Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Bureau of Driver Licensing

The Pennsylvania written test, explained

People say written test, PennDOT paperwork says knowledge test. Same exam. Nobody hands you a pencil anymore: you answer on a screen. What matters is the scoring, and here it is with nothing rounded off.

18
Questions
PennDOT, Pennsylvania Driver's Manual, Testing section, verified 2026-08-27
15
Correct to pass
15 of 18 (83%)
PennDOT, Pennsylvania Driver's Manual, Testing section, verified 2026-08-27

What the questions cover

Everything comes back to the Pennsylvania Vehicle Code (Title 75 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes): traffic signals and signs, right of way, speed rules, passing and lane use, parking, alcohol limits, and the licensing rules that apply to new drivers. The exam is multiple choice with one correct answer per question.

How to prepare without wasting evenings

Reading rules is passive; retrieval is what sticks. Take a full-length run in the real format, read the explanation on every miss, and let the review deck bring your weak spots back tomorrow. Most people are consistently passing practice runs within a week of short daily sessions.

Take the free Pennsylvania practice test