The knowledge exam, road skills test and vision screening

Key points

1. You must correctly answer all 10 traffic sign questions in part one before you can take part two.

   Source: Handbook p. 3

   “You must correctly answer all ten traffic sign questions in part one of the exam before you can take part two of the exam.”
   Virginia Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 3

2. Part two is multiple choice, and you need at least 80 percent correct to pass.

   Source: Handbook p. 3

   “You must answer at least 80 percent of these questions correctly to pass part two.”
   Virginia Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 3

3. The knowledge exam may be taken only once per business day.

   Source: Handbook p. 3

   “The exam may be taken only once per business day.”
   Virginia Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 3

4. If you fail and you are under 18, you must wait a full 15 days before retaking the exam.

   Source: Handbook p. 3

   “If you fail the exam and you are under age 18, by law you must wait a full 15 days before you can retake the exam.”
   Virginia Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 3

5. After 3 failures, you cannot try a fourth time until you complete and pass the classroom part of driver education.

   Source: Handbook p. 3

   “If you fail the knowledge exam three times, you will not be able to take it a fourth time until you complete and pass the classroom component of driver education.”
   Virginia Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 3

6. During the exam you may not help another person or use a cell phone.

   Source: Handbook p. 3

   “help another person taking the exam try to get test questions or answers before the exam give another person exam questions or answers use a cell phone during the exam”
   Virginia Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 3

7. Applicants 18 or older must hold the learner's permit 60 days before the first road skills test, or complete driver education.

   Source: Handbook p. 4

   “Applicants age 18 or older must hold the learner’s permit for 60 days prior to the first road skills test or complete a course of driver’s education at a driver training school approved by DMV or the Department of Education.”
   Virginia Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 4

8. If you fail the road skills test, you must wait 2 days to take it again.

   Source: Handbook p. 4

   “If you fail the road skills test, you must wait two days to take it again.”
   Virginia Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 4

9. An unrestricted license requires 20/40 or better vision and 110 degrees or better horizontal vision.

   Source: Handbook p. 4

   “20/40 or better vision in one or both eyes, and 110 degrees, or better, horizontal vision in one or both eyes”
   Virginia Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 4

10. A daylight only license lets you drive from a half hour after sunrise until a half hour before sunset.

    Source: Handbook p. 4

    “A daylight driving only restricted license permits you to drive only during the period of time beginning a half-hour after sunrise and ending a half-hour before sunset.”
    Virginia Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 4

Numbers to know

3 questions from the Virginia practice test

1. 1. How many traffic-sign questions must an applicant answer correctly before moving to part two of Virginia’s knowledge exam?

   1. At least eight
   2. All ten
   3. At least five
   4. All thirty
   Show answer

   All ten. Part one contains ten traffic-sign questions, and the applicant must answer all ten correctly before taking part two. The 80 percent figure applies to the general-knowledge portion, not the sign section. Five correct answers would leave half the sign items wrong, while thirty refers to neither the required sign count nor the sign threshold. Separate the two exam parts in your memory: perfect performance on signs comes before the general questions.

2. 2. After failing Virginia’s knowledge exam, how long must an applicant under age 18 wait before retaking it?

   1. A full 15 days
   2. Seven days
   3. Two days
   4. Until turning 18
   Show answer

   A full 15 days. An applicant under 18 must wait a full 15 days after failing the knowledge exam before trying again. Two days is associated with a different testing rule in the manual, and seven days is not the stated retest interval. The applicant does not have to wait until age 18. Count the full waiting period from the failed attempt, then schedule the next test after the required interval has elapsed.

3. 3. How often may the Virginia knowledge exam be taken?

   1. Twice during every business day
   2. Only once per business day
   3. Any number of times on the same day
   4. Once per calendar month
   Show answer

   Only once per business day. Virginia allows the knowledge exam only once per business day. That means a failed attempt cannot be followed by another sitting later the same day, even if an appointment slot opens. Twice daily and unlimited same day choices ignore the stated scheduling limit, while a calendar month imposes a delay much longer than the manual describes. Plan the next attempt for a later business day and use the interval to review signs, laws, and safe driving material instead of expecting repeated same day tries.

Source: the Virginia Driver's Manual, Section 1: Testing. This lesson is a plain English summary, not the law itself; where it differs, the manual and the statute govern. Last checked 2026-09-27.