The Arkansas permit test is a written knowledge exam given by the Arkansas State Police, and you must pass it plus a vision test to get an instruction permit, starting at age 14. The State Police do not publish how many questions are on the test or the passing score. Practice sites commonly say 25 questions and 80%, but that is unofficial, so study every chapter of the Arkansas Driver License Study Guide.
Arkansas permit test at a glance
| Detail | What to know |
|---|---|
| Who tests you | Arkansas State Police, Driver Examination (dps.arkansas.gov) |
| Who issues the license | Department of Finance and Administration (DFA), Office of Driver Services (dfa.arkansas.gov) |
| Minimum age | 14 for an instruction permit |
| Test | Written knowledge exam and a vision test, taken from the Arkansas Driver License Study Guide |
| Questions and pass mark | Not published by the State Police. Third-party sites say 25 questions and 80%, which is unofficial |
| Test fee | $5 for each written exam, added to the cost of your license |
| Where | State Police testing sites in every Arkansas county. Book at telegov.egov.com/aspdlskills; walk-ins are served when examiners have time |
| Online test | No. Only the official practice test is online |
| Languages | Study guides in English, Spanish and Vietnamese. Audio testing is available for people with learning differences |
How many questions are on the Arkansas permit test?
The Arkansas State Police do not publish the number of questions or the passing score on their Driver Examination page or in the study guide. Many practice sites list 25 questions with 80% needed to pass, which would mean you could miss 5. Treat that as a rough guide, not a rule, and ask the examiner if you want the exact number before you start.
Since the passing line is not official, aim to get every practice question right. That way the exact cutoff does not matter.
What's on the Arkansas permit test
Arkansas splits the job between two agencies. The State Police give the written, vision and driving tests. DFA's Office of Driver Services, at its revenue offices, issues the license or permit card after you pass. Knowing this saves a wasted trip: you test at a State Police site, not at a revenue office.
The test comes from the Arkansas Driver License Study Guide. These facts from the guide are worth memorizing:
- Road signs: shape, color and meaning.
- Following distance: use the two-second rule to check whether you are following too closely.
- School buses: stop for a stopped bus with flashing red lights until the lights go off. You may not have to stop if the bus is across a median 20 feet or more wide.
- Parking: no parking within 15 feet of a fire hydrant.
- Signaling: signal at least 100 feet before a turn when possible.
- Phones: drivers under 18 may not use a cell phone while driving. Drivers 18 to 20 may use hands-free devices only, with handheld use for emergencies.
- Seat belts: everyone in a car driven by an instruction permit holder must wear one.
Arkansas uses a two-second following rule in its study guide. Other states teach three or four seconds. Answer with the Arkansas number.
How to study for the Arkansas permit test
- Download the Arkansas Driver License Study Guide from the State Police and read one chapter a day.
- Learn road signs by shape and color, then by meaning.
- List every number in the guide on one page: ages, distances and phone rules.
- Take the State Police official practice test (on the web or the AR Driver Testing app) and DMVZone practice tests. Note each miss.
- Go back to the guide for each miss and retest until you score near 100%.
What to bring and how to book
The State Police ask you to have documents ready for the examiner before testing begins. Their checklist for applicants under 18 includes:
- An original or certified U.S. birth certificate. Hospital birth certificates, photocopies and laminated copies are not accepted.
- A secondary document, such as a U.S. passport. Non-citizens bring immigration documents from the State Police list.
- A parent or legal guardian, present with a state driver's license or ID, or a notarized ASP-33 parent affidavit turned in within 30 days.
- Proof of residency if your birth certificate is from Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Texas or Tennessee.
- Your glasses or contacts if you wear them.
Schedule your written test at telegov.egov.com/aspdlskills. The State Police say an appointment guarantees your exam date and time. Walk-ins are served as schedules and staff allow. Adults 18 and over have a separate checklist on the State Police Driver Examination page.
Can you take the Arkansas permit test online?
No. The State Police offer an official practice test online and in the AR Driver Testing app, but the knowledge exam itself is taken in person at a State Police testing site.
What happens if you fail the Arkansas permit test?
The State Police do not publish a waiting period or an attempt limit for the written test. Under Act 1289 of 2015, each written exam you take costs $5, and those fees are added when you buy your license. So every retake adds $5. Ask the examiner about retake timing before you leave, then review the chapters you missed.
After you pass
- Your instruction permit is valid for two years from the day you passed the knowledge exam.
- You may drive only with a licensed driver who is 21 or older.
- You need the permit before you can schedule the driving test.
- Ages 14 and 15 move to a learner's license, which expires one month after the 16th birthday.
Arkansas permit test FAQ
How many questions are on the Arkansas permit test?
The Arkansas State Police do not publish the number. Practice sites commonly say 25, but that is unofficial.
How many questions can you miss on the Arkansas permit test?
The passing score is not published. If the common unofficial figure of 25 questions and 80% is right, you could miss 5. Ask the examiner to be sure.
Is the Arkansas permit test hard?
It is fair if you study the guide. People usually miss the book-only details: following distance, phone rules by age and parking distances. Practice tests show you which of those you still need to learn.
How much is the Arkansas permit test?
Each written exam costs $5, added to the price of your license.
