You come up behind a snowplow on the highway. What is the safest choice?
All Northwest Territories practice tests
NWT Learner's Practice Test 2026 – Free NWT Class 7 Questions
Original questions written from the official Northwest Territories handbook, with an explanation for every answer.
By the Canada Exam Prep Editorial Team ·
- No sign-up
- Every answer explained
- Independent · not a government site
- 358 questions
- 9 practice tests
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Every NWT Class 7 topic, coloured by how well your answers show you know it. Saved in this browser only – no account.
Keep practising
All NWT Class 7 practice tests
9 sets of 40 questions. Each set is fixed, so you can repeat it until you score 100%.
- NWT road signs chartEvery road sign in our NWT Class 7 bank on one page, including snowmobile and animal crossings, with what each one means for the 20-question signs test.
- NWT learner's practice test (printable PDF)100 NWT Class 7 practice questions, signs and rules mixed, with a separate answer key citing the Driver's Manual page. Print it or save it as a PDF. Free.
- NWT Class 7 study guideFree NWT Class 7 study guide: 468 key points from the NWT Driver's Manual (Basic Handbook) in plain words, organised by topic, each topic linked to its practice questions.
- NWT Class 7 Mock Exam 1 – 40 QuestionsTimed practice · 30 minutes · answers explained
- NWT Class 7 Mock Exam 2 – 40 QuestionsTimed practice · 30 minutes · answers explained
- NWT Class 7 Mock Exam 3 – 40 QuestionsTimed practice · 30 minutes · answers explained
- NWT Class 7 Mock Exam 4 – 40 QuestionsTimed practice · 30 minutes · answers explained
- NWT Class 7 Mock Exam 5 – 40 QuestionsTimed practice · 30 minutes · answers explained
- NWT Class 7 exam simulator40 new random questions every time, full screen, no hints
- NWT Class 7 flashcards510 study cards: flip, self-check, review
- NWT Class 7 video lessons22 hand-picked YouTube videos, summarised
- NWT Class 7 study guides & books2 official guides and books, reviewed
Exam facts
Key facts: Northwest Territories Class 7 Learner's Knowledge Test
- 40 questionsNumber of questions20 road-rules questions plus a separate 20-question road-signs testNWT Driver and Vehicle Services — Book a written or practical examination
- 16/20 each testPass markMiss no more than four questions in each test (rules and signs)NWT Driver and Vehicle Services — Book a written or practical examination
- 30 minutesTime limitThe test lasts 30 minutesNWT Driver and Vehicle Services — Book a written or practical examination
- $47FeeWritten exam Class 6 or 7, Class 7 signs test included; seniors 60+ pay $17; book and pay in advanceNWT Driver and Vehicle Services — Book a written or practical examination
- Age 15+Minimum ageAt least 15, plus a vision screening, the knowledge exam and valid IDNWT Driver and Vehicle Services — Get a driver's licence for the first time
- DVS officesWhereFirst licence in person at a Driver and Vehicle office; exams can be booked online or in personNWT Driver and Vehicle Services — Get a driver's licence for the first time
- RebookIf you failA new test must be scheduled; a fee is charged for each written examNWT Driver and Vehicle Services — Book a written or practical examination
- 1 year minimumLearner stageSupervisor with 24+ months on a full Class 5; no driving 11 p.m.–6 a.m.; no other passengers; zero BACNWT Driver and Vehicle Services — Get a driver's licence for the first time
- Free manualStudy materialNWT Driver's Manual (Basic Handbook) PDF; printed copy $11.55 at Driver and Vehicle officesNWT Driver and Vehicle Services — Driver manuals
- Ask DVSLanguagesFrench edition of the manual is published; test languages are not stated on the DVS exam page — confirm with Driver and Vehicle ServicesNot officially published · NWT Driver and Vehicle Services — Manuels du conducteur
Free practice tests for the Northwest Territories Class 7 learner's knowledge test, written from the official NWT Driver's Manual (Basic Handbook, revised August 2022). Every question is original, comes with a short explanation, and names the manual page it is based on. There is no sign-up, and your progress is saved only on your own device.
