North Carolina written test scoring: 20 of 25

North Carolina rule 19A NCAC 03B .0201 defines the driver license examination and sets both thresholds in the same place. The knowledge test requires 80 percent of the questions answered correctly. The road sign examination is graded on its own, and a regular Class C applicant must correctly identify 9 of the 12 signs shown, while Class A and Class B applicants must identify every sign they are shown. Grading the signs separately is the part worth planning for, because strong general knowledge cannot carry a weak sign result the way it can in a state that folds signs into one total. The rule fixes the share you must get right and never states how many knowledge questions there will be, and the NCDMV tests page, the North Carolina Driver Handbook and the NCDMV sample questions page leave the number out as well, so the percentage is the safe thing to plan around.

State rule spells out who faces the full examination: first time applicants, anyone whose North Carolina license expired more than two years ago, and anyone holding an out of state license expired more than two years. Applicants who do not pass the knowledge test or the driving test for a regular Class C license may try again after 7 calendar days, and NCDMV publishes no attempt cap or separate retake fee beyond that wait. Testing is in person at a driver license office, with oral tests available on request, and NCDMV lists no online option for the knowledge or sign tests. Neither test carries a separately listed fee, since both are included in the permit or license application fee.