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-   -   Texas driving test - written (https://britishexpats.com/forum/usa-57/texas-driving-test-written-602480/)

Pipmeister Apr 8th 2009 1:55 am

Texas driving test - written
 
Having read through a few threads here re the Texas driving test (and I concur that driving in this State is more avoidence of others that doing what the road signs tell you) I am still a little confused.

I picked up the DoT book and was initially quite impressed with the detail. Yes, some of the rules are contrary to what we were taught in the UK but some of them made good sense. But it is a huge pdf file, even when printed out.

They don't appear to have any (official) handy little books on how to pass your test like they do in the uk so I went looking on line and found this online test site. It was only about $15 so I thought, what the hell.

The tests, allegedly, are supposed to the reflect the real test. There is a 40 question Signs test and a 40 question Law/Rules test. It said the pass mark was 32.

I took the Signs test 5 times and managed an average of 37 so I was feeling pretty good.

I then took the Rules test... bummer, my first attempt I only managed 22 and after 5 attempts the most I achieved was 31. So now I was feeling bad.
What was throwing me wasn't the rules on actually driving but all the legal questions like "if a 160lb person had 3 alcoholic drinks what would their blood/alcohol level be" or questions about Minors, non-driving related alcoholic offences and license suspension or about cascading fines. WTF!

I was so annoyed I asked my girlfriend (as US citizen from California) to take the test - she also only scored about 23 points.

So - my question is - are these test really indicative of the kinds of questions I will get in the real tests? I am not worried about the signs or the actual driving test just this paralegal junk!

rebs Apr 8th 2009 2:05 am

Re: Texas driving test - written
 
My husband and I took our Texas driving tests in December last year. Yes, unfortunately, there were most definitely questions relating to non-driving related alcoholic offences and license suspension or about cascading fines!

We did have a little booklet - the Texas Drivers Handbook and that includes all the detail on the 'non driving related' stuff, so you ought to be able to swot op on it before your test.

One thing that caught me out (stupidly!) was that I didn't pay much attention to the section on minors and alcohol (not being under 21!). But of course, the test questions don't care about my age!

Good luck - I'm sure you'll be fine!

anotherlimey Apr 8th 2009 2:05 am

Re: Texas driving test - written
 

Originally Posted by Pipmeister (Post 7462775)
Having read through a few threads here re the Texas driving test (and I concur that driving in this State is more avoidence of others that doing what the road signs tell you) I am still a little confused.

I picked up the DoT book and was initially quite impressed with the detail. Yes, some of the rules are contrary to what we were taught in the UK but some of them made good sense. But it is a huge pdf file, even when printed out.

They don't appear to have any (official) handy little books on how to pass your test like they do in the uk so I went looking on line and found this online test site. It was only about $15 so I thought, what the hell.

The tests, allegedly, are supposed to the reflect the real test. There is a 40 question Signs test and a 40 question Law/Rules test. It said the pass mark was 32.

I took the Signs test 5 times and managed an average of 37 so I was feeling pretty good.

I then took the Rules test... bummer, my first attempt I only managed 22 and after 5 attempts the most I achieved was 31. So now I was feeling bad.
What was throwing me wasn't the rules on actually driving but all the legal questions like "if a 160lb person had 3 alcoholic drinks what would their blood/alcohol level be" or questions about Minors, non-driving related alcoholic offences and license suspension or about cascading fines. WTF!

I was so annoyed I asked my girlfriend (as US citizen from California) to take the test - she also only scored about 23 points.

So - my question is - are these test really indicative of the kinds of questions I will get in the real tests? I am not worried about the signs or the actual driving test just this paralegal junk!

Yes, they really do ask those stupid drug/alcohol questions. :lol:

Pipmeister Apr 8th 2009 2:16 am

Re: Texas driving test - written
 

Originally Posted by rebs (Post 7462796)
My husband and I took our Texas driving tests in December last year. Yes, unfortunately, there were most definitely questions relating to non-driving related alcoholic offences and license suspension or about cascading fines!

We did have a little booklet - the Texas Drivers Handbook and that includes all the detail on the 'non driving related' stuff, so you ought to be able to swot op on it before your test.

One thing that caught me out (stupidly!) was that I didn't pay much attention to the section on minors and alcohol (not being under 21!). But of course, the test questions don't care about my age!

Good luck - I'm sure you'll be fine!

Rebs - what is this little book you mention? All I found was the official BOOK online - a pdf and it has over 150 pages!

Pipmeister Apr 8th 2009 2:17 am

Re: Texas driving test - written
 
and are there actually two tests, each of 40 questions and a 32 pass mark on each? Are they actually written or computer based?

rebs Apr 8th 2009 3:19 am

Re: Texas driving test - written
 
The book we have is called 'Texas Drivers Handbook'.

It may be the same as the pdf you have - chapter 10 is called 'how alcohol and drugs affect a person's ability to drive' and has all the penalties etc.

It's a computer based test - I think we had in the region of 30 questions and had to get a certain amount right (23 I think). Once you get to 23 correct answers, the test stops.

Hope that helps.

Leslie Apr 8th 2009 3:40 am

Re: Texas driving test - written
 
Just go to the drivers license office and they'll give you the book for free.

Leslie Apr 8th 2009 3:42 am

Re: Texas driving test - written
 
1 Attachment(s)
This is it:

Pipmeister Apr 8th 2009 4:16 am

Re: Texas driving test - written
 

Originally Posted by Leslie66 (Post 7463061)
This is it:

thanks to all - and yes this is the book/pdf I downloaded.

Leslie Apr 8th 2009 4:18 am

Re: Texas driving test - written
 

Originally Posted by Pipmeister (Post 7463179)
thanks to all - and yes this is the book/pdf I downloaded.

If I passed it anybody can. Good luck.

Rebster Apr 8th 2009 4:55 am

Re: Texas driving test - written
 

Originally Posted by Pipmeister (Post 7463179)
thanks to all - and yes this is the book/pdf I downloaded.

Pay very close attention to the practice questions at the back of the book. My husband said several of them (especially the DUI ones) were repeated verbatim on his test. ;)

Ray Apr 8th 2009 4:56 am

Re: Texas driving test - written
 

Originally Posted by Leslie66 (Post 7463184)
If I passed it anybody can. Good luck.

Damn right ...

paddingtongreen Apr 8th 2009 5:04 am

Re: Texas driving test - written
 

Originally Posted by Ray (Post 7463301)
Damn right ...

You must be tired of living, mate.

Leslie Apr 8th 2009 5:27 am

Re: Texas driving test - written
 

Originally Posted by paddingtongreen (Post 7463324)
You must be tired of living, mate.

He's been alive far too long if you ask me.

chartreuse Apr 8th 2009 6:45 am

Re: Texas driving test - written
 

Originally Posted by rebs (Post 7462796)
My husband and I took our Texas driving tests in December last year. Yes, unfortunately, there were most definitely questions relating to non-driving related alcoholic offences and license suspension or about cascading fines!

Crap! I was hoping to avoid that stuff.


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