What's the Passing Score on the Minnesota CDL General Knowledge Test?
40 out of 50 — 80% — passes Minnesota's CDL General Knowledge test. That threshold comes from federal regulation, applied identically in every state, not a number Minnesota's DVS sets on its own.
Where the number actually comes from
49 CFR Part 383 fixes the CDL general knowledge test at 50 questions and an 80% passing threshold nationwide — Minnesota administers that federal standard rather than writing its own.
A missed attempt costs more than just your time — Minnesota's CLP costs $26.75, and a failed knowledge test means rescheduling before ELDT and the skills test can even begin.
Building in a safety margin
Treat 80% as a floor, not a target — aim for 90%+ across all topic areas in practice, since a real exam under time pressure tends to run a few points below your practice average.
Our practice tests break your score down by topic immediately after each set, so a weak spot doesn't stay hidden inside an otherwise decent overall percentage.
The parts of the test that pull scores down
Air brake systems and hours-of-service limits are the two topics most likely to cost points, since both hinge on exact numbers (PSI thresholds, hour caps) rather than driving intuition.
Cargo securement sequencing is another common miss — remembering that the first check happens within 50 miles, then every 150 miles or 3 hours after, is easy to get backwards under pressure.
Read the explanation on every practice question, correct or not — it's what actually closes these gaps, not just re-answering until you get lucky.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Minnesota 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 — the DVS administers that federal standard rather than setting its own.
Is the CDL passing score connected to Minnesota's own permit test standard?
No — they both happen to be 80%, but the CDL figure is fixed federally while Minnesota's own 40-question permit-test threshold could change independently.
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 and any last-minute rule changes.
Ready to put this into practice?
Start a free Minnesota cdl practice testLast reviewed: 2026-07-21