Sep 28, 2014

Tips on New Jersey - Driving Knowledge Test

Tags: nj driving test sample questions tips new jersey
Amongst 12 oz of beer and 5 oz of wine, which has higher content of alcohol? What is the stopping distance of a vehicle travelling at 50 mph on a dry surface? What is the "two-second rule"? What is the earliest age you can register a new car in New Jersey? These are some of the questions that you may need to correctly answer if you are applying for a driver's license in the state of New Jersey. Taking a computer-based knowledge test is compulsary for all applicants, in addition to a road test if any is suggested by the DMV officer.

Out of 50 questions, you need to answer 40 correctly to pass. While a pass percentage of 80% might sound daunting, proper preparation will surely help you cross the line. Follow these tips, and you are highly likely to clear in your first attempt. 

Tip #1: 
First take a practice test and evaluate where you are. Below link from the official DMV site has 20 sample questions to help you gauge where you stand.
http://www.state.nj.us/mvc/Licenses/sample_knowledge_test.htm

Tip #2: 

Read the official manual. All the questions are sourced either directly or indirectly from the manual. It is not like if you are a pro driver, you can ace the exam. There are several questions (around 15-20) which can be answered only with a knowledge of the book's content. The first 30 pages are like "gold", and will help answer atleast 10 questions. Read from page 1, where it starts with the heading "LAWS GOVERNING DRIVER LICENSES". 

I would logically categorize the questions in 3 types.
  • 10-15 Questions on licenses (eligibility, types, restrictions)
  • 20-30 Questions on driving skills (signals, turns, yielding, lane markings)
  • 10-15 Questions on Fines and Fees (violations, drugs & alcohol, suspension) 
Online PDF: 
http://www.state.nj.us/mvc/pdf/Manuals/drivermanual.pdf

Tip #3:
Go through the questions in the below pdf file. It has around 150 questions. These are most frequently asked questions, and this file could just be the difference between passing the exam or failing at a very close margin. In my first attempt, I was almost there with correct 39 questions but couldn't get the 40th and failed. The ones I answered wrongly were part of this pdf file, I later found out. So read this as many times as you can and remember it well. 

Important questions, collection link:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B_nE614XLwdLVkFjNXFfcFJpSk0/edit?usp=sharing

Tip #4: 

Once you have read the book (Chapters 1-9) once, or twice, it is time for you to take test practice, as much as you can. Here are some good "free" resources you can use. Practice until you are able to get 95% or more in all the tests. First two are important, and the rest are for additional practice if you have time.
  1. http://driving-tests.org/new-jersey (famous link. contains several free tests)
  2. http://www.accudriving.com/test/online.shtml (questions change every time you open) 
  3. http://www.spicersdrivingschool.com/ (3 test links in this site)
  4. http://www.driverknowledge.com/new-jersey-dmv-practice-test/
  5. http://www.proprofs.com/quiz-school/story.php?title=nj-drivers-sample-practice-test-written
  6. http://www.edisondriving.com/quiz.php
  7. http://driverslicensetest.net/dmv/newjersey_drivers_test.php
Tip #5:
Now, let's discuss about the exam. Knowing the fact that you can "skip" a question would do wonders. When you are not sure with any of the questions, "Skip" them. There is an option for it. The outcome of every question is displayed immediately after you select an option. So for every single question you complete, you know how many went correct, how many are left to be answered. The test will end once you answer 11 questions wrongly (FAIL), or once you answer 40 questions correctly. So always SKIP the questions you are unsure of. In my second attempt, I was on the 43rd question when I passed the test. Two of those 43 were skipped. I got only one wrong. 

Other tips - Documents required, DMV timings, 6-points for Non-Immigrants, dependents.

Here are few tips not related to the test. 
  1. Try to go on a weekday if you want to avoid long lines. 
  2. On Tuesdays, they are open till 7:30 PM. Make use of it. 
  3. If you have a driver license from a different state or country, take it with you. You might be considered for a direct basic driver license without taking up a road test.
  4. Ensure you have enough documents to prove that you have 6-points. You dont want to wait in a long line, only to be sent back home without even giving the test.
  5. I am on a non-immigrant visa, I showed my Passport+Visa and I-94 (4 points), SSN (mandatory), Rental lease (address proof), Debit card (1 point), and Health Insurance card (1 point). 
  6. My wife is on a dependent non-immigrant visa, so we obtained a "SSN Denial Letter" from the Social security office, and for 6-points, showed the same set of documents as me. To get SSN Denial letter, you need a valid passport + visa, and proof of address.  
  7. Prepare for long lines. They verify the ID 3 times totally before the test, and again, 3 more times after the test.

11 comments:

  1. Have a question.. Does skipping a question in any way result in negative marking or incorrect answer? Thanks.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. No skipping doesn't count as incorrect or add any negative mark. It is a great tool and u need to make use of it.

      Delete

  2. The good factor concerning connection at school is that by attending at a professional school you'll be able to truly scale back the tickets and fines you get,
    and you will even lower your motor vehicle insurance premiums. For more info,

    DMV Driving Test

    ReplyDelete
  3. Very userful Info. Thanks for sharing.

    Which DMV is best in considering foreign license? Did you had to take road test?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. All of the ones do consider all Nj residents, foreign or local. I hadnt taken a road test since I already have a driving license from India.

      Delete
    2. Thank you. Would you mind sharing which DMV you visited and was it back in Sept 2014 when you wrote this article.

      Thanks for sharing the knowledge, it's really helpful.

      Delete
    3. Hi Vignesh,

      Can you please tell me which DMV office you visited for your DL?

      Thanks

      Delete
    4. Hello Vignesh,

      First of all Thank You so much for this useful information. As you mentioned above, could you please let me know which DMV considered your Indian License to wave off your Road test? Is it similar for all the DMVs in NJ? Please let me know.

      Thanks & Regards,
      Vishal Shetty

      Delete
    5. Hello Vignesh,

      First of all Thank You so much for this useful information. As you mentioned above, could you please let me know which DMV considered your Indian License to wave off your Road test? Is it similar for all the DMVs in NJ? Please let me know.

      Thanks & Regards,
      Vishal Shetty

      Delete
    6. Hello Vignesh,

      First of all Thank You so much for this useful information. As you mentioned above, could you please let me know which DMV considered your Indian License to wave off your Road test? Is it similar for all the DMVs in NJ? Please let me know.

      Thanks & Regards,
      Vishal Shetty

      Delete
  4. Hello Vignesh,

    Thank you for the this wonderful piece of information and guidance. I'm sure these details would help many folks out here like me who recently migrated to NJ from other states or from other countries. May I just ask you which DMV you went for Drivers License? I know the rules should be same across all the DMVs but again I read in few other forums / blogs that Killmer Rd / Edison / Randolph do not accept / recognize Indian Driving License. Also I heard from a few other sources that the licenses from only a few states of India are recognized but not all. Could you please throw some light on the same?

    Thank You!

    ReplyDelete

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