Arkansas State Police Driver Examination
Click Here for the State's Official Page
I don't like the order in which the page is organized, so I suggest you follow this order.
Watch the Video
- Scroll down a little to the video.
- Watch and PAY ATTENTION!
Study Guides Section
Now, scroll back up to the "Study Guides" section.
- Arkansas Driver License Study Guide
- This is a PDF file. This link should retrieve the latest version.
The print is tiny on a cell phone and the June 2025 version is 92 pages in length. I suggest you print it out.
- Don't get distracted by the other study guides. All you need today is the driver's license!
- You MUST READ AND STUDY THIS GUIDE! If you don't understand it completely, you WILL FAIL your test. Each time you fail adds $5 when you get your license.
- Get with friends who are also working on their test and drill each other.
Practice Tests
OFFICIAL APP
Now scroll back up to just below the video.
- There's a blue tile saying "ARKANSAS STATE POLICE Official Driver License Practice Test" and there are links to the Apple Store and to Google Play.
- Repeat this test many, many times until you've seen all the questions several times.
- The actual test most likely will not be these questions. So, I suggest you write down questions and the correct answers so you can research why the answer is correct. Then you will be prepared for variations on the questions and possible choices.
- Get with friends who are also working on their test and drill each other.
Other Apps
- There are other apps. They may be useful in taking tests, be sure to rely on Arkansas Law when you take your test!
ONLINE TEST
- Official Arkansas Driver License Practice Test.
- It's not listed on this page and it may be older, but it's a good study tool.
- This page is badly designed for a cell phone screen because the blue "Begin Test" button, just below the red banner, may be covered by the page's also-blue footer. The link works fine on a computer web browser.
- Don't just do this once. Do it many times until you've seen all questions. You might even want to write down questions and the correct answers so you can research why the answer is correct!
Required Documentation
Scroll down below the map to the section that begins with the words "Testing Applications Should Be Familiar..."
- Get the appropriate "UNDER 18" or "OVER 18" document.
- Get the "ALL ages" document.
- Get the "Financial Responsibility Acceptance Form"
- See why the "Arkansas Graduated Driver License Law" is important!
When You're Ready
- Schedule your written test by tapping the red link above or below the map labeled
"CLICK HERE TO SCHEDULE ALL DRIVER LICENSE TESTING STATEWID".
The Written Test
The written test is the first of two tests required to obtain your driver's license. Here are some notes:
- Watch for words like "always", "never", and "not".
- Be sure you fully understand the question and why each choice is correct or wrong.
- Read or listen to each question and go through the reasoning for answers AT LEAST 3 times before you select an answer.
- Do NOT get in a hurry. This is NOT a speed test. You have 4 hours to take the test, however, examiners may get suspicious if you take more than 30-40 minutes.
- Test has 25 questions.
- You can skip 2 questions, which are moved to the end, if you need them.
- Test ends with a "pass" when you correctly answer 20 questions (80% of 25).
- Test ends with a "fail" when you miss the 6th question.
- Don't get over-confident if the first few questions are "easy". They may appear "easy" because you are getting them wrong.
- Try to display only the appropriate amount of emotion when you pass, especially if there are others still taking the test.
Passing the driving test gets you a permit which requires a licensed adult in the seat next to the driver until the latter of:
- For drivers under the age of 18: six months from passing the written exam, successful completion of the skills test and a license in hand.
- For drivers 18 and over: until passing the skills test and license in hand.
During the permit stage, if you are caught driving without an adult your permit is cancelled, there's a 45-day waiting period before you can take the written test again. All time lines are reset. In addition, a citation will be issued, you must pay the fine and if under 18 at the time, there will be additional restrictions continuing beyond age 18.
The Skills Test
The skills test, also known as the driving test, is the second of two tests required to obtain your driver's license. If you are under 18, you can take the test on the 31st day following passing the written test. If over 18, you can take the test at any time.
Here are some notes for the day of the test:
- The vehicle needs to be relative clean. The examiner will not get into a dirty seat or a vehicle filled with trash.
- In the summer, the air condition needs to be working well; in the winter the heater needs to be working well.
