G1 Passing Score (How Many Questions You Can Get Wrong)
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Short answer: the G1 has 40 questions in two sections of 20, and you need 80% (that's 16 out of 20) in each section to pass. So you can get at most 4 wrong per section. Miss 5 in either section and you fail the whole test, even if your overall score looks fine.
Why "per section" is the part people miss
The G1 isn't scored as one big percentage out of 40. It's two separate 20-question tests, and you must reach 80% on each one. That means:
- You could score 33/40 (82.5%) overall and still fail: if, say, you got 18/20 on signs but only 15/20 on rules. The 15 fails the rules section.
- The safe target is 16+ in both sections, not just a good total.
- Fail just one section and you re-write the whole test, so it pays to be solid in both.
Worked example: which scores pass and which fail
How different score splits land:
| Road signs | Rules of the road | Overall | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16 / 20 | 16 / 20 | 80% | Pass |
| 20 / 20 | 16 / 20 | 90% | Pass |
| 18 / 20 | 15 / 20 | 82.5% | Fail (rules) |
| 12 / 20 | 20 / 20 | 80% | Fail (signs) |
A strong overall total means nothing if either section is below 16. Aim for 16 or better in both halves, not just a good combined score.
A few test-day basics
The G1 is a written, multiple-choice knowledge test, all of it from the official MTO Driver's Handbook. You take it at a DriveTest centre (the knowledge test is walk-in, no appointment) and you get your result before you leave. Pass both sections and you're issued your G1 the same day, which starts the 12-month wait, or 8 months with a BDE course, before your G2 road test. New to all this? See how to get your G1 step by step.
How to be sure you pass
Four wrong per section isn't much room, and the questions are written with look-alike answers designed to trip you up. The fix: practice in the real format until you're comfortably above the line.
- Practice in exam-simulation mode. Our free G1 practice test scores you exactly like the real thing (20 + 20, 80% per section), so you know where you stand. Aim for 90%+ in both sections before test day, for a margin of safety.
- Shore up your weaker half. Most people are stronger on one section. If signs are your weak spot, study them by shape and colour. If it's rules, drill the cheat sheet.
