Photo: Dougtone, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Tennessee online knowledge test for 15 to 17 year olds has 30 questions and a 60-minute limit, and this practice test is the same length. Set a timer, answer all 30, then check the explanations. These are original, unofficial questions based on the Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual topics and the Department of Safety and Homeland Security teen rules, not the Department’s own questions.
Tennessee knowledge test format
| Item | Online (ages 15 to 17) | At a Driver Services Center |
|---|---|---|
| Questions | 30 | Check with the center |
| Time | 60 minutes | Check with the center |
| Pass mark | 80% (24 of 30), as the Department describes the online test | Check with the center |
| Proctor | A parent or legal guardian, through the Tennessee Proctor ID app | Center staff |
Confirm the current format on the Department’s online test page before you start. The full process, vision screening and documents are in the Tennessee learner permit test guide.
Signs, signals and pavement markings (questions 1 to 9)
1. What shape is a STOP sign?
- A. Circle
- B. Octagon (eight sides)
- C. Triangle
- D. Pentagon
Answer: B. The octagon is used only for STOP signs, so you can recognize one from the back. Manual topic: sign shapes.
2. A pentagon-shaped sign (five sides) warns you about:
- A. A hospital
- B. A no-passing zone
- C. A railroad crossing
- D. A school zone or school crossing
Answer: D. Five-sided signs mark schools and school crossings. Watch for children and lower limits. Manual topic: sign shapes.
3. A pennant-shaped yellow sign on the left side of the road means:
- A. Two-way traffic
- B. Road narrows
- C. Hill ahead
- D. No passing zone
Answer: D. The sideways pennant marks the start of a no-passing zone. Manual topic: warning signs.
4. Orange signs on the road usually mean:
- A. Construction or work zone ahead
- B. Tourist information
- C. Truck route
- D. Hospital ahead
Answer: A. Orange is the work zone color. Slow down, watch for workers and follow flaggers. Manual topic: work zones.
5. A blue sign with white symbols shows:
- A. A speed limit
- B. A school zone
- C. Directions to a city
- D. Motorist services such as food, gas or a hospital
Answer: D. Blue signs are service signs. Green signs give directions and brown signs point to parks and recreation. Manual topic: guide signs.
6. A white rectangular sign with black letters is usually a:
- A. Railroad sign
- B. Recreation sign
- C. Regulatory sign, such as a speed limit
- D. Warning sign
Answer: C. White rectangles state rules you must obey, such as speed limits and lane use. Manual topic: regulatory signs.
7. A flashing red traffic light means:
- A. Slow down and continue
- B. Yield only to trucks
- C. Stop completely, then go when it is safe, as at a STOP sign
- D. The signal is about to turn green
Answer: C. Treat a flashing red signal exactly like a STOP sign. Manual topic: traffic signals.
8. A solid green arrow pointing left means:
- A. Yield to all oncoming traffic before turning
- B. Left turns are banned
- C. Go straight only
- D. You may make a protected left turn in the direction of the arrow
Answer: D. A green arrow gives you a protected turn. Still yield to anyone already in the intersection. Manual topic: traffic signals.
9. Double solid yellow lines down the center of a road mean:
- A. No passing in either direction
- B. A one-way road
- C. Passing is allowed in both directions
- D. A bike lane
Answer: A. Neither side may cross double solid yellow lines to pass. Manual topic: pavement markings.
Right of way, turns and intersections (questions 10 to 14)
10. Two cars reach a four-way stop at the same time. You are on the left. You should:
- A. Wave the other driver through only if they are turning
- B. Honk and go
- C. Let the car on your right go first
- D. Go first
Answer: C. When drivers arrive together, the driver on the left yields to the driver on the right. Manual topic: right of way.
11. You are turning left on a solid green light and an oncoming car is coming straight through. You must:
- A. Flash your lights and turn
- B. Yield to the oncoming car, then turn when there is a safe gap
- C. Turn first because you were there first
- D. Stop until the light turns red
Answer: B. Without a green arrow, left turns yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians. Manual topic: turns.
