What's the Passing Score on Alaska's Permit Test?
16 of 20 questions correct — 80% — passes Alaska's permit test.
A short test raises the stakes per question
With only 20 questions total, missing just 5 already fails the test at 80% — a tighter margin than a state running a 30 or 40-question exam at the same percentage.
That makes broad, even preparation across every topic more valuable than betting heavily on the areas you already feel confident about.
The permit stage never actually goes unsupervised
Unlike most states, where a permit holder eventually earns solo driving privileges, an Alaska instruction permit holder is required to have a qualifying adult in the vehicle every single time — there's no unsupervised stretch before the provisional license stage.
Questions testing this topic often check whether you know that detail specifically, not just the general concept of supervised driving.
Setting a real practice target
Aim for a consistent 90% or higher in practice, well above the 80% floor, since actual test-day nerves tend to shave a few points off whatever score you're hitting in relaxed conditions at home.
A topic-by-topic breakdown after each practice test catches a specific weak spot that an overall percentage alone would hide.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many questions can I miss on Alaska's permit test?
Up to 4 and still pass with 16 correct (80%); a 5th miss fails the 20-question test.
Does an Alaska permit holder ever drive alone?
No — a qualifying licensed adult must be present at every drive during the instruction permit stage.
Does the passing score differ for the motorcycle or CDL test?
No — Alaska uses 80% across all three knowledge tests, though the total question count differs by track.
Ready to put this into practice?
Start a free Alaska permit practice testLast reviewed: 2026-07-24