What's the Passing Score on the Washington CDL General Knowledge Test?
You need 40 out of 50 correct — 80% — to pass Washington's CDL general knowledge test. That figure comes from federal regulation, not the WA DOL, so it's identical to the threshold used almost everywhere else in the country.
Where the 80% figure actually comes from
49 CFR Part 383 sets both the question count and the passing percentage for the CDL general knowledge test nationwide, which is why this number doesn't move from state to state the way a regular permit test's passing score might.
A missed question here isn't the only cost of a shaky score, either — Washington's CLP costs $40 and is only good for 180 days (renewable once), so a failed attempt eats into that window.
Building in a safety margin
Treat 80% as a floor, not a target — aim for 90%+ across all 17 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 Washington require a higher passing score than 80%?
No. 49 CFR Part 383 fixes the CDL general knowledge test at 50 questions and an 80% passing threshold nationwide — the WA DOL administers that federal standard rather than setting its own.
What happens to my CLP if I need multiple attempts?
Washington's CLP is valid for 180 days and can be renewed once, so repeated attempts are fine as long as you finish within that combined window.
Is the passing score different for combination-vehicle or air-brake endorsement tests?
Endorsement-specific tests have their own question counts and thresholds set by the same federal framework. Confirm current specifics for the endorsement you're pursuing with the Washington DOL.
Ready to put this into practice?
Start a free Washington cdl practice testLast reviewed: 2026-07-20