G1 Test Ontario: Complete Study Guide for New Drivers

The G1 test is the first step to driving in Ontario. Pass it and you get your G1 licence, which lets you start practising with an experienced driver beside you. It is a written (multiple-choice) test about road signs and the rules of the road, and it is very passable if you prepare properly.

This guide covers everything in one place: who can apply, what is on the test, what to bring, what happens at the DriveTest centre, the rules you must follow with a G1, and how to move on to your G2 road test.

G1 Test: Quick Facts

What Is the G1 Licence?

Ontario uses a graduated licensing system. New drivers pass through two learning levels, G1 and G2, before earning a full G licence. You have up to five years to finish the whole process.

G1 is the learner stage. You can drive on most Ontario roads, but only with a fully licensed driver beside you and only under the conditions listed further down this page.

Who Can Apply for a G1 Licence in Ontario?

To apply, you must:

• Be at least 16 years old
• Be a resident of Ontario (not a visitor or tourist)
• Present acceptable identification showing your legal name and date of birth
• Pay the applicable fees
• Pass a vision test and the knowledge test

Since May 11, 2026, you also have to declare that Ontario is your primary place of residence and that your presence in Canada is legal when you apply for a licence.

Do You Need an Appointment for the G1 Test?

No. Knowledge tests are given on a first-come, first-served basis at DriveTest centres. There is no appointment, but you should plan your visit carefully:

• Arrive at least one hour before the centre closes, and earlier on Saturdays and school holidays.
• Expect a document check and vision screening before the test itself.
• The test is offered on paper or computer, and you get your result before you leave.

What Is on the G1 Knowledge Test?

The knowledge test covers two areas, both based on the Official MTO Driver’s Handbook:

• Traffic signs: shapes, colours and what each sign means
• Rules of the road: speed limits, right-of-way, traffic lights, school buses, railway crossings, parking, and safe driving practices

Most G1 study guides describe the test as 40 multiple-choice questions in two sections of 20, with at least 16 correct needed in each section. That means you cannot let one section slide. Check DriveTest for the current format before you go.

How Should You Study for the G1 Test?

1. Read the Official MTO Driver’s Handbook Properly. Every test question comes from it. Reading it once, quickly, is the most common reason people fail.
2. Learn signs by shape and colour. Our guide to every Ontario road sign category breaks this down so you can recognize signs you have never seen before.
3. Memorize the three hand signals. They are in the handbook and easy marks. See driving hand signals in Ontario.
4. Take practice tests until you pass consistently. Use our free G1 practice test and aim to score above the pass mark several times in a row, not just once.
5. Review your mistakes. Write down every question you get wrong and go back to that part of the handbook.
6. Study the rules you will actually live by, especially the G1 conditions below. They protect your licence after you pass.

What Should You Bring to the DriveTest Centre?

• Original identification that proves your legal name and date of birth (photocopies are not accepted)
• Glasses or contact lenses if you need them, for the vision screening
• Payment for the licence package and test fees

Check the official list of acceptable ID documents and the current DriveTest fees before you go, since both can change.

What Happens on Test Day?

1. Document check. An agent reviews your ID and your residency and legal-presence declaration.
2. Vision screening. This is done at the counter. Wear your glasses or contacts if you need them.
3. Knowledge test. You answer the signs and rules questions at your own pace.
4. Results. You find out right away whether you passed.
5. Licence. If you passed, you pay for the licence package and receive a temporary paper licence.

What Happens If You Fail the G1 Test?

Nothing dramatic. You can pay the fee and take the test again, and DriveTest allows you to retry the same day if you want to. Many people pass on their second attempt after focused studying.

Before you rebook, find out which section let you down. If it was signs, spend your time on sign shapes and colours. If it was rules, re-read the sections on right-of-way, stopping, speed limits and parking.

What Do You Get When You Pass?

You receive a temporary driver’s licence: a paper licence that lets you drive and is valid for 90 days. Your permanent plastic photo card arrives by mail. If the card does not arrive before your temporary licence expires, visit a ServiceOntario office for an extension.

What Are the G1 Licence Rules and Restrictions?

