SCHOOL BUS PRACTICE TEST ILLINOIS

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The school bus endorsement applies to applicants who wish to drive a school bus in any Class A or B CDL. To add an S endorsement to your CLP/CDL, you must pass the Illinois school bus test, and you must also pass skills tests in a school bus. The IL CDL bus test consists of 20 questions, and you'll need at least 16 correct answers to pass (80%). The knowledge test covers the following sections of the Illinois CDL Manual: School Buses, Vehicle Inspection Test, Basic Control Skills Test and Road Test. After studying, take this IL CDL practice test to prepare for the actual bus test!
1. When you are driving a school bus, the emergency exit doors or windows must always:
stay open.
be closed.
have a red door light turned on.
None of the above.
2. It is safer to drive over (rather than to avoid) which of the following?
Cardboard boxes
Plastic containers
Paper and cloth sacks
None of the above.
3. What should you do if you miss a student's unloading stop?
Do not back up, and follow the local procedure.
Back up whenever possible.
Turn on the right turn signal and try to stop to unload the student.
None of the above.
4. If the drive wheels begin to spin, you should:
accelerate smoothly and change gears as necessary.
take your foot off the accelerator.
wait 4-5 seconds before applying the accelerator.
apply your brakes all the way.
5. Passive railroad crossings:
do not have yellow circular advance warning signs, pavement markings and crossbucks.
do not have any type of traffic control device.
do not require you to stop.
All of the above.
6. If a student drops something in front of the bus, the student should:
pick up the object as quickly as possible.
ask the driver to retrieve the item.
leave the item where it fell, and get the driver's attention and permission to retrieve the item.
leave the item behind.
7. If you cannot make a right turn without entering another traffic lane, you should:
swing wide to the left before starting the turn.
turn wide as you complete the turn.
turn wide before you start the turn.
watch out for vehicles coming toward you and back up for them.
8. When students load and unload, what should the driver do?
plan the route.
ask the students to be quick.
supervise the process.
All of the above.
9. If you feel drowsy, you should _______ before driving.
sleep
exercise
listen to upbeat music
drink coffee
10. When approaching a vehicle with a distracted driver, you should:
quickly pass the vehicle.
maintain your safe following distance.
sound your horn.
change lanes quickly.
 
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Frequently Asked Questions

To obtain a class D driver's license in Illinois, teens must follow the three steps of the Graduated Driver License (GDL) system. Here are the age requirements:

  • For a learner's permit, you must be at least 15.
  • For an initial license, you must be between 16-17.
  • For a full license, you must be between 18-20.

For applicants between 18 and 20 years old, a six-hour adult driver education course is required before getting a driver’s license.

Visit the Illinois Secretary of State’s office website to book your written test. You can choose dates and times based on your preferences and the available options at various Illinois DMV locations. 

You must present the following documents:

  • Proof of written signature (credit cards, mortgage documents, passport, etc).
  • Proof of date of birth with your full name.
  • Proof of Social Security Number.
  • Proof of residency (e.g., bank statement, insurance policy, or utility bill). For a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license, you have to bring two proofs.

Use this checklist to prepare for your visit and ensure you have all the necessary documents.

The DMV written test in Illinois is available in English. If you don't speak English well or experience any reading difficulties, you can request an oral examination in person at any Secretary of State driver’s license office.

The DMV written test is based on the Illinois Driver's Manual. Focus on road signs, safe driving practices and road rules. Take our free practice tests to prepare for the permit test, or sign up for DMV Premium to unlock more resources and prepare for your exam faster!

The Illinois DMV written test consists of 35 questions. Among them, 15 focus on traffic sign identification, and the remaining 20 are multiple-choice or true-false questions. These questions are based on the official manual, so it's important to study it well to maximize your chances of passing the exam.

Illinois imposes specific restrictions on new drivers according to their age.

Permit phase:
  • Driving is prohibited from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. (Saturday-Thursday) and from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. (Friday-Saturday).
  • The maximum number of passengers is one in the front seat, and the number of passengers in the back seat is limited to the available safety belts.
  • Drivers and passengers must wear safety belts.
  • Using a cell phone, including a hands-free device, is prohibited (except for emergencies).

Initial licensing phase:
  • Driving is prohibited from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. (Saturday-Thursday) and from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. (Friday-Saturday).
  • Drivers and passengers must wear safety belts.
  • During the first 12 months or until the driver turns 18, only one passenger under the age of 20 is allowed (except for family members). After this period, only one person is allowed in the front seat, and the number of passengers in the back seat is limited to the available safety belts.
  • Using a cell phone, including a hands-free device, is prohibited (except for emergencies).

Full licensing phase:
  • Drivers under 18 cannot operate for-hire vehicles transporting property or require a commercial driver’s license, and until 21, they are not allowed to use any for-hire vehicles transporting people.
  • Using a cell phone, including a hands-free device, is forbidden for drivers under 19 (except for emergencies).
If you are under 18, the learner’s permit is valid for two years, with a requirement to hold it for a minimum of nine months before qualifying for a driver's license. For applicants over 18,  the permit is valid for one year. If it expires, a renewal fee is applicable. 


If you fail the DMV written test, you can take a second attempt on the same day. However, if you fail because you were caught cheating, you will have to wait 30 days before retaking it. Generally, you have three attempts to pass the permit test within one year after the application.

IL CDL School Bus Test

Number of questions: 20
Correct answers to pass:16
Passing score:80%
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