What's the Passing Score on the Arkansas CDL General Knowledge Test?
40 out of 50 — 80% — passes Arkansas's CDL General Knowledge test. The number is federal; the fee split around it is Arkansas's own arrangement.
A federal bar, an unusual local price tag
49 CFR Part 383 sets the CDL general knowledge test at 50 questions and 80% nationwide, with Arkansas's OMV administering that standard rather than writing its own.
The $50 charge attaches to the test itself, not the permit — the CLP that follows a passing result carries no separate fee at all.
What a failed attempt actually costs
Since the $50 fee is for the test, not the permit, a failed attempt means paying that fee again to retest — plan on passing the first time rather than treating it as a low-stakes trial run.
Once you're through the knowledge test and the six-month CLP is issued, the $42 CDL license fee is the only other cost ahead.
The material that actually costs points
Air brake PSI thresholds and hours-of-service caps are memorization, not intuition — get the exact number wrong and the question is wrong, no partial credit for being close.
Cargo securement's 50-mile-then-150-mile recheck sequence is a common one to reverse under pressure.
A missed practice question is only useful if you read the full explanation — the correct letter alone teaches nothing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Arkansas require a higher passing score than 80% for the CDL test?
No. 49 CFR Part 383 fixes the CDL general knowledge test at 50 questions and an 80% passing threshold nationwide — Arkansas's OMV administers that federal standard rather than setting its own.
Does a failed knowledge test attempt cost extra to retake?
Yes — the $50 fee applies to the test itself, so a retake means paying it again.
What score should I aim for on practice tests?
Aim for 90% or higher consistently before your appointment. That buffer above the 80% minimum accounts for first-attempt nerves.
Ready to put this into practice?
Start a free Arkansas cdl practice testLast reviewed: 2026-07-22