The NWT test is really two tests taken together: 20 questions on road rules and 20 on road signs, and you can miss no more than four in each. This site keeps the two parts separate as well. Drill signs and rules on their own, then sit a full 40-question mock exam that is scored section by section, the same way the real one is.
What the test covers
Topics and question bank
Every question is tagged to one topic from the official handbook. Pick a topic to drill just that area.
- Regulatory signs and speed limits24 questions
Sign shapes and colours, stop and yield signs, permissive green-circle and prohibitive red-slash signs, lane-use, parking and stopping signs, and NWT default speed limits.
- Warning signs24 questions
Yellow diamond warning signs for stops and signals ahead, curves, crossings, intersections, merging, narrowing roads, lane endings, divided highways and other road conditions.
- Guide, service and construction signs15 questions
Route markers, direction and distance signs, service signs, orange construction signs, doubled fines with workers present, the slow-moving vehicle sign and disabled parking.
- School and playground zones12 questions
School and playground area versus zone signs, the 30 km/h speed, 24-hour default times, municipal bylaws, no passing and where zones end.
- Traffic lights and signals19 questions
Light order, steady and flashing red, amber and green lights, green arrows, turns on red, pedestrian signals and lane control signals.
- Pavement markings14 questions
Yellow and white lines, broken and solid lines, passing rules, arrows, two-way left-turn lanes, diamonds, railway X markings, painted islands, crosswalks and stop lines.
- Licences, GDL and registration34 questions
Class 7 learner conditions, probationary and full stages, licence classes, new residents and visitors, vision and medical rules, exams, renewals, registration and insurance.
- Starting, steering and stopping20 questions
Pre-drive checks, seat, mirrors, seat belts and head restraints, transmissions, steering, stopping distances, braking technique and backing up.
- Parking16 questions
Parallel, angle and hill parking, getting in and out of a parked vehicle, and the distances and places where you may not park.
- Intersections and right-of-way16 questions
Where to stop at stop signs, four-way stops, yield signs, traffic circles, controlled and uncontrolled intersections and keeping intersections clear.
- Signalling and turning16 questions
When to signal, hand signals, right and left turns, turning lanes, dual turns, two-way left-turn lanes, U-turns and free-flow lanes.
- Lane driving, passing and merging20 questions
Lane position, shoulders, blind spots and lane changes, passing lanes, passing on two-lane highways, when passing is illegal, merging, exiting, curves and hills.
- Emergencies, skids and collisions20 questions
Breakdowns, brake, steering, tire and headlight failure, emergency braking and ABS, skids, off-road recovery, collision duties and slowing for emergency vehicles.
- Night, weather and animals19 questions
Headlight rules and distances, glare, winter kits, hydroplaning, ice and snow, black ice, smoke and fog, deep water and avoiding animals.
- Defensive and responsible driving23 questions
Scanning, space cushions, the two-second rule, fatigue, cellphones, child restraints, fuel efficiency, refuelling and other traffic laws.
- Sharing the road28 questions
Pedestrians, cyclists, motorcycles, large and log-haul vehicles, school buses, emergency vehicles, snowplows, railway crossings, LRT and funeral processions.
- Impaired and distracted driving20 questions
Zero BAC for new drivers, 50 and 80 mg limits, administrative suspensions, Criminal Code disqualifications, ignition interlock, drugs and distracted-driving penalties.
- Demerit points and suspensions18 questions
Demerit thresholds for GDL and fully licensed drivers, interviews, suspension lengths, driver improvement courses, reinstatement and Registrar suspensions.
Try a few
Sample NWT Class 7 questions
Tap a question to see the answer. The full interactive test is at the top of the page.
1You come up behind a snowplow on the highway. What is the safest choice?
- A. Stay well back until it pulls over
- B. Flash your lights so it moves over
- C. Pass it right away
- D. Follow closely to use its cleared path
Even if passing is allowed, it is safer to stay back; plow operators pull over regularly to let traffic pass, and you avoid sand and rocks.
2A Class 7 learner reaches 6 demerit points. What happens?
- A. A six-month suspension
- B. An interview with an examiner
- C. A warning letter only
- D. A one-month suspension
When a GDL driver reaches 6 or more demerit points, the Registrar suspends the licence for one month and a reinstatement fee applies.
