How to pass your Ontario G1 test
Everything you need in one place: what the test covers, the score you need, and a free, no-stress way to be ready — even if you've never opened the handbook.
What the G1 is
The G1 is the first step in Ontario's graduated licensing system. Passing it makes you a novice driver, allowed to practise on the road under supervision while you build the experience you'll need for the G2 road test. Getting your G1 comes down to one thing: a multiple-choice knowledge test on the rules of the road and traffic signs.
Who can take it
To apply for a G1 you must be at least 16 years old. At a DriveTest centre you'll pass a vision test, then the knowledge test. There's no course you're required to take first — you just need to know the material, which is exactly what this site is for.
What's on the test
The test has 40 multiple-choice questions, split into two sections of 20. The first section is the rules of the road — speed limits, right of way, signals, safe driving. The second is traffic signs — recognising each sign by its shape, colour and meaning. You need 80% in each section to pass: 16 out of 20 on each. The test is not timed, so read carefully.
What a G1 lets you do
These conditions are part of the test, and part of driving safely as a new driver:
- An accompanying driver with a full G licence (4+ years' experience, BAC under 0.05) must sit beside you.
- Zero blood-alcohol — no alcohol in your system at all.
- No driving between midnight and 5 a.m.
- No 400-series highways (unless with a licensed driving instructor).
- Everyone in the car must wear a seatbelt, and only the accompanying driver rides up front.
How to study — free
You don't need to read the handbook cover to cover. Work through these tools in order, and circle back to whatever feels shaky. Everything below is free.
Read the rules in plain English, with diagrams.
Learn every sign by shape and colour.
Drill the speeds, distances and limits until they stick.
Spaced-repetition cards for the high-yield facts.
Answer real-style questions with instant explanations.
Sit a full 40-question exam in the real format.
A one-week study plan
Short on time? This plan gets most people ready in about a week of light study.
- Days 1–2: Read the lessons and skim the numbers. Aim to understand, not memorise.
- Days 3–4: Study the signs by category, then run the flashcards each day to lock in the facts.
- Day 5: Practise questions in both sections; revisit any lesson a wrong answer points to.
- Days 6–7: Take full mock tests until you're comfortably over 80% in both sections two times in a row.
On test day
- Bring the identification DriveTest requires — check ontario.ca so you have the right documents.
- Read every question fully; the test likes “most correct” and “except” wording.
- It's untimed — slow down and picture the sign or situation before you answer.
- If you're unsure, eliminate the clearly-wrong options first.
Frequently asked questions
How many questions are on the Ontario G1 test?+
Forty. Twenty are on the rules of the road and twenty are on traffic signs. All are multiple-choice.
What score do I need to pass the G1?+
You need at least 80% in each section — that's 16 out of 20 correct on the rules, and 16 out of 20 on the signs. Do well on one section but poorly on the other and you'll have to retake it.
Is the G1 test timed?+
No. The knowledge test is not timed, so you can read each question carefully and take your time.
How much does the G1 cost?+
The G1 knowledge test is part of a licensing package fee paid at DriveTest. FreeG1 itself is completely free — check ontario.ca for the current government fee.
How old do I have to be to get a G1?+
You must be at least 16 years old, pass a vision test, and pass the knowledge test.
What can I drive with a G1?+
You may drive a car with a fully-licensed driver (4+ years' experience, under 0.05 BAC) beside you. You cannot drive between midnight and 5 a.m., on 400-series highways, or with any alcohol in your system.
How long is the G1 valid, and when can I take the road test?+
A G1 is valid for five years. You can take the G1 road test after 12 months — or after 8 months if you complete an approved driver-education course.
Can I retake the G1 test if I fail?+
Yes. You can rebook and retake the knowledge test; a retest fee applies. Studying the sections you struggled with first makes the retake far easier.
Ready to start? It's free.