- Leave you cell phone, ear phones, and any other "toys" with your adult. There is no way that you need them during the test. If you carry them and are in any way distracted, you fail the test.
- Turn off the radio and anything else that can distract.
- Remember that you do NOT yet have your driver's license, so you can not drive your vehicle to the testing center alone. If you are under 18, you'll need a parent with you to sign the legal paperwork when you pass.
- Park in the designated area. Take your title or registration along with insurance documentation inside. Be sure they are back in their normal place in the vehicle (like the glove box) when you go out for the test.
Here are the skills tested. Practice. Practice. Practice with an adult who have reviewed these notes and the rules associated with them.
- Follow directions. Listen closely to what the examiner says. For example,
"Start the vehicle, roll down both front side windows, turn on air conditioner or heater, and let's do a pre-trip inspection" or "Let's back out of the parking space, exit the parking lot by turning left."
- Pre-trip inspection. Know how to operate the following:
- Turn signals / blinkers
- Emergency Flasher
- Brake light
- Headlights on and off. Even if they are always on automatic, you must know how to turn on and off.
- Headlights to bright and dim. Once again, know how to do this manually even if the vehicle has an automatic feature.
- Emergency / Parking Brake. Set and release.
- Wipers
- Seat Belts
- Horn
- You are not required to know about the "conveniences" like electrical ports, glove box, entertainment centers, etc.
- Going from parked to moving. When making the change from a parked vehicle to a moving vehicle look all around the vehicle, turning your head to check left and right. Be sure to check both side mirrors and the rearview mirror. If you have a backup camera, you can check it, but do NOT rely upon it! Signal for lane changes and turns. Continue checking while you complete the movement to assure nothing new has entered your path. Take corrective actions as necessary.
- Understanding and honoring traffic signs. Follow traffic signs such as stop and yield, traffic lights including stop/caution/go, perhaps with advance left turn, as well as 2-way or 4-way stop lights. Know the rules for who has right-of-way when vehicles other than yours are at the intersection when you arrive, arrive at the same time as you, or arrive after you before you begin to traverse the intersection.
- Understanding the navigation of a railroad crossing. Unless a train is coming, it is NOT required to stop. However, look both ways and turn your head while doing so in order that the examiner had no doubt that you looked!
- If the crossing lights or gates begin flashing, STOP and wait. Put the vehicle into park and perhaps engage the parking brake, especially if you are on an incline. When the train passes, release the parking brake if you engaged it, put the vehicle into drive, and continue with the instruction given.
- If you have to stop, the examiner is likely to engage you in conversation. Remember you are in control of vehicle so don't take actions that relinquish control. If is perfectly legitimate to tell the examiner you prefer to concentrate on driving instead of engaging in conversation.
- If you see a train coming but there are no signals or gates, use appropriate judgement, but always take safety first.
- Correctly make turns. Use your turn signal about 100 feet before a turn. Sometimes, turns are immediately after another intersection, a railroad crossing, or a private drive. Signal at the correct time.
- Resist inclinations to turn before you can safely turn into the lane. In other words, don't cut corners.
- On left turns, begin the turn when your front tires are even with the line marking the left side of the lane into which you are turning. That means to move slowly during the turn!
- On right turns, begin the turn when your front tires are even with the line marking the right side of the lane into which you are turning. Once again, make the turns at a reduced speed.
- Correctly changing lanes. Signal, check all mirrors and physically turn your head when looking over your shoulder to check blind spot(s).
- Honoring emergency vehicles. Signal, pull over and stop for any emergency vehicle using their lights or sirens.
- Honoring school busses. Stop for all school busses flashing their lights. Use extreme caution and perhaps stop for any school bus stopped but not flashing lights.
- Honoring all laws. This should go without saying, but obey all traffic laws. Watch your speed. This is not a race, it's a safety test.
Be aware of special situations in the locale in which you are testing, such as plant entrances, low water bridges, bicycle lanes, school zones, etc.
I am an optimist. "A pessimist is a person who turns to the last page of a history book to see how it ends." (definition by Danny Stewart, circa 1980).