South Dakota written test scoring: 20 of 25, appointments

SD DPS states plainly that the knowledge test must be passed with a score of 80 percent or higher, and it applies the same 80 percent bar to the driving test. It has never stated how long the exam is. The current South Dakota Driver's License Manual was searched in full, all 72 pages, and does not contain the word question. The teen graduated licensing brochure gives no count either, and the DPS application form records the non commercial knowledge result only as pass, fail or waived. The 25 questions and 20 correct used here are a driver education length applied to the confirmed 80 percent, so South Dakota is carried as unverified rather than presented as published.

Knowledge and driving tests both require a scheduled appointment at a Driver Licensing location, and DPS says outright that no sample test is provided, so applicants work from the driver's license manual instead. There is no online testing option. A failed applicant cannot retest before the next working day, each fee paid buys three testing opportunities inside a six month period, and after three failures in that window the fee has to be paid again. Anyone caught cheating waits a minimum of two weeks. Teens can avoid the exam entirely: DPS waives the knowledge test for an instruction permit on presentation of a certificate for an approved driver education course, or an approved equivalent from another state, completed within the last year.