What's on the Washington CDL Knowledge Test? Question Count & Topics (2026)
If you're getting ready for your CDL in Washington, the first thing you probably want to know is what you're walking into. The Washington State CDL general knowledge test is not a short quiz. It follows the federal CDL standard, so you're looking at 50 multiple-choice questions. You need 40 correct answers to pass. That's 80%. Use Washington CDL permit test questions to see the multiple-choice style. So when someone at the truck stop tells you it's "40 out of 50," they've got it right. The federal CDL standard sets that passing score.
How Many Questions Are on the WA CDL General Knowledge Test?
The DOL uses the federal model for this one. 50 questions. 80% to pass. That means you can miss 10 and still walk out with a permit. The test is taken at a DOL or DOL-approved CDL testing location. You don't get to take it online from your couch in Bellevue or Everett.
Here's the quick version:
- 50 questions total
- 40 correct answers required
- Taken at a DOL or approved testing site
Every question is multiple choice. The passing score sounds forgiving, but the questions are not basic.
I get asked a lot whether Washington has some special version of this test, and honestly it doesn't, because the DOL builds it on the same federal standard every other state uses (which is nice if you ever move or end up running loads into Idaho or Oregon). This is also the core written test everybody needs before they can get a Commercial Learner's Permit, whether you're going for Class A or Class B. If you want a feel for how the questions are worded, run through a Washington CDL practice knowledge test a couple of times and you'll get used to the 50-question format before you ever sit down at the DOL.
Endorsement and Air-Brake Knowledge Tests
The general knowledge test is only the start, since every endorsement comes with its own written test on top of it, and the list covers combination vehicles, air brakes, passenger, school bus, tanker, hazmat and doubles/triples. The question counts for these are smaller and they vary. Washington doesn't always list exact counts. Endorsement test counts are smaller and vary. I'd check the current numbers yourself in the Washington Commercial Driver Guide or on dol.wa.gov before test day, because they do get updated.
Your target class and job set the list. A Class A path includes more tests. If you're going for a Class A with air brakes and tanker, you're taking multiple tests. If you're going for a Class B straight truck without air brakes, your path is shorter. Don't assume anything. Two answers look right on endorsement tests, especially hazmat and air brakes.
Somebody hauling fuel out of the Tacoma tideflats is going to need tanker and probably hazmat, while a school bus driver in Spokane needs passenger and school bus instead, so it's worth asking your employer or training school which ones they expect before you start studying.
What Topics Are on the WA CDL Knowledge Test?
The Washington Commercial Driver Guide is your source for what's covered. The guide lists the core general knowledge topics. You'll see questions from these areas.
- Vehicle inspection
- Basic control
- Shifting
- Seeing and communicating
- Space and speed management
- Hazard awareness
- Emergencies
- Skid control
- Cargo
Hazmat and passenger content are tested separately, so don't expect those on the general knowledge exam.
The inspection section is where a lot of people lose easy points. The questions want you to know what you're checking on the truck and what would make it fail, and a fair number of them are about the kind of defect that puts a vehicle out of service, so read that chapter twice.
Skid control and space management catch people too, and if you've driven I-5 between Seattle and Olympia in the rain you already know why the guide spends so long on following distance and braking on wet pavement.
How the Knowledge Tests Lead to Your CLP
Pass the general knowledge test and any endorsement tests. Complete a vision screening. Once all of that's done you get your Commercial Learner's Permit, and then you have to hold it for at least 14 days before you're allowed to take the skills test (that's a federal rule, so Washington has it too).
Also, remember ELDT theory training is required before certain tests. That's the Entry-Level Driver Training rule. If you're applying for Class A or B for the first time, or adding some of the endorsements, it applies to you. Your training provider must document it before you test. So don't book anything until your school confirms that paperwork is in.
The way I explain it to students, you study, pass the knowledge tests and pick up your CLP, then you practice behind the wheel for a while and only after that do you go take the skills test.
How to Pass the Washington CDL Knowledge Test
I'd build your whole plan around the Washington Commercial Driver Guide. Use small daily study blocks. Not a vague "I'll study this week" plan. A real one.
Read the Washington Commercial Driver Guide first. Everything on the test comes out of that book, so it's the one thing you can't skip. Then take repeated Washington CDL practice knowledge test sessions. I'd do general knowledge first and add your endorsement tests after, and every time you miss a question go back and figure out why before moving on. Spend extra time on air brakes and inspection. They show up on many exams.
Follow this study approach:
- Read one chapter of the CDL guide per day
- Use the Washington state CDL air brakes practice test when you need that endorsement
- Wait to book until you're scoring better than 80% on practice tests, which works out to 40 or more right out of 50
Doing some of your practice tests on a timer helps a lot with pacing, and by test day sitting there with the clock running won't feel strange anymore.
Twenty minutes a day for three weeks will do more for you than one long night with the guide and a pot of coffee, and I've watched plenty of students prove that. The guide stays the same from week to week, so there's no reason to cram it all at once. Your preparation shouldn't either.
Washington CDL Knowledge Test FAQ
How many questions are on the Washington CDL knowledge test? 50 questions on the general knowledge test.
What score do I need? The passing score is 80%. You need 40 correct out of 50. That means 10 wrong allowed.
How many endorsement tests are there? There are several endorsement tests, including:
- Combination
- Air brakes
- Passenger
- School bus
- Tanker
- Hazmat
- Doubles/triples
How many of those you actually take comes down to the class you want and what kind of driving the job involves.
Can I take them the same day? Yes. A lot of DOL offices will let you do several tests in one visit, though I'd call the office first because scheduling isn't the same everywhere.
Do I need to pass air brakes? Only if you'll operate a vehicle with air brakes. Failing it adds an air brake restriction to your CDL. That restriction stays until you pass.
Common Questions About the WA CDL Written Test
How hard is the general knowledge test? It's tougher than the regular driver's license test, since you're expected to know real driving procedures and the safety rules for big vehicles. Inspection questions are common.
How long does it take? For 50 multiple-choice questions, most people I've sent in were done somewhere between 60 and 90 minutes.
What if I fail? You can take it again, though there may be a fee and a waiting period, so check with the DOL on the current rules. And do some real studying on the topics you missed before you go back.
How many practice tests should I take? I tell students to keep going until they're hitting 85% or better every single time, which usually means somewhere between five and ten full practice tests, and go over each wrong answer as you go.
Are the endorsement tests separate? Yes. Each one is its own written test. Passing one doesn't count for another.
Use the Washington state Class B CDL practice test or the general knowledge version to gauge where you stand. If you're aiming for a Class A, the Washington state CDL general knowledge test is your starting point. Then build from there. The WA CDL general knowledge test is the same across cities. Study the guide, then use Drivio's free Washington CDL practice knowledge test. Take it until you pass at 80%. Book when you're ready.
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