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Free CA CDL School Bus Practice Test 2025

Part of mandatory Entry-Level Driver Training Course Based on 2025 CA commercial driver's license manualAvailable in EN, ES
20questions
4mistakes allowed
80%passing score

If you’re in California, this free CDL school bus practice test is for you!
Did you know that California has been recently adopting electric school buses? Various districts in the state have started transitioning to electric buses to promote environmental sustainability while also increasing the safety and comfort of their students. Although these vehicles might feature advanced technologies and several automated systems, their drivers are still required to hold a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) with a School Bus (S) endorsement. They must also pass a medical examination, background checks, drug tests, and even complete ongoing safety training.
If the school bus you intend to drive is equipped with air brakes, you must remove this restriction from your CDL by passing an air brakes knowledge test. Drivers are generally required to stop when a school bus displays flashing red lights and has its stop arm extended, signaling that children are getting on or off the bus. Some states, including California, have specific rules regarding this matter. If there is a physical barrier on a divided or multilane highway, vehicles on the opposite side of the road do not need to stop.
As a school bus driver in the Golden State, you must know these state-specific rules. You’ll find them in the official 2025 CDL manual (https://m.driving-tests.org/california/ca-cdl-handbook/), which contains basic information related to several aspects of commercial driving, including the School Bus endorsement.
Our School Bus practice tests have 20 questions that cover student safety, passenger management, loading and unloading procedures, and stopping procedures. These questions are similar to what you’ll encounter during the actual exam and are all based on the School Buses section of the CDL manual. While you are still in the learning phase, it is recommended that you spend enough time studying and practicing on our tests. You get unlimited attempts and there is no time limit, so you should disregard the score during your first attempts.
Each question comes with a detailed explanation of the correct answer, which is displayed after you make a choice. Your progress is permanently displayed along with the number of correct and incorrect answers. To pass, you need a score of 80%, but it is completely normal to fail during your first attempts.

Perfect for

  • First-time CA CDL and CLP applicants
  • CDL holders adding endorsements
  • CA CDL renewal applicants
CA commercial driver's license

What to expect on the actual exam

How many questions20
How many correct answers to pass16
Passing score80%
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List of questions (classic view)

  1. Which of the following statements about the special dangers of loading and unloading is true?
  2. After you decide on the best type of evacuation, what must you do next?
  3. While you're loading students, if you cannot account for a student, what should you do?
  4. A passive railroad crossing
  5. During your pre-trip vehicle inspection test, make sure that
  6. What color are all school buses painted?
  7. Which of the following statements is true about students who must cross in front of the bus after exiting it?
  8. You should adjust the outside left and right side flat mirrors so you can see
  9. Which of the following statements about evacuation procedures is true?
  10. When unloading students at a school, you should
  11. Immediately after stopping, you should first
  12. In addition to spare electrical fuses (if equipped), three reflective triangles, and a working fire extinguisher, emergency equipment for a school bus also includes
  13. For up to ______ of parents, the school bus driver is the only school official they ever meet.
  14. Before you proceed through a railroad crossing, make sure that your bus will have enough containment (the space on the opposite side of the crossing) to completely clear the railroad tracks. As a general rule, adequate containment is
  15. Which of the following will confirm that your bus is equipped with an antilock braking system (ABS)?
  16. Antilock brakes
  17. You should adjust the left and right side crossover mirrors so you can see
  18. The overhead inside rear-view mirror is used to
  19. You MUST evacuate everyone from your school bus if
  20. The blind spot behind the school bus may extend up to ________, depending on the length and width of the bus.

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