State.

To further expand your opportunities, you should consider earning endorsements like N (Tanker), H (Hazardous Materials), or T (Doubles and Triples). We have Endorsement Practice Tests perfect for preparing you for this task. Try one here: https://driving-tests.org/illinois/il-cdl-hazmat-practice-test/. You might also consider preparing for the CDL Combination Vehicles Knowledge Test, which is part of the requirements for a Class A License. We have practice tests for that as well: https://driving-tests.org/illinois/il-cdl-combination-test/.

With preparation, patience, and a little Illinois grit, you’ll be ready for your knowledge tests and skills test and on the road in no time!

More IL CDL test resources Air Brakes practice test hub

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A smarter way to study

Challenge Bank™

Our trademarked system automatically saves questions you miss, creating personalized tests that target your weak spots until you’ve mastered the material.

AI-powered feedback

Get smarter as you study. Our new AI-powered feedback provides detailed, question-level insights to help you understand the why behind each answer.

Interactive handbook

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