The Ontario knowledge test
The knowledge test is the written test you pass to get your G1 licence. It checks that you understand Ontario's traffic signs and rules of the road before you start driving with a supervisor.
All questions come from the official MTO Driver's Handbook, so learning the handbook well is the most reliable way to pass first time.
By the end of this topic you can
- You can describe the format of the Ontario knowledge test.
- You can state the pass mark DriveTest uses.
- You can list the main subject areas the test covers.
- You can plan a study routine using the official handbook and its sample questions.
What you need to know and understand
- The test is multiple choice and based on the official MTO Driver's Handbook.
- It usually has two or three sections, such as one on signs and one on rules of the road.
- DriveTest says each knowledge test typically takes 20 to 30 minutes.
- You need a total score of at least 80 per cent to pass.
- You take it at a DriveTest centre along with your vision test.
- The handbook includes sample questions in the same multiple-choice format.
What the questions cover
The handbook lists the kinds of topics the written test may ask about. Expect questions on:
- Seatbelts and child car seats
- Traffic signs, lights and pavement markings
- Speed limits and passing
- Emergency vehicles, streetcars and school buses
- Getting on and off a freeway
- Headlight use
- Licence suspensions and the demerit point system
- Collision reporting and sharing the road
A four-week study plan
- Week 1: read the licensing and safe-driving chapters and make notes on every number (distances, ages, times).
- Week 2: learn sign shapes and colours, then traffic lights and pavement markings.
- Week 3: study demerit points, suspensions, impaired driving and collision rules.
- Week 4: answer the handbook's sample questions and re-read any chapter where you got answers wrong.
Test-day checklist
Bring original identification showing your legal name and date of birth, money for the fee, and any glasses or contact lenses you need to drive. Read each question fully; many wrong options look reasonable but contain one wrong detail. If you do not pass, study the areas you struggled with and try again. Check DriveTest for current retest fees.
Our separate article on the Ontario G1 Knowledge Test has more on what to bring and how the day runs.
Common mistakes
- Studying only the signs. Rules of the road are tested too, including demerit points and suspensions.
- Using unofficial question banks that contain other provinces' rules. Ontario figures, such as 20 metres for school buses, are what count.
- Rushing. Read all four options before choosing; the best answer is often the most complete one.
- Mixing up numbers. Make a one-page sheet of key figures and review it daily.
Test yourself: The Ontario knowledge test
Answer each question, then read the explanation. Questions come in a random order each time.
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Sources: The Official Ministry of Transportation (MTO) Driver's Handbook, Ministry of Transportation Ontario (ontario.ca); Knowledge tests overview, DriveTest Ontario (drivetest.ca); Get a G driver's licence: new drivers, Government of Ontario (ontario.ca). Independent guide, not affiliated with any licensing agency. Always check the latest official rules with your province or territory.