The Written Test Guide
Title: What's on the Texas Written Driving Test? A 2025 Study Guide for Katy Applicants
Author: The Team at Paetow Driving School
For every new driver in Texas, the journey begins not with a key, but with a test. The official DPS Written Knowledge Test is the first major hurdle you must clear to earn your learner's permit. It’s a test of rules, regulations, and road signs, and passing it proves you have the foundational knowledge needed to begin your behind-the-wheel training safely.
Many applicants in Katy feel a wave of anxiety about this test. What questions will be on it? What's the best way to study? Do I have to take it at the DPS office?
As state-certified driver education experts, we've prepared countless students for this exact exam. This guide is your ultimate study partner. We'll break down what the test covers, share powerful study strategies, and explain how you can take the test in a low-stress environment.
What is the Structure of the Texas Written Test?
The test is designed to ensure you have a solid grasp of Texas traffic laws and safe driving practices. Here’s what you need to know:
Number of Questions: 30 multiple-choice questions.
Passing Score: You must answer at least 21 questions correctly, which is a score of 70%.
Time Limit: While most people finish much sooner, you'll have ample time to consider each question carefully. There is no reward for finishing quickly, only for finishing accurately.
The questions are pulled directly from the official Texas Driver's Handbook, which is the single most important resource for your preparation.
Key Topics Covered on the Exam: Your Study Checklist
Don't try to memorize the entire handbook. Instead, focus your energy on these five critical knowledge areas that make up the bulk of the test questions.
1. Traffic Signs and Signals (The Visual Language of the Road) This is the most straightforward section, but also the easiest place to lose points if you don't study. You must know the meaning of signs by both their shape and color.
Shapes: Octagon (Stop), Triangle (Yield), Vertical Rectangle (Regulatory), Pentagon (School Zone), Circle (Railroad Crossing), Diamond (Warning).
Colors: Red (Stop/Prohibition), Green (Direction/Movement), Blue (Services), Yellow (General Warning), White (Regulatory), Orange (Construction).
Signals: You'll need to know the meaning of solid lights, flashing lights, and arrows for both vehicles and pedestrians.
2. Rules of the Road (Right-of-Way and Lane Discipline) This section tests your understanding of how to interact with other vehicles in common situations.
Right-of-Way: Who goes first at a four-way stop? Who yields in a roundabout? When do you yield to emergency vehicles?
Turning: The proper procedure for left and right turns, including which lane to turn from and which lane to end up in.
Passing: When is it safe and legal to pass another vehicle? What do solid vs. dashed yellow lines mean?
Parking: The rules for parking on hills, near fire hydrants, and in designated spaces.
3. Speed Limits (The "Implied" Rules) The test won't just ask about posted speed limits. It will test your knowledge of the statutory speed limits in Texas—the speed limits that are in effect even if no sign is posted.
Urban District (Residential/Business): 30 mph
Alleys: 15 mph
Highways (Numbered by the state or US): 70 mph (can be higher or lower where posted)
4. Safe Driving Practices (The Judgment Section) This is less about memorizing rules and more about understanding safe driving principles.
Following Distance: The "3-Second Rule" and why it's critical for avoiding collisions.
Responding to Emergencies: What to do if your brakes fail or you have a tire blowout.
Driving in Hazardous Conditions: Adjusting your driving for rain, fog, or night conditions.
Sharing the Road: How to safely drive alongside trucks, motorcycles, and bicyclists.
5. Alcohol and Drug Awareness (The Zero-Tolerance Rules) Texas has strict laws regarding driving under the influence, and you will be tested on them.
Implied Consent: The law that states you agree to a breath or blood test if arrested for a DWI.
DUI vs. DWI: Understanding the penalties for minors and adults.
Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC): The legal limit for adults (0.08%) and the zero-tolerance policy for minors.
How to Pass: The Paetow Driving School Study Strategy
Focus on the Handbook: Don't rely on random online practice tests, which can be outdated or from other states. The official Texas Driver's Handbook is your bible.
Use Active Recall: Don't just read the handbook. Close the book and try to explain a concept out loud. Use flashcards for road signs. This forces your brain to retrieve the information, which is far more effective than passive reading.
Take a Certified Course: The absolute best way to prepare is to enroll in a state-approved driver education course. The curriculum is specifically designed to cover every topic on the test in a structured, easy-to-understand way.
The Paetow Driving School Advantage: Our Teen and Adult driver education packages are built around the state curriculum. We don't just teach you how to pass the test; we explain the why behind the rules, ensuring you retain the information for a lifetime of safe driving. Best of all, for our adult students, the official written test can often be completed as part of our 6-hour course, allowing you to test in a familiar, low-stress environment instead of a crowded DPS office.
The written test is your gateway to the open road. By studying smart and focusing on the key areas, you can walk into your exam with the knowledge and confidence to succeed.
Ready to start your journey? Enroll in one of our state-approved courses today and let us guide you past your first major milestone!