Taking the Tennessee driver permit test does not have to be intimidating. Using this study guide, and taking the permit practice test will help make the process easy.
To get your Tennessee license, you must pass the written exam. To get prepared, test takers should study the Tennessee drivers manual. What is the best strategy for test taking? How can you focus on the most important material? Strategies include breaking it down into smaller parts, determining what information you do know, beefing up on what you don't know, and strengthening your knowledge through observation when you are on the road.
First, it is helpful to know that the questions are multiple choice with three possible answers for each question. This allows test takers to eliminate answers in search of the correct one. This is helpful, although students who rely on this method won't pass the test without studying. There are 30 questions and you must get 24 questions correct, or 80% in order to pass.
The test covers four main areas:
- Laws and rules of the road 25 percent – which includes driving rules such as when it is legal to double park or speed limits on state and federal highways
- Safe driving procedures 25 percent – which includes how to change lanes or what to do if your car becomes disabled
- Traffic signs and signals 25 percent – which include at least 15 road signs that must be recognized
- Alcohol and drugs 25 percent – which includes questions about driving under the influence of alcohol and other drugs or medications
In the Tennessee drivers manual, there is lots of information. Test takers should read all sections, but actual studying should focus on Section B concerning rules of the road, and Section C which addresses safe driving strategies. Section A is primarily administrative information, and not likely to be found on the test. Sample test questions help, but don't waste time memorizing them because they won't appear that way on the real exam.
In Section B, chapters 2-8 are most important. After studying traffic signs and signals (B-3), test takers may be surprised how much they already know from years of watching the road. To study this, determine what you do know, what is common sense, and what you don't know yet. As you ride with family or on the bus, watch the signs and signals to reinforce written knowledge.
Everyone knows to avoid drugs and alcohol, but read section B-7 carefully for specifics that go beyond common sense. Rules of the road has the most information to study (B-4, B-5, B-6, B-8). While Section C does not deal specifically with traffic laws, you can still expect several of the safe driving procedures test questions to come from here.
Test takers shouldn't let the amount of information overwhelm them. Again, the best strategy is to determine what you know and what you need to learn. Then take the Tennessee permit practice test to see your progress.
