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UPDATED
October 21, 2025
Half of Ontario's G1 test focuses on traffic signs. Twenty questions test your ability to recognize and understand road signs, signals, and pavement markings. You need 16 correct out of 20 to pass this section, making sign knowledge critical for getting your license.
Road signs communicate important information quickly while you're driving. Understanding what each sign means helps you make safe decisions on the road. The test uses images of actual Ontario signs, so you need to recognize them visually, not just read descriptions.
Half Your Test Score Signs make up 20 of the 40 total questions. Weak sign knowledge means you're starting with a major disadvantage before even reaching the rules section.
Visual Recognition Required You'll see sign images on the test, not text descriptions. This means you need to recognize signs by shape, color, and symbols, just like you will when driving.
Quick Identification Needed While you have time to read carefully on the test, real driving requires instant sign recognition. Strong study habits build both test success and safe driving skills.
Common Failure Point Many people fail the G1 test because of the signs section. They know road rules but struggle to identify less common signs under test pressure.
Regulatory Signs These signs tell you what you must or must not do. Stop signs, yield signs, speed limits, no parking, one way, and do not enter all fall into this category.
Warning Signs Yellow diamond-shaped signs alert you to upcoming hazards or changes in road conditions. Curves, hills, intersections, pedestrian crossings, and construction zones use warning signs.
Information Signs Blue rectangular signs provide helpful information about services, facilities, and directions. Hospitals, gas stations, rest areas, and tourist attractions use information signs.
Temporary Signs Orange signs indicate construction zones, detours, or temporary road conditions. These signs might have different shapes depending on their specific message.
Pavement Markings Lines, arrows, and symbols painted on the road surface provide information about lanes, directions, and restrictions.
Stop Signs Red octagon with white letters. The only sign with this eight-sided shape. Requires a complete stop at the white line, crosswalk, or intersection before proceeding.
Yield Signs Red and white downward-pointing triangle. The only upside-down triangle sign. Slow down and give right-of-way to other traffic and pedestrians before proceeding.
Speed Limit Signs White rectangles with black numbers inside red circles. Show the maximum legal speed for that road section. Speed limits change based on conditions and areas.
No Entry Signs Red circle with a white horizontal line. Means you cannot enter that road or lane. Common at highway off-ramps and one-way street exits.
Do Not Enter White square with red circle and white horizontal bar. Prohibits entry to a road or area. Often paired with one-way signs to prevent wrong-way driving.
One Way Signs Black arrow on white rectangular background. Shows the only legal direction for travel on that street. Going the wrong way on a one-way street is dangerous and illegal.
No Parking Signs Red circle with a P and a red line through it. Indicates areas where parking is prohibited. May include times when the restriction applies.
No Stopping Signs Red circle with an X through it. Means you cannot stop your vehicle in that area, even briefly. More restrictive than no parking signs.
Curve Ahead Yellow diamond with a curved black arrow. Warns that the road bends in the direction shown. Reduce speed before entering the curve.
Winding Road Yellow diamond with a wavy line. Indicates multiple curves ahead. Maintain reduced speed through the entire winding section.
Steep Hill Yellow diamond with a triangle showing grade percentage. Warns of steep uphill or downhill sections requiring speed and brake control.
Intersection Ahead Yellow diamond with a cross symbol. Alerts you to an upcoming intersection where roads meet. Be prepared to stop or yield.
Pedestrian Crossing Yellow diamond with a walking figure symbol. Indicates a marked crosswalk ahead where pedestrians have right-of-way.
School Zone Yellow pentagon with children symbols. Marks school areas with reduced speed limits when children are present, typically 40 km/h.
Railway Crossing Yellow circle with an X and R symbols. Warns of an upcoming railway track crossing. Be prepared to stop if signals flash or gates lower.
Traffic Signal Ahead Yellow diamond with three circles arranged vertically. Warns that a traffic light is approaching. Prepare to stop if needed.
Merge Yellow diamond with two arrows converging. Indicates lanes are merging. Traffic in the continuing lane has right-of-way.
Deer Crossing Yellow diamond with deer symbol. Common in rural Ontario. Watch for animals crossing the road, especially at dawn and dusk.