3While a Class 7 learner is driving, what blood alcohol level must the learner and the supervisor have?
- A. Under 80 mg for the supervisor
- B. Under 50 mg for both
- C. Zero for the learner only
- D. Zero for both
In the NWT both the learner and the supervisor must keep a zero blood alcohol concentration while the vehicle is in operation.
4Above what total damage amount must an NWT collision be reported to police?
- A. $1,000
- B. $2,000
- C. $5,000
- D. $500
You must report to police immediately when total damage to all vehicles, property and animals exceeds $2,000.
5Someone is passing you on a two-lane highway. How can you help?
- A. Slow down, keep your lane, move slightly right
- B. Move onto the shoulder
- C. Speed up slightly so that the pass takes less time
- D. Flash your high beams
Help the passing driver by slowing down, staying in your lane and moving a little to the right for a better view ahead.
6What does this sign mean?
- A. Passing is permitted
- B. Two lanes merge ahead
- C. Keep a safe distance
- D. Do not pass
Two vehicles side by side with a red circle and slash is a prohibitive sign: passing is not allowed.
7Driving fast on a very wet road, what is hydroplaning?
- A. Ice forming under the vehicle
- B. Tires riding on a layer of water
- C. Brakes overheating on a hill
- D. Wheels spinning on gravel
Hydroplaning happens when a thin layer of water builds up between the tires and the road, so you lose contact and can skid.
8You pass this sign and there is a speed sign attached below it on the same post. What must you do?
- A. Stay within the posted maximum speed
- B. Slow down only if you see children
- C. Keep the normal limit until a crosswalk
- D. Stop at the next crosswalk
With a speed sign on the post, you have entered a school zone and must not exceed the posted speed.
9A court gives a 3-month driving prohibition and the NWT suspension is one year. How long is left after the court prohibition ends?
- A. One year
- B. Nine months
- C. Three months
- D. None
The NWT suspension runs at the same time as the court prohibition, so nine months of the one-year suspension remain.
10You accelerate too hard on ice and the drive wheels spin. What type of skid is this, and what do you do?
- A. A cornering skid; steer hard left
- B. A power skid; ease up on the gas
- C. A power skid; press the gas harder
- D. A braking skid; press the brake
A power skid comes from too much acceleration. Ease up on the gas until the wheels stop spinning and steer as needed without overcorrecting.
About the test
About the Northwest Territories Class 7 Learner's Knowledge Test
The Class 7 learner's licence is the first stage of the Northwest Territories Graduated Driver Licensing program. You can apply at 15. You need to pass a vision screening and a knowledge exam on the rules of the road, and you must show acceptable identification. A first licence is handled in person at a Driver and Vehicle office, and the written exam has to be booked and paid for ahead of time, online or at an office.
Driver and Vehicle Services describes the format on its booking page. The exam takes 30 minutes. It has 20 multiple-choice questions on road rules plus a separate 20-question test on road signs, both based on the NWT Basic Driver's Manual. You may not miss more than four questions on either one. If you fail, you have to schedule a new test. The current written exam fee for Class 6 or 7, which includes the Class 7 signs test, is $47. Seniors aged 60 and over pay $17.
The manual says the written exam covers safe driving practices, driving laws and road signs. Our 18 topics follow its chapters: sign shapes and colours, regulatory, warning, guide and construction signs, school and playground zones, traffic signals and pavement markings on the signs side; licensing and GDL rules, vehicle control, parking, intersections, turning, lane driving, emergencies, night and winter driving, responsible driving, sharing the road, impaired driving and demerit points on the rules side.
Several NWT rules differ from what you may have heard in other provinces, and those are the questions people get wrong. The default limit is 90 km/h on a primary highway outside a settlement or municipality and 50 km/h inside one. School and playground zones are generally 30 km/h, and unless times are posted they apply 24 hours a day, every day. When emergency lights are flashing ahead you slow to half the posted limit. Drivers in the GDL program or under 22 must have no alcohol at all.
Once you pass, Class 7 conditions apply for at least a year. You must drive with a supervisor who has held a full Class 5 licence for at least 24 months. You may not drive between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. or carry any passenger except the supervisor, and both of you must have a blood alcohol level of zero. After 12 months, and at age 16 or older, you can take the Class 5 road test for a probationary 5P licence. Finishing both stages takes at least two years.
