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UPDATED
October 16, 2025
The Ontario G1 test throws 40 multiple-choice questions at you, split evenly between traffic signs and rules of the road. You need 16 out of 20 correct in each section to pass, and both sections have to be passed in the same sitting.
Most people want to see actual questions and answers before they book their test. That's smart. Knowing what kinds of questions show up and how they're worded makes a real difference when you're sitting in front of that computer screen at the DriveTest center.
The G1 test isn't trying to trick you, but the questions come in a few different styles that you should know about.
Sign Questions You'll see a picture of a traffic sign and pick what it means from four options. These are usually straightforward if you've studied the signs. The tricky part is that some signs look similar, like yield versus merge.
Situation Questions These describe a driving scenario and ask what you should do. "You're at a four-way stop and another car arrives at the same time to your right. Who goes first?" You need to know the actual rules, not just what feels right.
Yes/No Style Questions The test gives you a statement about Ontario traffic laws and you pick if it's true or false. "G1 drivers can use hands-free devices while driving." (That's false, by the way. G1 holders can't use any electronic devices, period.)
What Would You Do Questions These test your judgment. Multiple answers might seem reasonable, but one is the safest or most correct according to Ontario law.
Stop, Yield, and Speed Limits Stop signs mean a full stop at the line or crosswalk, not just slowing down. Yield signs require you to slow down and let other traffic go first. Speed limit signs are self-explanatory, but remember they show the maximum, not a target speed.
Yellow Diamond Signs These warn you about what's coming up. Sharp curve. Steep hill. Pedestrian crossing. Deer crossing. The test loves asking about these because they're everywhere on Ontario roads.
Blue Rectangle Signs These tell you where things are. Hospital this way. Parking over there. Rest stop ahead. They're helpful information, not warnings or rules.
Orange Signs in Construction Zones When you see orange, there's construction. Speed limits drop. Lane patterns change. Workers might be present. The test will ask you what to do when you spot these signs.
Speed Limits Without Signs If there's no posted limit, you're expected to know the defaults. Cities and towns are 50 km/h. Rural highways are 80 km/h. Freeways are 100 km/h. School zones drop to 40 km/h when kids are around.
Who Goes First at Intersections At a four-way stop, whoever gets there first goes first. Two cars arrive together? The one on the right goes. Pedestrians at crosswalks? They always go first, no matter what.
How Much Space to Leave The two-second rule is your friend. Pick a fixed point ahead, and when the car in front passes it, start counting. If you reach that point before you finish saying "one thousand and one, one thousand and two," you're too close. Double it in rain. Triple it in snow.
Where You Can and Can't Pass Pass on the left unless the vehicle ahead is turning left. Don't pass on curves, hills, at intersections, or near railway crossings. Solid yellow lines mean no passing for you. Broken lines on your side mean you can pass if it's safe.
Parking Rules That Show Up Stay three meters back from fire hydrants. Nine meters back from intersections. Don't block driveways. Don't park on sidewalks. These numbers matter on the test.
The Zero Tolerance Rule G1 and G2 drivers must have 0.00% blood alcohol. Not 0.05%. Not 0.08%. Zero. One drink means you're breaking the law. The test will ask about this.
Seatbelt Rules Everyone wears a seatbelt. Kids under 16 are your responsibility as the driver. The right car seat depends on the child's age and size.
Phone and Device Laws Handheld devices are illegal for everyone while driving. G1 drivers can't use hands-free devices either. Put the phone away completely or risk failing your test (and getting tickets if you do it on real roads).
Driving in Bad Weather Slow down in rain, snow, or fog. Turn on your headlights when you can't see 150 meters ahead. Leave more space between cars. The test asks how to adjust your driving when conditions get rough.
Headlight Rules Low beams in the city. High beams on dark country roads when no one's coming. Dim your high beams 150 meters before you meet oncoming traffic, and 60 meters before you catch up to someone ahead of you.
Read the Question Twice Test questions use words like "except" and "never" that flip the meaning around. Missing one word can make you pick the wrong answer even when you know the material.
Understand Why, Not Just What Knowing the right answer helps you pass one question. Understanding why it's right helps you pass ten questions that ask about the same concept in different ways.
Hit the Common Topics Hard Some subjects show up way more than others. Traffic signs appear constantly. Right-of-way rules come up in multiple questions. Speed limits are everywhere. Spend your time where it counts.
Study a Little Every Day Twenty minutes of practice questions beats three hours of cramming the night before. Your brain needs time to move information from short-term to long-term memory.