Hospital Blue rectangle with white H symbol. Indicates hospital location or direction. Helps emergency situations and visitors find medical facilities.
Gas Station Blue rectangle with gas pump symbol. Shows fuel stations ahead. Common on highways where services are spaced far apart.
Food and Lodging Blue rectangle with fork and knife or bed symbol. Points to restaurants and hotels. Helpful for travelers on long trips.
Rest Area Blue rectangle with picnic table symbol. Indicates rest stops with parking and often washroom facilities.
Parking Blue rectangle with white P. Shows parking areas available. May include additional information about parking type or restrictions.
Accessible Parking Blue with wheelchair symbol. Marks parking spaces reserved for people with disabilities. Requires valid permit to use.
Tourist Attraction Brown rectangle with symbols for specific attractions. Points to provincial parks, historic sites, museums, and tourist destinations.
Construction Zone Ahead Orange diamond with construction worker symbol. Warns that road work is happening ahead with possible lane closures or delays.
Detour Orange rectangle with arrow and "DETOUR" text. Directs traffic around closed road sections. Follow detour signs carefully.
Lane Closed Orange rectangle showing which lane ends. Merge into open lanes well before reaching the closure point.
Reduced Speed Ahead Orange sign showing lower speed limit in construction zone. These temporary limits are legally enforceable.
Workers Present Orange sign indicating active road work. Drive with extra caution as workers are on or near the roadway.
Octagon (Eight Sides) Only used for stop signs throughout Ontario and North America. Shape alone tells you to stop even if you can't read the text.
Triangle (Upside Down) Only used for yield signs. The unique inverted triangle shape makes yield signs instantly recognizable.
Diamond Warning signs use diamond shapes. Seeing a yellow diamond means hazard or condition ahead requires your attention.
Rectangle Most common shape. Used for regulatory signs (vertical rectangles) and information signs (horizontal rectangles).
Pentagon School zone and crossing signs use this five-sided shape. Associates the unique shape with child safety zones.
Circle Regulatory signs prohibiting certain actions often use circles. Red circles typically mean something is not allowed.
Pennant Triangular pennant pointing right indicates no passing zones. You'll see these on hills, curves, and areas where passing is dangerous.
Red Stop, yield, prohibition, or danger. Red signs require immediate attention and action.
Yellow Warning or caution. Yellow signs alert you to upcoming hazards or changes in road conditions.
Blue Information or services. Blue signs provide helpful information about facilities and directions.
Green Direction, distance, or guidance. Green signs on highways show distances to cities and exits.
Orange Construction, maintenance, or temporary conditions. Orange signs indicate work zones with changed traffic patterns.
Brown Recreation, cultural, or historic sites. Brown signs point to provincial parks and tourist attractions.
White Regulatory information. White backgrounds on signs provide rules and restrictions.
Black Text and symbols on white signs. Also used for one-way arrows and some regulatory information.
Print Color Sign Charts Get images of all Ontario traffic signs in color. G1 Ready CA provides comprehensive sign study materials including visual charts and practice questions.
Group Signs by Category Study regulatory signs together, then warning signs, then information signs. This organization helps you understand patterns.
Focus on Shape and Color First Before memorizing specific meanings, learn what each shape and color combination indicates. This gives you context clues during the test.
Cover Text and Test Yourself Look at sign images and say their meaning out loud before checking answers. This active recall strengthens memory.
Study Less Common Signs Everyone knows stop signs. Spend more time on signs you see less often like merge, deer crossing, or specific construction symbols.
Learn Similar Sign Differences Yield versus merge. No parking versus no stopping. School zone versus playground zone. These similar signs confuse people during tests.
Practice Daily Five to ten minutes reviewing signs daily works better than hour-long cramming sessions. Consistent exposure builds lasting recognition.
Confusing Warning and Regulatory Signs Yellow diamonds warn you. Red circles prohibit you. White rectangles regulate you. Keep these categories distinct in your mind.
Mixing Up Similar Shapes Diamonds aren't triangles. Octagons aren't circles. Pay attention to exact shapes, not just similar silhouettes.
