The Georgia road signs test is one of two parts of the Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS) knowledge exam: 20 road sign questions and 20 road rules questions. You need at least 15 of 20 correct on each part, so a strong rules score cannot make up for a weak signs score.
Quick answer: how the Georgia road signs test is scored
Georgia DDS (dds.georgia.gov) scores the two parts separately. Here is how it breaks down:
| Part | Questions | To pass | Most you can miss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Road signs | 20 | 15 correct (75 percent) | 5 |
| Road rules | 20 | 15 correct (75 percent) | 5 |
The questions come from the Georgia DDS Drivers' Manual. Rules and scoring can change, so confirm the current format with DDS before your test day.
Sign shapes and colors
Georgia uses the national sign standard, so every shape and color has a fixed meaning. Learn the gallery below and you can work out many questions even when the picture looks new.
Octagon (8 sides)
- Stop. Only stop signs use this shape.
- Red with white letters.
- Come to a full stop at the line, crosswalk or corner.
Upside-down triangle
- Yield. Only yield signs use this shape.
- Red and white.
- Slow down, give the right of way, and stop if you need to.
Diamond
- Warning of a hazard ahead: curves, merges, lane ends, crossings.
- Yellow with black symbols.
- Orange diamonds warn of work zones.
Pentagon (5 sides)
- School zone or school crossing ahead.
- Fluorescent yellow-green or yellow.
Round
- Railroad crossing ahead. This is the advance warning, before the tracks.
- Yellow with a black X and the letters RR.
Crossbuck (X shape)
- At the railroad tracks themselves.
- Treat it like a yield sign: look, listen and be ready to stop.
Pennant (sideways triangle)
- No passing zone begins.
- Yellow, on the left side of the road.
Vertical rectangle
- Regulatory: rules you must follow, such as speed limits and turn rules.
- Usually white with black letters.
Horizontal rectangle
- Guide signs: directions, distances and services.
- Green for directions, blue for motorist services, brown for parks and recreation.
What each color means
| Color | What it usually means |
|---|---|
| Red | Stop, yield or something you must not do |
| White | Regulatory: a rule you must follow |
| Yellow | General warning |
| Fluorescent yellow-green | School, pedestrian or bicycle warning |
| Orange | Work zone |
| Green | Directions and distances |
| Blue | Motorist services such as gas, food and hospitals |
| Brown | Parks, recreation and scenic areas |
The signs people miss most
These are the signs our students mix up most often on practice tests:
- Pennant: no passing zone begins. People mix it up with yield because both are triangles.
- Pentagon: school zone or school crossing. The five-sided shape is only for schools.
- Round yellow RR sign: a railroad crossing is ahead. The crossbuck is the sign at the tracks.
- Divided highway begins: the median starts and traffic on your side stays to the right of it.
- Divided highway ends: two-way traffic is coming, so keep right.
- Lane ends or merge: one lane is ending, so adjust speed and merge smoothly.
- Advisory speed plate: the small yellow plate under a curve sign is the recommended safe speed for that curve.
- Slow-moving vehicle emblem: an orange triangle with a red border on the back of farm equipment and other slow vehicles.
- Red circle with a slash: the action shown, such as a U-turn or right turn, is not allowed.
- Two-way traffic ahead: you are leaving a one-way road and oncoming traffic will share it.
Practice: 10 Georgia road sign test practice questions
Answer these before checking. They are DMVZone study questions, not real DDS exam questions.
- An eight-sided red sign means: A) yield, B) stop, C) do not enter.
- A five-sided sign warns of: A) a school zone or crossing, B) a hospital, C) a construction zone.
- A yellow pennant on the left side of the road means: A) yield ahead, B) no passing zone begins, C) merge left.
- A round yellow sign with an X and RR means: A) railroad crossing ahead, B) road closed, C) rest area.
- An orange diamond sign usually means: A) a school zone, B) a work zone, C) a park entrance.
- A small yellow plate showing 25 MPH under a curve sign is: A) the legal minimum speed, B) the recommended safe speed for the curve, C) the speed limit for trucks only.
- A red circle with a slash over a U-turn arrow means: A) U-turns allowed, B) no U-turns, C) U-turns on green only.
- A blue rectangular sign usually shows: A) motorist services, B) a warning, C) a regulation.
- An orange triangle with a red border on the back of a tractor means: A) a slow-moving vehicle, B) hazardous materials, C) a wide load.
- An upside-down triangle means you must: A) always stop, B) slow down and give the right of way, stopping if needed, C) speed up to merge.
Answers: 1 B, 2 A, 3 B, 4 A, 5 B, 6 B, 7 B, 8 A, 9 A, 10 B. Missed one? Go back to the gallery above and say the meaning out loud for that shape.
How the signs section fits into the full test
Because each part is scored on its own, you have to pass both. Many students find signs easier than rules, then lose the exam on the rules part. Others skip sign study because they already ride in cars every day, and miss the shapes they never noticed, such as the pennant and the pentagon.
The road rules part covers the rest of the Drivers' Manual: right of way, speed, passing, turning, parking, alcohol and drug laws, and safe driving habits. Split your study time evenly: a sign quiz one day, a rules quiz the next, and track your score on each.
Georgia requires 15 of 20 on each part. Aim for 18 or better on practice tests for both, so a couple of tricky questions on test day do not sink you.
FAQ
How many questions can you miss on the Georgia permit test?
Five on each part. The exam has 20 road sign questions and 20 road rules questions, and you need 15 correct on each part.
Is the Georgia DDS road signs test a separate test?
It is one of two parts of the same knowledge exam, scored separately from the road rules part.
Can a high score on rules make up for signs?
No. You must reach 15 of 20 on both parts.
What is the best way to study for the Georgia traffic signs test?
Learn signs by shape and color first, then by meaning. Use flashcards and practice tests, and review every sign you miss.
Where do the questions come from?
The Georgia DDS Drivers' Manual. Check dds.georgia.gov for the current edition.
