Photo: Elias Touil, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The SAAQ knowledge test is the computer-based theory test you take at an SAAQ service centre after at least 10 months on a Quebec Class 5 learner’s licence. It has three sections: the Highway Safety Code, road signs and traffic signals, and driving behaviours and techniques. Fail it and you wait at least 28 days to retake it. This guide covers when you can take it, what is on it and how to prepare. For the full licence path, see learning to drive in Quebec.
Key facts
- Eligibility: at least 10 months on your Class 5 learner’s licence.
- Three sections: Highway Safety Code, signs and signals, passenger vehicle behaviours and techniques.
- Languages: French or English, with French and English audio. New residents can ask for Modern Standard Arabic, Spanish or Mandarin.
- Retake after a fail: wait at least 28 days.
- Pass it before you can book the SAAQ road test.
Two knowledge tests: do not mix them up
| Module 5 evaluation | SAAQ knowledge test | |
|---|---|---|
| Who runs it | Your driving school | The SAAQ, at a service centre |
| When | End of Phase 1 of the driving course | After 10 months on the learner’s licence |
| What it unlocks | Your learner’s licence | Booking the road test |
More on Module 5: Quebec’s mandatory driving course.
What is on the SAAQ knowledge test?
- Highway Safety Code: the traffic rules set by Quebec law.
- Road signs and traffic signals: Quebec signs, many of which use French words. Study the Quebec road signs in French guide.
- Behaviours and techniques for driving a passenger vehicle: the specialization section, drawn from the SAAQ’s driving guide and your course modules.
How many questions, and what is the pass mark?
SAAQ pages for some other licence classes give a 75% pass mark. For the Class 5 test, online claims vary and an older format is still quoted on some sites, so check the current number of questions and pass mark with the SAAQ when you book, and aim to know every topic well rather than aiming for a minimum score.
How to book the SAAQ knowledge test
- Wait until you have held your learner’s licence for at least 10 months.
- Make an appointment with the SAAQ.
- When you book, check what ID to bring and the current test fee (listed on the SAAQ’s rates page).
- If you want the test in Modern Standard Arabic, Spanish or Mandarin as a new resident, ask at the service centre counter on the day. See taking the SAAQ tests in English or another language.
How to prepare
- Use the SAAQ’s own books: Driving a Passenger Vehicle and The Road Safety Guide (Le Guide de la route) cover the material.
- Try the SAAQ’s free online quiz (Check your Road Safety Knowledge). It has 30-question quizzes by category and a 10-question illustrated scenarios quiz. The SAAQ says it is not a replica of the real test, so use it to find weak areas.
- Revisit your course modules, especially the ones on alcohol and drugs and on sharing the road.
- Learn Quebec-specific rules: winter tires, zero alcohol until 22 and probationary demerit limits.
Common questions
Can I take the SAAQ knowledge test before 10 months?
No. You need to have held your Class 5 learner’s licence for at least 10 months.
Can I take it in English?
Yes. It is offered in French or English, and French and English audio is available on the test computer.
What if I fail?
Wait at least 28 days, then make a new appointment.
Can I bring notes or use my phone?
No. For other classes the SAAQ allows only a paper dictionary without illustrations or notes, and bans phones and smart watches. Expect the same and leave devices aside.
Is the SAAQ practice quiz the same as the real test?
No. The SAAQ says its online quiz is not a replica of the knowledge test.
Sources
- SAAQ, “Obtaining a Passenger Vehicle Driver’s Licence (Class 5)” (saaq.gouv.qc.ca)
- SAAQ, “Quick Reference Guide: Obtaining a passenger vehicle driver’s licence (Class 5)” (saaq.gouv.qc.ca)
- SAAQ, “Newcomers: Preparing for the tests” (saaq.gouv.qc.ca)
- SAAQ, “Minibus and Small Bus Driver’s Licence (Class 4B)” (saaq.gouv.qc.ca)
- SAAQ, “Check your Road Safety Knowledge” (testdeconnaissances.saaq.gouv.qc.ca)