What's the Passing Score on the Minnesota Permit Test?
You need 32 of 40 questions correct — 80% — to pass Minnesota's instruction permit knowledge test.
The math behind 80%
32 correct out of 40 leaves room for 8 wrong answers — a bit more margin than some states' shorter, stricter tests.
That margin doesn't mean less preparation matters; a driver who guesses through several topics can still fail even with 8 misses to spare.
Building in a safety margin
Treat 80% as a floor, not a target — aim for 90%+ across all topic areas in practice, since real testing conditions tend 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.
What a retake actually costs
Your first two attempts are free, but a third attempt costs $10 — treat the second free attempt as a real chance, not a backup plan.
Read the explanation on every practice question, correct or not — it's what actually closes knowledge gaps, not just re-answering until you get lucky.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the passing score on Minnesota's permit test?
32 of 40 questions correct — 80%.
How many questions can I miss and still pass?
At most 8 of the 40 questions, keeping you at 32 correct (80%).
What happens if I fail twice?
Your first two attempts are free; a third attempt and any beyond it cost $10 each.
Ready to put this into practice?
Start a free Minnesota permit practice testLast reviewed: 2026-07-21