The Short Answer
To get a G1 in Ontario you must be at least 16, live in Ontario, and pass two things at a DriveTest centre: a vision test and a multiple-choice knowledge test on the rules of the road and traffic signs. The official handbook is the source of every question. Once you pass, you can drive — but only with an experienced driver beside you, with zero alcohol, and never between midnight and 5 a.m.
The Ministry does not publish the test's length or pass mark on its own pages. The format reported consistently by test-takers and driving schools is 40 questions: 20 on road signs and 20 on rules of the road, with 16 correct needed in each part. Treat that as a reliable guide rather than an official number — and note what it implies: you cannot make up a weak signs score with strong rules answers.
| Item | What to know |
|---|---|
| Minimum age | 16 |
| Tests | Vision test and knowledge test (rules of the road and traffic signs) |
| Format | Multiple choice; widely reported as 40 questions in two parts of 20 |
| Where | DriveTest centres |
| Bring | Two pieces of identification, payment (cash, debit or credit), and glasses or contacts if you need them to drive |
| Next step | G2 road test after 12 months — or 8 months with an approved driver-education course |
Our free G1 practice questions are written from the MTO handbook and cover both signs and rules; the practice quiz is a quick way to see which half needs work.
What the Knowledge Test Covers
The Official MTO Driver's Handbook lists the topics the written test may ask about. It is worth reading as a checklist:
- Seatbelts
- Traffic signs and lights
- Emergency vehicles
- How to use headlights
- Speed limits
- Getting on or off a freeway
- What drivers must do when they meet streetcars and school buses
- Driver's licence suspensions and the demerit point system
- Passing other vehicles
- Collision reporting
- Sharing the road with other road users
- Rules of the road
Two areas surprise people. The first is licensing rules — demerit points, suspensions and the conditions on your own G1 — which feel like paperwork but appear regularly. The second is streetcars and school buses, where Ontario's rules are specific about when and where you must stop. Read those handbook sections twice.
How to Learn the Signs Half
Road signs are the half people underestimate, and with a 16-of-20 requirement per part, they are where most failed attempts come from. Learn them by shape and colour first, then the specific sign:
- Octagon — stop. Triangle pointing down — yield.
- Diamond, yellow — warning of a hazard or change ahead (curves, merges, pedestrians, slippery surfaces).
- Rectangle, white — regulatory: speed limits, lane use, turn restrictions; a red circle with a slash means the action is not allowed.
- Orange — construction zones, where fines for speeding can be higher.
- Green — direction and guidance; blue — services.
Then drill the ones that look alike — the various merge, lane-ending and divided-highway signs, and the school-zone and school-bus signs — until you can name them in a second. The handbook's signs chapter shows every sign that can appear.
Your G1 Conditions
A G1 is a learner's licence, and its conditions are part of what the test checks. While you hold it:
- Your blood-alcohol level must be zero.
- You must not drive alone. An accompanying driver sits in the front passenger seat, holds a valid Class G (or higher) licence, has at least four years of driving experience, and has a blood-alcohol level under .05%.
- No driving between midnight and 5 a.m.
- No 400-series highways or high-speed expressways, unless your accompanying driver is a driving instructor.
Level One lasts at least 12 months, or 8 months if you complete an approved driver-education course. Then you pass the G2 road test, drive with fewer restrictions for another 12 months, and take the G road test for your full licence.
How to Prepare in a Week
- Days 1–2: read the "Getting your driver's licence" and "Traffic signs" chapters of the handbook, and skim the rules chapters for anything with a number in it — distances, speeds, points, times.
- Days 3–4: practise signs until you score 18 or better out of 20 twice in a row.
- Days 5–6: practise rules of the road the same way. Our G1 practice test shows the handbook reasoning for each answer.
- Day 7: gather two pieces of ID, check the current fee on DriveTest's site, and go. Knowledge tests are available without a road-test booking at most DriveTest centres — check your centre's hours before you travel.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many questions are on the Ontario G1 test?
The Ministry does not publish the number. The format widely reported by test-takers and driving schools is 40 multiple-choice questions — 20 on road signs and 20 on rules of the road.
What is the pass mark for the G1 test?
The commonly reported standard is 16 correct in each 20-question part — 80% — with each part passed separately. Official Ontario pages confirm the test covers rules of the road and traffic signs but do not publish a pass mark.
How old do you have to be to get a G1 in Ontario?
At least 16, and you must be an Ontario resident.
What do I need to bring to the G1 test?
Two pieces of identification, money for the fees (cash, debit or credit), and your glasses or contact lenses if you need them to drive — you take a vision test on the same visit.
Can I drive on the highway with a G1?
Not on 400-series highways or high-speed expressways, unless your accompanying driver is a driving instructor.
How long do I have to wait for my G2 test?
Twelve months after getting your G1, or eight months if you complete an approved driver-education course.
Sources
- Ontario — Get a G driver's licence: new drivers — eligibility, knowledge and vision tests, G1 restrictions, 12- and 8-month timelines, G2 period.
- Official MTO Driver's Handbook — Getting your driver's licence — topics on the written test, what to bring, accompanying-driver requirements.
- Official MTO Driver's Handbook — Sample knowledge test questions — multiple-choice format.