Ignoring Sign Colors A blue sign provides information. A yellow sign warns you. Color carries meaning beyond the symbol shown.
Forgetting Ontario-Specific Signs Some signs appear mainly in Ontario or have slight variations from other provinces. Study Ontario-specific signage from the Driver's Handbook.
Overthinking Simple Signs Stop means stop. Yield means yield. Don't create complicated interpretations of straightforward signs.
Flashcard Method Create physical or digital flashcards. Sign image on one side, meaning on the other. Quiz yourself in random order.
Family Quiz Sessions Have someone show you sign images and test your responses. Teaching others also reinforces your own learning.
Online Practice Tests Take tests specifically focused on traffic signs. Sign-specific practice helps isolate this crucial test section.
Real-World Observation Notice signs while riding as a passenger. Call out their meanings. This practical application reinforces classroom study.
Timed Recognition Drills Set a timer and identify as many signs as possible in two minutes. This builds the quick recognition needed for actual driving.
Direct Identification "What does this sign mean?" with an image shown. These are the most common sign question format.
Situation Application "You see this sign while driving. What should you do?" Tests whether you understand how to respond to specific signs.
Distance and Speed Questions "When you see a school zone sign, what is the maximum speed?" Tests whether you know rules associated with specific signs.
Multiple Sign Scenarios Sometimes questions show multiple signs and ask which action is correct. Tests your ability to prioritize competing information.
Bilingual Signs in Some Areas Eastern Ontario may have French text alongside English on some signs. The symbols and colors remain the same.
Metric Distances All distance signs in Ontario use kilometers. Speed limits are in km/h. Make sure you understand metric measurements.
Wildlife Crossing Signs Moose, deer, and other animals appear on warning signs throughout Ontario, especially in rural and northern areas.
Winter Road Signs Snowmobile crossing signs and winter road closure warnings appear in seasonal areas.
HOV Lane Signs High-occupancy vehicle signs in the Greater Toronto Area indicate lanes requiring multiple passengers during posted hours.
Solid Yellow Line Separates traffic moving in opposite directions. Do not cross to pass when the line on your side is solid.
Broken Yellow Line You may pass when safe if the broken line is on your side. Still check for oncoming traffic and safe sight distance.
White Lines Separate lanes of traffic moving in the same direction. Broken white lines allow lane changes when safe.
Stop Lines Thick white lines across lanes at intersections. Stop with your front bumper before this line.
Crosswalk Lines White lines marking pedestrian crossing areas. Stop before crosswalks, not in them.
Arrows Show required or permitted directions for lanes. Lane arrows override your desired direction. You must follow the arrow.
HOV Diamond White diamond painted in lanes reserved for high-occupancy vehicles during posted hours.
Week One: Learn Sign Categories Understand the differences between regulatory, warning, and information signs. Learn what shapes and colors mean.
Week Two: Study Common Signs Focus on signs you'll see most often. Stop, yield, speed limits, common warnings, and basic information signs.
Week Three: Less Common Signs Study signs you see rarely but that still appear on tests. Merge, specific animal crossings, construction variations.
Week Four: Practice and Testing Take sign-focused practice tests. Quiz yourself randomly. Verify you can identify any Ontario sign quickly and accurately.
Final Sign Review Flip through your sign charts one last time. Focus on any signs you still find tricky rather than reviewing everything.
No Cramming Don't try to memorize new signs the night before. Your brain needs rest more than last-minute information.
Visualize Success Picture yourself recognizing signs quickly and confidently during the test. Positive visualization reduces anxiety.
Prepare Mentally Remember that sign questions are purely visual recognition. You've studied. Trust your preparation.
Signs You Missed If you fail the signs section, ask which types of signs gave you trouble. Focus future study on those specific categories.
Real-World Application Once you pass and get your G1, you'll see how sign knowledge helps while practicing driving. Recognition becomes automatic with experience.
Continuing Education Even after passing, keep noticing signs while riding as a passenger. This reinforces knowledge for your future G2 and G tests.
Ready to master Ontario traffic signs and pass the G1 test? Visit G1 Ready CA for comprehensive sign charts, visual learning materials, and practice tests focused specifically on traffic sign recognition for Ontario drivers.
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