How to Prepare for your Learner’s Permit Test

Written by Liam Hoch
How to Prepare for your Learner’s Permit Test

Do you often get anxious when preparing for a big test? Are you so excited to get your learner's permit that you'll accept nothing less than acing the written exam on the first try? Maybe you can't wait to prove to your parents that you're taking driver's education seriously.

Whatever your reasons, properly preparing for your learner's permit test will put your mind at ease, give you the best chance of passing on the first try, and demonstrate to anyone and everyone that you're ready for the responsibility of learning to drive.

So, what are the best strategies to prepare for your permit test? Read on to find out.

Tried and True Testing Tips

Go to the source: Your state’s Driver Handbook is your best resource for everything you’ll need to know on your written knowledge exam. You want to be familiar with all of its contents, but you should pay particular attention to road signs, signals, and the laws governing the rules of the road in your state.

Goal-Oriented: Each state, and the District of Columbia, have their own learner’s permit tests. That means the number of questions you’ll have to answer, the specific types of content you’ll encounter, and how many you’ll have to answer correctly to pass will vary from state to state. As much as you can, try to find out the specifics of the knowledge exam you’ll be taking to know what you’ll need to do to be successful.

Howdy Partner: Just like you’d study for any test, having another person to help quiz you and review information can be invaluable. If you and a friend are at the same stage in your driver’s education journey, try to work together to learn the material. Work with a parent or family member to help you review. Frequently some of the best learning resources are the people closest to us. Do not be afraid to ask for help.

Practical Practice: When you’ve studied your manual and feel ready to see just how much you know, it’s time to take a permit practice test. You never know which questions you’ll face precisely on exam day, but a state-specific practice test is your best way to prepare for whatever comes your way.

Sleep on it: Have you ever taken a big test after not getting enough rest the night before? An underrated aspect of any academic success is getting enough sleep. Make sure to set aside enough time the night before. If you can, try to eliminate things that will interrupt your rest. Let your family know they should be extra quiet that night. Turn off your phone, so you don’t wake to an alert in the middle of the night. Make your sleeping space as dark, calm, and cool as possible. You know yourself and what you need to get good quality rest. Listen to your body, and you’ll wake up feeling fresh and ready to tackle any test.

The Most Important Meal: Even if you’ve memorized the driver handbook cover to cover and gotten the best night’s sleep of your life, you’ll be at a severe disadvantage on test day if you haven’t eaten a good meal ahead of time. Whether it’s a hearty breakfast or a good lunch, make sure you’ve got the fuel to ace it.

Come correct: Don’t let your hard work and preparation go to waste by not being organized and punctual on test day. Check out our guide to getting your license in your state to make sure you have all the appropriate paperwork. It’s essential to show up on time. Really. Make sure you get there early. 20-30 minutes before your scheduled appointment should do it.

Best Practices: No matter the type of test you’re taking, there are a few quick tips you can use to get the best score possible:

  • Expect success — The attitude you carry into any testing situation matters. Expect to do well and try to maintain a positive frame of mind.
  • Don’t rush — Take your time. You don’t want to go over the time allotted, but don’t rush through your exam. Make sure to read each question thoroughly before answering.
  • Check your work — It’s tempting to turn in your test the second you finish it, especially if you’re excited or anxious. Don’t. Before doing so, perform a quick check of all your answers. You never know what you might have skipped over or what you might have remembered as you went through the exam.

Remember that your objective should be more than merely passing the test. The information you need to know will prepare you to be a safe, responsible driver for years to come. You owe it to yourself, your family, potential passengers, and fellow drivers to apply yourself and learn the information.

With these simple principles in mind, there’s no test you won’t be able to handle. Keep them in mind when you take your learner’s permit test, and you’ll be completing your supervised driving hours, driver education requirements, and getting your full, unrestricted license before you know it.

Written by
Liam Hoch
Liam Hoch researches and writes about safe driving for DriverZ. Having been a passenger in multiple near-catastrophic vehicle collisions, Liam knows first-hand the dangers of distracted, reckless, and unsafe driving. Passionate about our core principles of helping to make safer drivers and, ultimately, saving lives, Liam stays at the forefront of driving safety innovation and research.

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