The vision, signs, knowledge and skills tests

Key points

1. You need at least 20/40 vision in one eye, corrected or not, and a 70 degree field of vision from the center of each eye.

   Source: Handbook p. 1

   “Visual acuity of at least 20/40 in one eye (corrected or uncorrected) 70-degree field of vision from the center of each eye.”
   Wisconsin Motorists' Handbook, Handbook p. 1

2. The highway signs test has 15 questions, and you must get 12 right (80%) to pass.

   Source: Handbook p. 1

   “There are 15 questions on this test. You need to answer 12 questions (80%) correctly to pass the test.”
   Wisconsin Motorists' Handbook, Handbook p. 1

3. The knowledge test has 50 questions, and you must get 40 right (80%) to pass.

   Source: Handbook p. 1

   “The knowledge test will include 50 questions. You need to answer 40 questions (80%) correctly to pass the test.”
   Wisconsin Motorists' Handbook, Handbook p. 1

4. The knowledge test takes about 45 minutes, and you do not need an appointment for it.

   Source: Handbook p. 1

   “You do not need to make an appointment to take this test. This test will take about 45 minutes to complete.”
   Wisconsin Motorists' Handbook, Handbook p. 1

5. Applicants ages 15 to 17 may also take the knowledge test online for a $10 fee.

   Source: Handbook p. 1

   “Applicants between ages 15 and 17 may also take the knowledge test online for a fee of $10.”
   Wisconsin Motorists' Handbook, Handbook p. 1

6. You must make an appointment for the skills test, also called the road test.

   Source: Handbook p. 2

   “You must make an appointment to take this test. Please visit our website to schedule this test”
   Wisconsin Motorists' Handbook, Handbook p. 2

7. Before the road test, the examiner checks your car's horn, lights and signals, plates, doors and mirrors.

   Source: Handbook p. 2

   “Before your test the DMV examiner will check over your car. They will make sure the car is safe to drive. They will check the horn, lights/signals, license plates, doors, mirrors and more.”
   Wisconsin Motorists' Handbook, Handbook p. 2

8. The skills test includes maneuvers such as a Y turn, a roadside stop and start, parking and backing.

   Source: Handbook p. 2

   “Maneuvers such as a Y-turn, roadside stop/start and parking Backing”
   Wisconsin Motorists' Handbook, Handbook p. 2

Numbers to know

3 questions from the Wisconsin practice test

1. 1. How many questions does the Wisconsin knowledge test include, and how many must an applicant answer correctly to pass?

   1. 60 questions, with 48 correct required
   2. 40 questions, with 32 correct required
   3. 50 questions, with 40 correct required
   4. 30 questions, with 24 correct required
   Show answer

   50 questions, with 40 correct required. The Wisconsin knowledge test includes 50 questions, and an applicant must answer 40 correctly to pass. The handbook identifies that threshold as 80 percent. The other pairs preserve an 80 percent pattern but use the wrong test size, so calculating a percentage alone is not enough. Memorize both figures together: 50 total and 40 correct. The test takes about 45 minutes, but that timing detail does not change the number of questions or the passing requirement.

2. 2. What vision standard does the Wisconsin handbook list for regular car applicants?

   1. 20/20 in both eyes with no glasses
   2. 20/40 in each eye, tested without glasses or contacts
   3. 20/200 in the better eye, with glasses allowed
   4. At least 20/40 in one eye and a 70-degree field of vision from the center of each eye
   Show answer

   At least 20/40 in one eye and a 70-degree field of vision from the center of each eye. Regular car and motorcycle applicants in Wisconsin need visual acuity of at least 20/40 in one eye, corrected or uncorrected, and a 70-degree field of vision from the center of each eye. Glasses or contacts are allowed, so a rule demanding 20/20 without glasses, or 20/40 in each eye without correction, overstates the standard. The handbook needs only one eye to reach 20/40. A 20/200 figure falls far short of that. An applicant who does not pass is sent to a vision specialist with the Certificate of Vision Examination form.

3. 3. What alternative knowledge-test option does Wisconsin offer applicants ages 15 through 17?

   1. They may take the test online for a fee of $10
   2. They may skip the test with a sponsor’s signature
   3. They may take only a private driving school exam
   4. They may replace it with the skills test
   Show answer

   They may take the test online for a fee of $10. Applicants between ages 15 and 17 may take the Wisconsin knowledge test online for a $10 fee. This is an alternative way to complete the same knowledge requirement, not permission to skip testing or substitute a sponsor’s signature. A private driving school exam and the skills test are not the options described in this handbook passage. Keep the age range and fee together as the recall pair: 15 through 17, online, and $10. The regular customer service center test remains a separate route.

Source: the Wisconsin Motorists' Handbook, Section 1: Driving Test Requirements. 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.