Yes, the Michigan permit test for teens is 80 questions. It is the Segment 1 state exam, taken at the end of the first part of driver education, and you need at least 70% to pass, which is 56 correct answers. The Michigan Department of State Driver Education Curriculum Guide says the system builds a unique 80-question test for each Segment 1 student from a pool of about 320 questions. Adults 18 and older take a different test at the Secretary of State (SOS) or online, and the SOS does not publish its question count.
Michigan permit test: 80 questions at a glance
| Detail | Segment 1 state exam (teens) |
|---|---|
| Questions | 80, unique for each student |
| Question pool | About 320 Segment 1 questions |
| Pass mark | At least 70%, so 56 of 80 |
| Where | An approved traditional classroom, supervised by a certified instructor |
| Retakes | Up to two retakes, each on a different version |
| Earliest start of Segment 1 | 14 years 8 months |
| What passing leads to | Segment 1 certificate, then a Level 1 Learner's License at 14 years 9 months |
All of the test rules above come from Section 6 of the Michigan Department of State Driver Education Curriculum Guide, which sets the rules driver education providers must follow. The 70% pass mark also appears on the SOS page for new drivers under 18 at michigan.gov/sos.
How many questions are on the Michigan permit test?
It depends on your age, and that is why you see different numbers online:
- Teens under 18: 80 questions on the Segment 1 state exam, with 70% needed to pass.
- Adults 18 and older: an SOS knowledge test with a multiple-choice operator section and a road sign section. The SOS does not publish the number of questions or the passing score. Practice sites that quote a number are not citing an official source.
- Segment 2 (teens, later): another state exam at the end of Segment 2, also with a 70% minimum.
80 questions is long for a teen. Students who lose points usually lose them late, when they start rushing. Practice with full-length tests so the last 20 questions feel normal.
What the Segment 1 course includes
The exam is the last step of Segment 1. Before it, the SOS requires:
- At least 24 hours of classroom instruction, no more than two hours a day, spread over at least three weeks.
- At least 6 hours of behind-the-wheel instruction, no more than one hour a day.
- At least 4 hours of observing other students drive.
- Enrollment at 14 years 8 months or older.
While enrolled, a teen can get an optional Parent Driving Permit, which lets them practice with a licensed parent or guardian only. Course prices are set by each provider, not the state.
What is on the 80-question exam
The questions come from the Segment 1 curriculum and Michigan's driver manual, What Every Driver Must Know. Expect traffic laws, signs, right of way and safe driving. Numbers that show up often in the manual:
- Stop at least 20 feet from a school bus with red overhead lights flashing.
- Stop 15 to 50 feet from railroad tracks when a train is coming.
- No parking within 15 feet of a fire hydrant or 30 feet of a stop sign or traffic light.
- Slow to at least 10 mph below the limit and move over when passing a stopped emergency vehicle.
- Freeways: 70 mph maximum and 55 mph minimum unless posted.
- Level 2 drivers may not drive from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. without an exception.
If you fail the Segment 1 exam
You get more chances. The curriculum guide says a student who scores below 70% may retake the test up to two times. The second attempt uses a different version of the test, and a third attempt may use the original or a third version. Ask your driver education provider how it schedules retakes, since timing is up to the school.
Use the time between attempts to find the topic you keep missing. Most students who fail lose points in one area, often signs, right of way or the numbers.
Can you take the Michigan permit test online?
Teens: no, not the Segment 1 exam. The curriculum guide requires it in an approved traditional classroom under a certified instructor, unless the Department approves another method. The SOS also warns that driver education courses offered only online do not meet Michigan's requirements, though they can be a useful study aid.
Adults 18 and older: yes. The SOS offers the same knowledge test given in its offices online for a $6.50 fee, which includes a convenience fee and a card processing fee. You need a computer with a keyboard, mouse and webcam, which takes random photos during the test. The test has an operator section of about 45 minutes and a signs section of about 15 minutes, and you must pass both. After you pass, you schedule an office visit to get your Temporary Instruction Permit.
After you pass
- Get your Segment 1 certificate from your driver education provider.
- Visit an SOS office with a parent or guardian at 14 years 9 months or older. Bring proof of Social Security number, legal presence, identity and Michigan residency.
- Pass the vision test and pay the $25 Level 1 fee.
- Drive with a licensed parent, guardian or designated adult 21 or older. Log 50 hours, 10 at night, and hold Level 1 at least six months before the driving skills test.
FAQ
Is the Michigan permit test 80 questions?
For teens, yes. The Segment 1 state exam has 80 questions drawn from a pool of about 320, and you need 70% to pass.
How many questions on the Michigan permit test can you miss?
On the 80-question Segment 1 exam, 70% is 56 correct, so you can miss up to 24. The SOS does not publish a passing score for the adult test.
How many questions are on the Michigan permit test for adults?
The SOS does not publish the number. It says the test has a multiple-choice section and a road sign section, and the online version takes about 45 plus 15 minutes.
Can you take the Michigan permit test online?
Adults 18 and older can take the SOS knowledge test online for $6.50. Teens take the Segment 1 exam in their driver education classroom.
How many times can you retake the Segment 1 exam?
The curriculum guide allows up to two retakes, each on a different version of the test.