Study plan
How to prepare
- 1Download the NWT Driver's Manual (Basic Handbook). It is a free PDF from Driver and Vehicle Services, and every question on this site cites a page of it. Printed copies cost $11.55 at Driver and Vehicle offices.
- 2Study Chapter 2, Traffic Controls, first. It covers the whole signs test: sign shapes and colours, regulatory and warning signs, school and playground zones, traffic lights and pavement markings.
- 3Learn the shape and colour code before you try to memorise individual signs. A red octagon means stop, a red-and-white triangle means yield, and a red circle with a slash means something is prohibited. A green circle means something is permitted, a yellow diamond is a warning and an orange diamond means construction.
- 4Make a list of every number in the manual and the condition attached to it: 15 for a learner's licence, 24 months of supervisor experience, 11 p.m. to 6 a.m., 90 and 50 km/h, 30 km/h in school zones, 150 m and 300 m for dimming high beams, 150 m behind emergency vehicles, 5 m and 3 m and 6 m for parking, and 5 to 15 m at a railway stop sign.
- 5Spend just as long on the rules half. Demerit points, impaired-driving penalties and the GDL conditions are full of thresholds, and many people fail the rules test by one or two questions.
- 6Take one topic test at a time. After each one, go back to the manual page named under every question you got wrong, because the condition in the explanation is usually what the question turns on.
- 7When you can score 36 or more out of 40 on two mock exams in a row, with at least 18 in each section, you are ready to book.
- 8On test day, bring your photo identification and proof of residency, and wear your glasses or contact lenses if you need them for the vision screening.
FAQ
NWT Class 7 test questions people ask
How many questions are on the NWT learner's test?
There are 40 questions in total. Driver and Vehicle Services says the exam has 20 multiple-choice questions on road rules and a separate test of 20 questions on road signs, and you have 30 minutes.
What is the pass mark for the NWT Class 7 knowledge test?
You may miss no more than four questions in each test, so you need at least 16 out of 20 on the rules test and 16 out of 20 on the signs test. A strong signs score cannot make up for a weak rules score, which is why our mock exams score each section separately.
How much does the NWT learner's test cost?
On the Driver and Vehicle Services booking page, the written exam for Class 6 or 7, with the Class 7 signs test included, is $47, and all written exams for seniors 60 and over cost $17. The exam must be paid for when you book it. Licence fees are separate, and fees can change, so check the booking page before you go.
How old do you have to be to get a learner's licence in the NWT?
You must be at least 15. You also need to pass a vision screening and the knowledge exam, and have valid identification. You must be 16 before you can move up to a Class 5P probationary licence.
Can I take the NWT learner's test online?
You can book, cancel or rebook the exam online. Getting a first licence is listed as in person only at a Driver and Vehicle office, where you bring the application form, photo ID and proof of NWT residency. The DVS pages describe booking online, not taking the test online, so plan to write it at an office.
Can I take the test in French?
Driver and Vehicle Services publishes a French edition of the manual (Manuel du conducteur) on its French-language site. Its exam page does not say which languages the test is offered in, so ask your Driver and Vehicle office when you book.
What is on the NWT knowledge test?
The manual says the questions come from it and cover safe driving practices, driving laws and road signs. The signs test draws on Chapter 2, Traffic Controls. The rules test can draw on any chapter, from GDL conditions and right-of-way to winter driving, impaired driving and demerit points.
What happens if I fail the NWT learner's test?
Driver and Vehicle Services says a new test must be scheduled, and a fee is charged for each written exam. Look at which section you failed, signs or rules, and spend your next study sessions on that section before you rebook.
How long do I have to keep my learner's licence?
You must hold the Class 7 for at least one year, driving under the learner conditions, before you can take the Class 5 road test. The fee list shows 1-, 3- and 5-year licence terms, so ask at the office which term you are buying.
Are these the real NWT test questions?
No. The real test questions are not published. Every question here is original, written by us from the official NWT Driver's Manual, and cites the manual page it comes from. It covers the same areas the manual says the test asks about.
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