12. A pedestrian steps into a crosswalk as your light turns green. You must:
- A. Drive around them
- B. Go, because you have a green light
- C. Honk so they hurry
- D. Wait until the pedestrian is safely across
Answer: D. Pedestrians already in the crosswalk have the right of way, even when your light is green. Manual topic: pedestrians.
13. Unless a sign says otherwise, turning right on a red light in Tennessee requires you to:
- A. Slow down and turn
- B. Wait for a green light
- C. Stop completely and yield to pedestrians and traffic before turning
- D. Turn only from the left lane
Answer: C. Right on red is allowed after a full stop, unless posted. Yield first. Manual topic: turns.
14. An ambulance with lights and siren is behind you. You should:
- A. Move to the left lane
- B. Stop in your lane
- C. Pull over to the right edge, clear of the intersection, and stop until it passes
- D. Speed up to keep ahead
Answer: C. Yield to emergency vehicles by moving right and stopping. Manual topic: emergency vehicles.
Speed, space and passing (questions 15 to 17)
15. The basic speed rule means you must:
- A. Ignore limits on empty roads
- B. Always drive at the posted limit
- C. Drive 5 mph over in light traffic
- D. Drive no faster than is safe for conditions, even below the posted limit
Answer: D. Posted limits are the maximum for ideal conditions. Rain, fog, traffic and darkness call for lower speeds. Manual topic: speed.
16. A good way to check your following distance is to:
- A. Watch the car’s brake lights
- B. Stay one car length behind
- C. Count seconds after the car ahead passes a fixed object
- D. Use your high beams
Answer: C. Count seconds from when the car ahead passes a sign or pole to when you reach it. Add time in bad weather. Manual topic: following distance.
17. When is passing on the right generally allowed?
- A. When the vehicle ahead is turning left and there is room, or on a multi-lane road
- B. On the shoulder
- C. Whenever you are in a hurry
- D. Never
Answer: A. Pass on the right only where there is a lane for it, never on the shoulder. Manual topic: passing.
Sharing the road (questions 18 to 20)
18. On a two-lane road with no median, a school bus coming toward you stops with red lights flashing. You must:
- A. Pass on the shoulder
- B. Slow to 15 mph
- C. Continue, because you are going the other way
- D. Stop and stay stopped until the lights go off and the bus moves
Answer: D. On an undivided road, traffic in both directions stops for a school bus with flashing red lights. Manual topic: school buses.
19. You see a train approaching a crossing with no gates. You should:
- A. Try to beat it
- B. Honk at the train
- C. Stop on the tracks to look
- D. Stop at least behind the stop line or crossbuck and wait for it to pass
Answer: D. Never race a train. Stop before the crossing and do not start until the tracks are clear. Manual topic: railroad crossings.
20. A large truck ahead signals a right turn and swings left first. You should:
- A. Stay back and give it room to turn
- B. Pass it on the right
- C. Squeeze in beside it
- D. Honk to warn the driver
Answer: A. Trucks swing wide on right turns. Never move into the gap on the right. Manual topic: sharing the road with trucks.
Alcohol, drugs and implied consent (questions 21 to 23)
21. A Tennessee driver aged 18 has a BAC of 0.02% while driving. What is the likely result?
- A. Nothing, because 0.08% is the limit
- B. Only a fine for adults
- C. An underage driving while impaired charge, with a license suspension
- D. A warning letter
Answer: C. For drivers 16 to under 21, a BAC of 0.02% or more is an underage driving while impaired offense. Check current penalties with the Department. Manual topic: alcohol.
22. Which of these lowers your BAC?
- A. Exercise
- B. Time
- C. Coffee
- D. A cold shower
Answer: B. Only time lets your body remove alcohol. Coffee and cold water do not sober you up. Manual topic: alcohol effects.
