knowledge test

New drivers must take a knowledge test. People who are renewing or reinstating their licence may also need to take a knowledge test.

Knowledge tests for all licence classes are:

• Created by the Ministry of Transportation (MTO).
• Available on paper (at all locations) and on the computer (at some locations).
• Multiple choice. (Sample questions for a Class G1 test are available on the MTO website.)
• Not timed – you can take all the time you need to finish the test (until the office closes).
• Available in English or French, at a minimum. (Class G1 knowledge tests are offered in 27 languages.)
• Offered in all DriveTest Centres.
• Available without an appointment. (Come at least one hour before the office closes to avoid disappointment.)
• Marked on the spot, so you will get your results immediately.

This type of test is proctored at a DriveTest Centre to prevent misconduct among test takers. Anyone discovered cheating or disrupting other test-takers will be asked to leave the test room, receive an unsuccessful mark, lose their test fee, and will have to wait until the following day to rewrite the test.

Each knowledge test takes typically 20 to 30 minutes and has two or three sections (e.g., one section on signs and one section on rules of the road). You must earn a total score of at least 80% to pass the test. If you are unsuccessful, you can pay the fee and try again. Test results are valid for one year. If you re-try the test within one year, you have to rewrite only the sections that did not meet MTO standards.