These conditions are law, not suggestions. Breaking them can cost you your licence.

• Keep a zero blood alcohol level while driving.
• Every passenger must wear a working seatbelt.
• Do not drive between midnight and 5 a.m.
• Do not drive on 400-series highways or high-speed expressways, unless you are with a driver instructor certified in Ontario.
• Drive only with an accompanying driver who has a full G licence, at least four years of driving experience and a blood alcohol level under .05. That person must be the only other person in the front seat.

Extra passengers can ride in the back seat, as long as each one has a working seatbelt.

How Long Is a G1 Licence Valid?

You have five years to complete the graduated licensing process. If you are coming up to five years and have not earned your full G licence yet, DriveTest explains that you may choose to requalify as a G2 driver for another five years by passing the G2 road test again (road test and licensing fees apply).

If your novice licence expires, you may have to start over at the G1 level, so keep an eye on your dates.

When Can You Take Your G2 Road Test?

In most cases, you must hold your G1 for 12 months before your first road test. There is one way to shorten that wait.

If you complete a government-approved beginner driver education (BDE) course, you can take the G2 road test after just 8 months. DriveTest describes these courses as recommended but not required. Go Drive offers an Online BDE course — see our programs and fees.

When your test date gets closer, read What Is the G1 Exit Test? and our complete G2 road test guide

What Does the Full Licensing Path Look Like?

It helps to see the whole road ahead before you start:

The whole process must be finished within five years of getting your G1.

How Long Should You Study Before Taking the G1 Test?

Most people need somewhere between a few days and two weeks, depending on how much reading they do at a time. A simple plan that works:

• Days 1 to 2: read the traffic signs chapter and learn the shapes and colours.
• Days 3 to 4: read the rules of the road chapters (intersections, stopping, speed, parking).
• Day 5: take a full practice test and note every wrong answer.
• Day 6: re-read the handbook sections behind your mistakes.
• Day 7: take two more practice tests. If you pass both sections comfortably, you are ready.

Where Can You Take the G1 Test Near Barrie?

Barrie has a DriveTest centre on Bryne Drive in the south end of the city, and it serves learners from Innisfil, Midhurst, Springwater, Cookstown and surrounding communities. Always confirm the address and hours on the DriveTest centre finder before you go, and remember there is no appointment for knowledge tests.

What Are the Most Common G1 Test Mistakes?

• Skimming the handbook. People often study the rules and skip half the signs.
• Memorizing practice answers instead of understanding them. Real questions are worded differently.
• Arriving too late in the day. If you get there close to closing, there may not be time for the document check, vision screening and test.
• Forgetting glasses or the right ID. Both can end your visit before it starts.
• Ignoring the G1 conditions. New drivers lose licences over the midnight-to-5 a.m. rule and 400-series highways more often than you would think.

Ready to Start Learning?

Passing the G1 is the paperwork. Learning to drive safely is the real work, and it is easier with an instructor beside you. Go Drive Driving School offers an BDE course and one-on-one in-car lessons for new drivers in Barrie, Innisfil, Midhurst, Springwater and nearby areas. See our programs and fees or contact us at 705-717-0406.

FAQs

How old do you have to be to get a G1 in Ontario?

You must be at least 16 years old, be an Ontario resident and present acceptable identification.

How many questions are on the G1 test?

Most study guides describe 40 questions: 20 on road signs and 20 on rules of the road, with at least 16 correct needed in each section. Confirm the current format with DriveTest.

Can I take the G1 test without an appointment?

Yes. Knowledge tests are first-come, first-served. Arrive at least an hour before the centre closes.

How long does it take to get the G1 result?

You get your result before you leave the DriveTest centre.

Can I retake the G1 test the same day?

Yes. If you are not successful, you may pay the fee and take the test again.

Can I drive alone with a G1?

No. You must have a fully licensed driver with at least four years of experience in the front passenger seat.

Do I need a BDE course to get my G2?

No, it is not required. But completing a government-approved course lets you take the G2 road test after 8 months instead of 12.

Is the G1 test hard?

It is very manageable if you read the handbook and take practice tests. Most people who struggle underestimated the road signs section.