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

The Massachusetts RMV written knowledge test is your first official hurdle on the path to a driver's license. It's a 25-question, multiple-choice exam designed to ensure you have a solid grasp of the state's traffic laws, road signs, and safety rules before you start practicing on the road. To pass, you must answer at least 18 questions correctly within 25 minutes.

Confidence comes from preparation. All questions are pulled directly from the "Massachusetts Driver's Manual". To help you study, we have created this list of 15 practice questions that mirror the topics and format you'll find on the real exam.

Massachusetts Permit Practice Test

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

1. A Junior Operator (JOL) is under a driving curfew between what hours? a) 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. b) 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. c) 12:30 a.m. and 5 a.m. d) 9 p.m. and 5 a.m.

2. In Massachusetts, you are considered to be Operating Under the Influence (OUI) if your Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) is ____ or higher. a) 0.10% b) 0.05% c) 0.08% d) 0.02%

3. During the first six months of holding a JOL, a teen driver can have what passengers under 18 in the car? a) One friend. b) Any number of friends. c) Only immediate family members. d) No one under 18.

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 Massachusetts, you must signal your intention to turn or change lanes at least how many feet before the maneuver on a highway? a) 100 feet b) 200 feet c) 300 feet d) 500 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 "implied consent" law in Massachusetts? a) You agree to let your parents set driving rules. b) By driving in Massachusetts, you agree to be tested for alcohol or drugs if requested by an officer. c) You consent to a vehicle search if you are pulled over. d) You consent to JOL restrictions when you get your license.

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 learner's permit for a minimum of how long before taking a road test? a) 3 months b) 6 months c) 9 months d) 1 year

12. When you see a stopped school bus with its red lights flashing, you must: a) Stop, regardless of your direction of travel, and may not proceed until the lights stop flashing. 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 a learner's permit in Massachusetts? a) 15 years and 6 months b) 16 years old c) 16 years and 6 months d) 17 years old

15. What is the standard speed limit in a thickly settled or business district in Massachusetts, unless otherwise posted? a) 25 mph b) 30 mph c) 35 mph d) 20 mph

Answer Key and Explanations

1. c) 12:30 a.m. and 5 a.m. This is a key JOL rule.

2. 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, Massachusetts has a zero-tolerance policy.

3. c) Only immediate family members. This strict passenger restriction is a major part of the JOL program.

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. d) 500 feet. On highways, you must signal at least 500 feet before your exit or lane change. In the city, it's 100 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. b) By driving in Massachusetts, you agree to be tested for alcohol or drugs if requested by an officer. Refusing the test has its own serious penalties.

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. b) 6 months. A teen must hold their learner's permit for at least six months, conviction-free, before being eligible to take the road test.

12. a) Stop, regardless of your direction of travel, and may not proceed until the lights stop flashing. On a two-lane road, all traffic must stop.

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

14. b) 16 years old. This is the minimum age to begin the JOL process in Massachusetts.

15. b) 30 mph. This is the standard speed limit for these areas unless a different limit is posted.

How to Guarantee a Passing Score

Your best study tool is the "Massachusetts Driver's Manual". Read it thoroughly, paying special attention to JOL restrictions, speed limits, and right-of-way rules. By combining diligent study with practice tests, you'll be well-prepared to ace your written exam.