Track What You Get Wrong If you keep missing questions about parking or railway crossings, that's your brain telling you to review those sections. Don't just practice what you already know. The Ontario Driver's Handbook has all the details you need.
Some questions feel harder than they should be. Here's how to handle them.
Figure Out What They're Really Asking Is this about a specific law? Choosing the safest action? Identifying a sign? Once you know what kind of question it is, the answer gets clearer.
Cross Out the Obvious Wrong Ones Two of the four answers are usually clearly wrong. Eliminate those first. Now you've got a 50/50 shot even if you're not totally sure.
Watch for Absolute Words "Must," "always," "never," and "required" mean there's no wiggle room. These point to specific laws. "Should" and "recommended" suggest best practices that have some flexibility.
Think About Real Driving The right answer usually makes sense if you picture yourself actually driving. Safe, legal, and courteous wins most of the time.
Sign Question
Example You see a red eight-sided sign. What does it mean?
It's a stop sign. Red octagons are only used for stop signs in Ontario. Shape and color matter.
Scenario
Question Example You're driving through a school zone at 3 PM on a Wednesday. What's the speed limit?
It's 40 km/h. School zones have reduced limits during school hours on school days, and 3 PM counts.
Law Question
Example What's your legal blood alcohol limit as a G1 driver?
Zero. G1 and G2 drivers have zero tolerance. Any alcohol at all means penalties.
Safety Beats Everything When two answers seem reasonable, pick the safer one. The G1 test cares about defensive driving and caution.
Pedestrians Win Questions about pedestrians? They usually have the right-of-way. You yield at crosswalks and intersections.
Signs Beat Default Rules If the question mentions a posted sign, that sign overrides the normal rule. A 40 km/h sign beats the default 50 km/h city limit.
Slow Down When Unsure Questions about uncertain situations? The answer is usually to slow down and proceed carefully. Speed is rarely the right answer.
Railway Crossings Stop at least five meters from the nearest rail when lights flash or gates are down. Never race a train. Never stop on the tracks themselves.
Emergency Vehicles Pull right and stop when you see flashing lights and hear sirens. Don't move until the emergency vehicle passes and you're sure no more are coming.
School Buses Those red flashing lights and the stop arm? You stop. Doesn't matter if you're behind the bus or coming from the opposite direction. Wait until the lights stop and the arm goes back in.
Roundabouts Yield to cars already in the roundabout. Enter when there's a gap. Signal right when you're exiting. Don't stop in the middle unless traffic ahead makes you.
Highway Merging Match the speed of highway traffic in the acceleration lane. Check your blind spots before merging. Exit from the right lane when you can.
Basic Questions These test simple facts from the handbook. What do traffic lights mean? What's the speed limit in a city? What does a stop sign look like?
Middle-Level Questions These make you apply the rules. How much following distance in rain? Who has right-of-way at this intersection? What should you do in fog?
Tough Questions These test whether you understand the principles behind safe driving, not just the rules. They describe unusual situations and ask you to make a judgment call.
The Official Handbook Every question on the G1 test comes from the Ontario Driver's Handbook. You can skip a lot of practice questions, but you can't skip reading this book.
Practice Question Sets Different practice tests word questions differently. G1 Ready CA has practice materials that cover everything the real test might ask.
Sign Charts Print out a chart of Ontario traffic signs. Stick it on your wall. Look at it every day. Sign recognition is half the test.
Study Partners Find someone else studying for their G1. Quiz each other. Explain concepts back and forth. You'll remember more when you have to teach it.
Review signs, right-of-way rules, and speed limits one last time. Take a practice test if you want, but don't try cramming new information. Your brain needs rest more than it needs last-minute facts.
Get your ID ready. Make sure you know where the DriveTest center is. Plan to show up 30 minutes early. And get a full night of sleep so you're sharp when you sit down for the real thing.
You Have Enough Time Forty questions sounds like a lot, but you'll have plenty of time to read carefully and think. Don't rush.
Go With Your First Answer If you studied properly, your first instinct is usually right. Second-guessing yourself often means changing a correct answer to a wrong one.
Stay Calm Feeling nervous is normal. Take a few deep breaths if you need to. You can retake the test if something goes wrong, but chances are you'll do fine.
Check Your Work Before you submit, review any questions you flagged. Make sure you didn't skip anything by accident. Verify your answers match what you meant to pick.
Ready to pass your G1 test? Visit G1 Ready CA for study materials and question practice that actually prepares you for what you'll see at the DriveTest center.
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