23. By driving on Tennessee roads, you have agreed to:
- A. Take a chemical test for alcohol or drugs if lawfully asked by an officer
- B. Pay any tolls
- C. Use cruise control on interstates
- D. Carry a spare tire
Answer: A. That is implied consent. Refusing a test has its own penalties. Manual topic: implied consent.
Tennessee learner permit and teen license rules (questions 24 to 29)
24. Who must be with you when you drive on a Tennessee learner permit?
- A. Any passenger aged 16 or older
- B. Any licensed driver aged 18 or older
- C. A licensed driver aged 21 or older in the front seat
- D. No one after 90 days
Answer: C. Permit holders drive only with a licensed driver 21 or older beside them. Topic: learner permit.
25. When may a Tennessee learner permit holder NOT drive?
- A. After sunset
- B. Between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m.
- C. Between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.
- D. On weekends
Answer: C. Learner permit holders may not drive from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Topic: learner permit.
26. How long must you hold a learner permit before the road test for an Intermediate Restricted license?
- A. Two years
- B. 90 days
- C. One year
- D. 180 days
Answer: D. Hold the permit for 180 days and complete 50 hours of driving, 10 of them at night. Topic: GDL.
27. On an Intermediate Restricted license, what is the night limit?
- A. No driving after sunset
- B. There is no night limit
- C. No driving from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m.
- D. No driving from midnight to 5 a.m.
Answer: C. Intermediate Restricted drivers may not drive between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. Topic: Intermediate Restricted license.
28. How many passengers may an Intermediate Restricted driver normally carry?
- A. Three
- B. One
- C. None
- D. No limit
Answer: B. The general rule is one passenger, with limited exceptions listed in the manual. Topic: Intermediate Restricted license.
29. What happens to a Tennessee driver under 18 who reaches 6 points?
- A. An administrative hearing with a parent or guardian, and a possible suspension
- B. An automatic one-year revocation
- C. A free defensive driving course
- D. Nothing until 12 points
Answer: A. At 6 points, drivers under 18 face a hearing that a parent or guardian must attend. Check current rules with the Department. Topic: points.
Emergencies and adverse conditions (question 30)
30. Your car starts to skid on a wet road. You should:
- A. Ease off the gas and steer in the direction you want the front of the car to go
- B. Slam on the brakes
- C. Turn the wheel hard the other way
- D. Speed up
Answer: A. Stay off the brakes and steer smoothly where you want to go. Manual topic: skids.
How did you do?
| Correct out of 30 | Result |
|---|---|
| 27 to 30 | Ready for the real test |
| 24 to 26 | At the 80% line. Fix the topics you missed. |
| Under 24 | Not yet. Reread the manual, then retake this test. |
Then try the free practice quiz in the MyTN app, which the Department of Safety recommends. Teen rules are the most common misses: see Tennessee Intermediate Restricted license rules and the Tennessee hands free law and driver points.
Common questions
Are these the real Tennessee permit test questions?
No. They are original, unofficial practice questions. The real test is built from the Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual.
How many questions are on the Tennessee permit test?
The online test for 15 to 17 year olds has 30 questions with 60 minutes allowed. Check the format for in-person testing with your Driver Services Center.
How many can I miss?
The Department describes the online pass mark as 80%, which allows 6 wrong out of 30. Confirm it before you test.
Can I take the Tennessee permit test at home?
Yes, if you are 15 to 17 and a parent or legal guardian proctors you through the Tennessee Proctor ID app. You still visit a center for the vision screening and the permit.
Where is the official study material?
The Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual and the MyTN practice quiz.
Is there a practice test for other states?
Yes: US permit practice tests by state. For the whole Tennessee route, see learning to drive in Tennessee.
Sources
- Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, “Driver License Knowledge Permit Test Online” (tn.gov)
- Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, “Are there other ways for me to practice for the knowledge test?” (safetysupport.tn.gov)
- Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, “Tennessee Motorcycle Operator Manual”, alcohol section (tn.gov)
- Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury, Office of Research and Education Accountability, “Driver Education in Tennessee” (comptroller.tn.gov)