West Virginia written test: attempts limited by statute

The West Virginia Driver's Licensing Handbook states that the knowledge examination has at least 25 questions, drawn from the traffic rules, regulations, signs and markings the handbook covers, and that 19 correct are needed to pass. That works out to 76 percent, an unusual bar next to the 70 and 80 percent standards most states set, and it leaves a margin of six wrong answers. The handbook also warns that the test is timed and that any question left unanswered counts as incorrect, so on a question you are unsure of an educated guess is strictly better than a blank.

State law, rather than agency practice, limits West Virginia retakes: an applicant 18 or older is allowed no more than two attempts at the written test within a 90 day period, and anyone who fails cannot be tested again within one week. An underprepared candidate can therefore lose the better part of three months to two bad sittings. The Level 1 instruction permit the exam leads to is available from age 15 up to just under 18, and it then has to be held for 180 consecutive conviction free days, with a 50 hour supervised driving log including 10 hours at night, before the Level 2 intermediate license.