The G1 knowledge test is the written test you take at a DriveTest centre to get your first Ontario driver's licence (Class G1). It checks that you know the road signs and the rules of the road. This guide explains how the test works and how to prepare so you pass the first time.
What is on the G1 test
- 40 multiple-choice questions in two parts: 20 on road signs and 20 on rules of the road.
- Pass mark: at least 16 out of 20 (80%) in each part. A high score in one part does not make up for a low score in the other.
- No time limit. DriveTest says the test is not timed: you can take as long as you need until the office closes. Most people finish in 20 to 30 minutes.
- Results straight away. The test is marked on the spot.
- Many languages. The computer test is offered in 32 languages with audio, including Punjabi, Hindi, Urdu, Arabic, Farsi, Tamil, Chinese (Cantonese), Spanish and French. See the G1 test in Punjabi.
If you fail a part
You pay the knowledge test fee again ($16) and retake the test. Results are valid for one year, so if you retake it within a year you only redo the part you did not pass. Anyone caught cheating fails, loses the fee and must wait until the next day to try again.
How to study: a simple plan
- Read the official MTO Driver's Handbook. The questions are based on it, and it is free on ontario.ca. Focus on getting your licence, the rules of the road and traffic signs.
- Learn the signs by shape and colour first. An octagon means stop, a yellow diamond warns of a hazard ahead, orange signs mean construction, and white rectangles are rules you must obey. Then learn the individual signs on the Ontario road signs page, with every sign and a short quiz.
- Take a full mock test before you feel ready. It shows which part is weaker. The free Ontario mock tests on PassDriveTest have 40 questions in the same two parts with the same pass mark.
- Study your mistakes, not what you already know. After each test, read the explanation for every wrong answer and look the rule up in the handbook.
- Learn the numbers. Many questions ask for exact figures: licence conditions, demerit points, blood alcohol rules for new drivers, distances and speeds. The Ontario rules of the road page has them by topic. Keep a short list and review it every day.
- Aim above the pass mark. When you score 18 or more out of 20 in both parts on several different mock tests, you are ready to book a trip to DriveTest.
Topics that catch people out
- G1 licence conditions: zero blood alcohol; an accompanying driver with a full licence and at least four years' experience, who is the only other person in the front seat; no driving between midnight and 5 a.m.; no 400-series highways or high-speed expressways unless the accompanying driver is a licensed driving instructor; a working seatbelt for every passenger.
- Demerit points and suspensions for new drivers.
- School buses with flashing red lights, and emergency vehicles with sirens or flashing lights.
- Right of way at four-way stops, uncontrolled intersections and pedestrian crossovers.
- Signs that look alike, where only the shape, colour or a small symbol changes the meaning.
On test day
- Go to any DriveTest centre. No appointment is needed: tests are first come, first served. Arrive at least an hour before the office closes, especially on Saturdays and school holidays. See how to book the G1 test and the G1 test locations.
- You must be at least 16.
- Bring original ID showing your legal name and date of birth, such as a passport or permanent resident card. Documents not in English or French need an approved translation.
- Bring payment for the G1 package ($159.75): the knowledge test, your first G2 road test and a five-year licence (fees checked October 2026).
- Bring your glasses or contact lenses if you need them: you also take a vision test.
After you pass
You get your G1 licence and can start practising with an accompanying driver. You can take the G2 road test after 12 months with your G1, or after 8 months if you complete an MTO-approved Beginner Driver Education course.
Take a free Ontario G1 mock test to see where you stand.
Checked against official sources on 16 October 2026.