Photo: Jd.101, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The SGI learner test for a Saskatchewan Class 7 licence has two parts: a Basic test on driving situations and rules of the road, and a Sign identification test. Fail one part and you rewrite only that part. A pass is valid for one year, and you can write only once per day. Here is what each part covers and how to study for both.
Key facts
- Tests: Basic (driving situations and rules of the road) and Sign.
- Fail one part: rewrite only the failed part.
- Retakes: one attempt per day.
- Results valid: one year.
- Also required: a vision test.
- Phones: no cellphones or electronic devices in the test area.
How many questions are on the SGI written test?
Check the current number of questions and the pass mark with SGI or at the exam office before you write. SGI’s handbook sets out the two-part structure, the one-year validity and the once-per-day limit.
Part 1: Basic test (rules of the road)
Questions come from the handbook’s rules and driving-skills chapters. High-yield Saskatchewan facts to know cold:
| Topic | Saskatchewan rule |
|---|---|
| Unposted speed limit | 80 km/h |
| Passing stopped emergency vehicles, tow trucks, or highway equipment with lights flashing | Maximum 60 km/h |
| Speeding past highway workers in a work zone | Fines triple |
| Emergency vehicle approaching with lights or siren | Move as close as possible to the right edge (nearest curb on a one-way street) and do not enter the next intersection until it has passed; never follow it |
| Following distance in ideal conditions | At least 3 seconds; 5 or 6 seconds if tailgated |
| School bus with red lights and stop arm | Stop no closer than 5 m; minimum fine $360 for passing |
| Stopping with no stop line, sidewalk or crosswalk | Within 3 m of the intersection in a town or city, within 10 m in a rural area |
| Uncontrolled intersection | Yield to the vehicle on your right |
| Entering a provincial highway | Yield to highway traffic and nearby pedestrians |
| Parking on a rural road | At least 30 m from a vehicle stopped on the opposite side |
| Cellphones for GDL drivers | No hand-held or hands-free use (911 calls allowed) |
| Alcohol and drugs for new drivers | Zero |
Also expect questions on the four “gates” around your vehicle, IPDE and eye lead time (see IPDE and eye lead time), roundabouts and newer interchanges (see Saskatchewan roundabouts and interchanges) and GDL restrictions (see Novice 1 and Novice 2 rules).
Part 2: Sign test
Learn signs by shape and colour first. Then you can work out most signs you have never seen.
Shapes
- Octagon, red: stop.
- Triangle with red border on white: yield.
- White rectangle or square: regulatory (states the law, such as speed limits and turns).
- Diamond, yellow or orange: warning.
- Crossbuck: railway crossing, same meaning as yield.
- Pentagon, fluorescent yellow-green: school zone. Older blue versions are being replaced.
Parking signs are regulatory too, and the difference between them is a common trap. A “no parking” sign bans parking within the limits shown. A “no stopping” sign is stricter: you may not stop there at all, not even to wait in the car for a passenger.
What each sign family covers
| Family | Signs to recognize |
|---|---|
| Regulatory | One-way, two-way traffic, maximum speed, lower speed zone ahead, keep right of an island, do not enter, over dimensional route, passing permitted or not, U-turn permitted or not, heavy truck and dangerous goods routes, truck inspection station, weight limit in tonnes |
| Pedestrian crossing | Pedestrian and school crosswalks, new and old styles. Traffic must stop when the lights are flashing and go when safe |
| Lane designation | Bus lane, bicycle lane, must turn, left or through, right or through, through only, two turning lanes. A sign mounted above the road controls the lane beneath it |
| Turn control | No left or right turn, go straight, turn only, no right turn on red, centre turning lane, turning vehicle yields to bikes. A tab may limit a sign to certain hours |
| Warning | Divided highway begins or ends, slippery when wet, bump, steep hill, stop sign or signals ahead, railway ahead, road narrows, narrow bridge, lane ends, curves and turns, recommended safe speed, overhead clearance, hidden intersection, merge, added lane, pavement ends, icy surface, wildlife, cattle and snowmobile crossings, T-intersection, playground, school bus stop |
| Markers | Chevrons guide you around sharp curves. Downward lines on a hazard marker show the safe side. A slow moving vehicle triangle marks a vehicle under 40 km/h. A checkerboard means the road ends |
| Construction | Black on orange: traffic control person, survey crew or highway workers ahead, truck entrance, construction ahead, be prepared to stop, pavement drop-off, grooved pavement. The first three start a work zone: keep to the posted speed through the zone and 60 km/h or less when passing a worker, flag person or occupied equipment |
| Guide and information | Trans Canada, provincial highway and rural municipal route markers, airport direction, and service tabs for food, fuel, camping, hospital, police and more |
Two details to remember: a yield sign means slow down, give the right of way and stop if necessary, and a tab under a school zone sign sets the speed to observe.
Colours
| Colour | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Red | Stop or prohibition |
| White | Regulatory |
| Yellow | General warning |
| Orange | Construction and maintenance |
| Fluorescent yellow-green | School zone and school crosswalk ahead |
| Green | Permitted movements and directions |
| Blue | General or service information |
A Saskatchewan-specific sign to know: crossroad delineators
Triangular reflectors on stop or yield sign posts at rural intersections tell you what kind of road you are crossing. Three delineators mark highways, grid roads, community access roads and major streets. Two mark main farm access roads, improved all-weather roads and intermediate urban streets. One marks other minor rural roads and local streets.
A study plan that works
- Read the handbook chapters on rules of the road (chapter 3) and signs (chapter 4) first.
- Make flashcards of every number in the table above.
- Use SGI’s free online practice quiz and the animations in the online handbook.
- Write the Sign test only when you can name signs from shape and colour alone.
Booking and what to bring
Book written appointments online with MySGI or through a motor licence issuer. In Regina and Saskatoon you can walk in from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday to Saturday. Bring original ID showing your full name and date of birth. If you are 15 to 18, also bring the completed Signature/Guarantor Form. High school driver education students write online using a MySGI account (see SGI mandatory driver education). Check the current test fee with SGI.
Common questions
What happens if I fail the sign part but pass the Basic part?
You rewrite only the sign test. Your Basic pass stays valid for one year.
Can I retake the SGI test the same day?
No. You may write only once per day.
Can I ask the examiner what a question means?
Yes. SGI says to ask the examiner if you are unsure about the meaning of a question.
Is the written test the same for every licence class?
Class 5 and 7 applicants take Basic and Sign. Classes 1 to 4 add class-specific knowledge tests.
Do I need a vision test too?
Yes. It may include field of vision, visual acuity and distance judgment. If you pass only with glasses or contacts, your licence will require them.
Back to the full guide to learning to drive in Saskatchewan.
Sources
- SGI, “Saskatchewan Driver’s Handbook: A guide to safe driving 2026-27” (sgi.sk.ca)
- SGI, “Your test” (sgi.sk.ca)
- SGI, “Sharing the road” (sgi.sk.ca)
- SGI, “Regulatory parking signs” (sgi.sk.ca)