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Anyone who operates a motor vehicle on the public roads in Massachusetts must have a valid driver's license or driving permit. An RMV clerk will screen your vision when you apply for a learner's permit or driver's license. A learner's permit gives you permission to drive while you practice your driving skills and prepare for your road test. The MA RMV written knowledge test measures your understanding of Massachusetts road signs, road rules and safe driving practices. Everything you need to know is covered in the Massachusetts Driver's Manual. The MA RMV knowledge test consists of 25 questions, and you'll need 18 correct answers to pass (72%).
1.
Aggressive driving behaviors include:
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Frequent rest stops.
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A tendency to drive slow.
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Erratic lane changes.
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Excessive following distance.
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2.
You reach an intersection that is not controlled at the same time as a driver on your right, and both of you prepare to go straight. Who has the right-of-way?
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No one.
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You.
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The other driver.
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Both.
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3.
When driving through a curve, you should:
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Speed up as you enter, slow down as you exit.
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Slow as you enter, speed up as you exit.
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Maintain constant speed.
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Stay near the right of your lane.
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4.
This sign indicates:
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The maximum legal height allowed in this State.
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The maximum width of a vehicle allowed on the highway.
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The overpass ahead has a low clearance.
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A steep grade is ahead.
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5.
When you approach a stop line, you should:
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Stop after the stop line, but before the stop sign or traffic signal.
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Stop at the stop line.
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Stop in the crosswalk.
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Only if there are pedestrians crossing the intersection.
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Frequently Asked Questions
To obtain a learner’s permit, you must be at least 16 years old. After holding your permit for six months with a clean driving record and completing a driver education program, you can apply for a junior operator license. Your class D driver’s license will be restricted until you reach 18 years old.
You can start your application online and you will receive an email to schedule an appointment at the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) office you selected. If you prefer to complete the test at home, you are required to apply and visit a Service Center to provide identification documentation. Once the documentation has been verified, you'll receive login instructions to complete the test at home.
You are required to provide specific documents:
- Proof of identity.
- Proof of Social Security Status.
- Proof of Massachusetts residency.
- Written consent from a parent/legal guardian (for applicants under 18).
Use this checklist and view the acceptable documents.
The RMV written test is provided in Albanian, Arabic, Armenian, Burmese, Cape Verdean Creole, English, Farsi, French, German, Greek, Gujarati, Haitian Creole, Hindi, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, Khmer/Cambodian, Kiswahili, Korean, Laotian, Mandarin (Simplified), Mandarin (Traditional), Pashto, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Serbo-Croatian, Somali, Spanish, Tagalog, Thai, Turkish, Ukrainian, Urdu, and Vietnamese. Audio exams are also available in these languages. If you need an oral exam, call 857-368-8105.
You need to read the Massachusetts Driver's Handbook. The exam covers various topics, including road signs, safe driving practices, and road rules. Remember that you cannot use driver's manuals or personal notes, so study the manual carefully and take our free practice tests to verify your preparation.
The RMV written test consists of 25 multiple-choice questions. To pass, you must complete the test within 25 minutes. You have approximately one minute for each question, so carefully read each sentence before selecting your answer and moving on to the next question.
To pass the Massachusetts RMV written test, you need to reach a score of 72%. This means that you must correctly answer 18 questions and can miss a maximum of 7 questions. Sign up for DMV Premium to test your preparation and check if you are ready for the real exam.
All drivers under 18 are not permitted to use any mobile electronic device except for emergency calls. There are also other specific restrictions:
- With a learner’s permit, you are allowed to drive only under the supervision of a licensed adult who is at least 21 years old, has held a driver's license for at least one year, and is seated beside you.
- After obtaining a junior operator license, driving alone is permitted only between 12:30 a.m. and 5 a.m. Furthermore, you cannot transport passengers under 18 unless accompanied by a driver who is at least 21 years old and has held a driver's license for at least one year (except when transporting siblings).
A learner’s permit in Massachusetts is valid for 2 years. If it expires, you'll have to apply again and retake the exam. After holding the permit for 6 consecutive months, you can get a junior operator license. If there's any suspension during this period, you'll need to wait another 6 months after the suspension ends.
Instructions will be provided at the end of the RMV written test on how to retake it. Keep in mind that a new fee must be paid. It's important to note that cheating during the exam will result in failure. Additionally, if you are taking the test online, you'll automatically fail if you leave the browser, if you have not clicked a button for more than 2 minutes, or if you exceed the 25 minutes available to complete the exam.