Pass Your Illinois Permit Test: 15 Practice Questions You Need to Know

The Illinois written knowledge test is your first official hurdle on the path to a driver's license. It's a test designed to ensure you have a solid grasp of the state's traffic laws and can identify road signs before you start practicing on the road. Confidence comes from preparation, and this guide is here to help.

The official exam has 35 questions. To pass, you must answer at least 28 correctly (an 80% score). The test includes both identifying signs and answering multiple-choice questions about traffic laws. All questions are pulled directly from the "Illinois Rules of the Road" handbook. To help you study, we've compiled 15 practice questions that reflect the topics and format you'll find on the real exam.

Illinois Permit Practice Test

Read each question carefully and select the best answer. The correct answers and detailed explanations follow below.

1. A 16-year-old driver with an initial license is under a driving curfew between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. on what days? a) Sunday - Thursday b) Friday and Saturday c) All days of the week d) Only on school nights

2. In Illinois, when must you use your headlights? a) Only when it is dark outside. b) From sunset to sunrise. c) When using your windshield wipers. d) Both B and C.

3. During the first 12 months of licensing, a teen driver is limited to how many passengers under the age of 20? a) Zero b) One, unless they are a sibling. c) Two, if they are family members. d) Any number, as long as they wear seat belts.

4. A solid yellow line on your side of the road means: a) You are approaching a stop sign. b) Passing is permitted with caution. c) No passing is allowed from your lane. d) The road is ending ahead.

5. A flashing red traffic light at an intersection should be treated as: a) A yield sign. b) A stop sign. c) A warning that the light will turn green soon. d) A signal to proceed with caution.

6. An eight-sided (octagon) sign always indicates: a) Yield b) A railroad crossing c) Stop d) A school zone

7. In a business or residential area in Illinois, you must give a continuous turn signal for at least how many feet before turning? a) 50 feet b) 100 feet c) 200 feet d) 300 feet

8. When parking your vehicle UPHILL on a street with a curb, you should turn your front wheels: a) Straight ahead. b) Away from the curb (left). c) Toward the curb (right). d) It doesn't matter.

9. What is the legal Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) limit for a driver 21 years or older in Illinois? a) 0.10% b) 0.05% c) 0.08% d) 0.02%

10. What does a triangular sign with a red border and white center mean? a) Stop b) Do Not Enter c) Yield d) No Passing Zone

11. A teen driver must hold their instruction permit for a minimum of how long before taking a road test? a) 6 months b) 12 months c) 3 months d) 9 months

12. When you see a stopped school bus with its red lights flashing and stop arm extended on a two-lane road, you must: a) Stop, regardless of your direction of travel. b) Slow down to 10 mph and pass with caution. c) Stop only if you are traveling in the same direction. d) Honk to alert children you are approaching.

13. A round, yellow sign with a black "X" and "RR" is an advance warning for a: a) Hospital ahead b) An intersection ahead c) A railroad crossing d) A dead-end street.

14. What is the minimum age to obtain an instruction permit in Illinois? a) 14 years and 6 months b) 15 years old c) 15 years and 6 months d) 16 years old

15. In Illinois, it is illegal to pass another vehicle: a) On a hill or a curve. b) At a railroad crossing. c) Within 100 feet of an intersection. d) All of the above.

Answer Key and Explanations

1. b) Friday and Saturday. The curfew is 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday through Thursday. This is a key GDL rule. [1]

2. d) Both B and C. Illinois law requires headlights to be on from sunset to sunrise and at any time when weather conditions require the use of windshield wipers.

3. b) One, unless they are a sibling. This strict passenger restriction is a major part of the GDL program. [1]

4. c) No passing is allowed from your lane. A solid yellow line on your side of the road indicates a no-passing zone for traffic on your side.

5. b) A stop sign. You must come to a complete stop, yield to all traffic and pedestrians, and then proceed when it is safe to do so.

6. c) Stop. The unique octagon shape is reserved exclusively for stop signs to make them easily recognizable.

7. b) 100 feet. In business or residential districts, you must signal at least 100 feet before turning. In other areas, the requirement is 200 feet.

8. b) Away from the curb (left). This ensures that if the car's brakes fail, it will roll back into the curb and stop, rather than rolling into traffic.

9. c) 0.08%. It is illegal to operate a motor vehicle with a BAC of 0.08% or higher if you are 21 or over. For drivers under 21, Illinois has a zero-tolerance policy.

10. c) Yield. The inverted triangle shape is the universal symbol for a yield sign, requiring you to slow down and give the right-of-way.

11. d) 9 months. A teen must hold their instruction permit for at least nine months, conviction-free, before being eligible to take the road test. [1]

12. a) Stop, regardless of your direction of travel. On a two-lane road, all traffic in both directions must stop for a school bus with flashing red lights.

13. c) A railroad crossing. This round sign is the advance warning sign placed before a railroad crossing.

14. b) 15 years old. This is the minimum age to begin the GDL process in Illinois by enrolling in driver's ed and applying for a permit.

15. d) All of the above. It is illegal and extremely dangerous to pass in any of these situations where your view of oncoming traffic is obstructed.

How to Guarantee a Passing Score

Your best study tool is the "Illinois Rules of the Road" handbook. Read it thoroughly, paying special attention to GDL restrictions, right-of-way rules, and traffic signs. By combining diligent study with practice tests, you'll be well-prepared to ace your written exam.