Texas CDL General Knowledge Test: What to Expect

The Texas CDL General Knowledge test is part of the commercial licensing process, not the only exam every applicant needs. The Texas commercial handbook requires 80% or higher in each knowledge section. Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) administers the required tests for your class, equipment, and endorsements, so build a study plan for the whole test sequence.

Last verified: November 2, 2026

How many questions are on the Texas CDL General Knowledge test?

Each CDL knowledge test requires a score of at least 80%. Our Texas CDL practice format is 70 questions, with 56 correct required, which equals 80%. Our collection includes 22 practice tests and 224 unique questions.

Use the official commercial handbook sections for your required tests.

What score do you need to pass CDL knowledge exams?

The Texas Commercial Motor Vehicle Drivers Handbook states an 80% passing standard for each knowledge section. Passing General Knowledge does not cover another required test that you have not passed. Keep a checklist of the sections for your vehicle and endorsements so you know which requirement remains after each result.

Use the score as feedback, then check the reasoning behind your mistakes. If an answer concerns cargo or inspection, explain the hazard and the action that prevents it. If it concerns a specialized system, identify the equipment it applies to. Understanding that context matters more than remembering which option was correct on a previous practice screen.

Which other Texas CDL tests might you need?

The DPS application page lists Texas Commercial Rules before General Knowledge, followed by Combination for Class A, Air Brake when applicable, and endorsements. Not every applicant takes every endorsement examination, and taking a test does not by itself create authority to operate equipment outside your license class or restrictions.

Before choosing a course, identify the vehicle and job requirements. Our Texas CDL licensing guide explains the CLP, training, and skills-test path. For specialized study, the national air brakes guide and HazMat guide help you see which subjects belong to a separate test or endorsement route.

What should you study for General Knowledge?

Read the official commercial handbook for vehicle inspection, basic control, shifting where applicable, managing space and speed, hazards, emergencies, and safe cargo handling. Use the handbook contents to separate core commercial concepts from later equipment and endorsement sections. A passenger-car practice bank is not enough for the commercial vehicle knowledge expected here.

Use a study log to connect rules with hazards. For cargo, ask what could shift and harm someone. For inspection, identify what a check reveals and how to address a defect. Explain each decision in your own words.

Can you answer these commercial practice questions?

Try these three questions from the app before opening the explanations. They cover inspection, cargo, and looking ahead.

Are Texas CDL tests offered in Spanish?

No. DPS announced that all CDL and CLP knowledge tests are in English only from June 1, 2026. Applicants must prepare for English instructions and terminology; interpreters are prohibited for these exams. Skills testing is also conducted in English. A translated study resource does not mean the state exam is available in that language.

Practice explaining inspection and road decisions in English as well as recognizing a correct option. If unfamiliar vocabulary is the barrier, work through the handbook terms with your instructor before the appointment. Do not depend on someone accompanying you to translate an examination answer.

What happens after passing the knowledge tests?

Complete the CLP process and meet the minimum 14-day holding requirement and applicable training obligations before skills testing. Passing knowledge does not authorize independent commercial driving. Follow the supervision and equipment restrictions on your CLP and keep the base Texas driver license valid.

FMCSA’s ELDT rules apply to first A/B licenses, specified upgrades, and first H/P/S endorsements, with the stated exceptions. The appropriate registered training must be recorded before the relevant test. Also check your current DPS medical certification status; Texas’s electronic process means an old paper card alone may not resolve a missing record.

What if you fail a required CDL knowledge section?

The commercial handbook describes a 90-day application window after an unsuccessful initial knowledge test and voiding after three failed attempts or that window, whichever comes first. Confirm the remaining requirements and retest instructions with DPS. Review the failed section specifically rather than assuming another General Knowledge practice pass fixes a different subject.

Key takeaways

• Texas requires 80% in each required commercial knowledge section.
• Our Texas CDL practice format is 70/56: 70 questions with 56 correct required.
• Plan for Texas Commercial Rules and other class-specific tests too.
• Prepare for English-only testing and keep training and medical records current.

Explore the Texas CDL hub for the full study path.