If you are taking the permit test in Pennsylvania it is important to be prepared. Use this study guide, and take the permit practice test to help make the process easy.
A surprising number of teens fail the written knowledge test the first time they take it. In Pennsylvania this means having to wait at least one day to go home and study before trying again. This is entirely avoidable if you take the time to prepare for the test in advance. The best study tool for the knowledge test is obviously the official Pennsylvania Driver’s Manual. The manual contains all of the information that will be found on the test.
The first thing to know when preparing for any test is the structure of the test and how the questions are arranged. This means that you will go into the test knowing what to expect, with no surprises. The knowledge test in Pennsylvania is only 18 questions that cover topics such as Pennsylvania traffic laws, understanding of road signs and general standards for safe driving. Each question is multiple choice and will have 4 answers to choose from. You may miss no more than three answers, so being prepared is crucial.
New drivers should take some time to learn the details of the permit and licensing process for which you are applying. Read chapter 1 – Non-Commercial Learner’s Permit Information to ascertain all the rules and restrictions that will apply to you as you go through the Graduated License Program.
There will be several questions on the test about traffic signals and signs, found in chapter 2. Study the color schemes of traffic signals listed on pages 7-9. When studying the road signs in the rest of the chapter, make sure that you can identify any sign by its shape and color, and understand the sign’s meaning clearly.
Probably the most important chapter to study is chapter 3 – Learning to Drive. This part of the manual describes traffic laws in detail, and outlines smart driving strategies for a variety of situations. Pay special attention to the rules and consequences of alcohol and driving on page 33 and page 82, since this is often found on the written test. Since good driving involves so much more than just steering a vehicle down the road, this chapter also describes approaches to various driving situations, such as how to choose the right speed to drive, how to handle turns and intersections, driving in adverse weather and sharing the road with other vehicles.
The rest of the Pennsylvania drivers Manual is more administratively oriented, and not as likely to be found on the test. However it is a good idea to familiarize yourself with this information. For example chapter 5 explains important laws for drivers such as the seat belt law and the steer clear law.
Chapters 2, 3 and 4 are followed by study questions similar to those found on the test. You can also take the online Pennsylvania permit practice test to help familiarize yourself with the type of questions that you will see on the actual permit test.
