What's the Passing Score on Rhode Island's Permit Test?
28 of 40 questions correct — 70% — passes Rhode Island's permit test.
A lower bar than the state's other knowledge tests
Rhode Island's 70% threshold sits below the 80% figure used for both its motorcycle and CDL knowledge tests, giving a bit more room for error on the car permit test specifically.
That doesn't mean the material is easier — it just means a slightly wider margin exists before a missed question actually costs you the test.
A cushion worth building before test day
Aim to consistently clear 90% or better in practice rather than treating 70% as a target to just barely reach, since real testing conditions tend to shave a few points off whatever you're hitting in relaxed home practice.
Checking your results broken down by topic, not just as one overall percentage, catches a specific weak spot an aggregate score would otherwise hide until it costs you on the real attempt.
Where first-time test takers tend to lose points
Rhode Island's limited provisional license specifics — the curfew hours, the 12-month passenger restriction, and the escalating fine structure for violations — are an easy place to blur details together under pressure.
Reviewing the explanation after every practice question, not just the right answer, is the fastest way to close these gaps before test day.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many questions can I miss on Rhode Island's permit test?
Up to 12 and still pass with 28 correct (70%); a 13th miss fails the 40-question test.
Is 70% a hard passing score to reach?
It requires solid preparation across all topic areas rather than just the ones you already feel confident about. Use a practice test's topic breakdown to find and fix weak spots before test day.
Does the passing score differ for the motorcycle or CDL test?
Yes — Rhode Island uses 80% for both the motorcycle and CDL knowledge tests, higher than the 70% used for the permit test.
Ready to put this into practice?
Start a free Rhode Island permit practice testLast reviewed: 2026-07-24