Requirements for the End-of-Course Final Test

308-108-150 General Course Requirements
The course must… (j) Require a comprehensive summative assessment (final test) to evaluate overall proficiency, which must be proctored during the provider's operational hours with an instructor present and meet the department's End-of-course Final Test Guidelines. The final test must be approved for use by the department.

308-108-170 Ensuring Student Accomplishment
In order to satisfactorily complete a school's driver training course, all students must pass a comprehensive driving knowledge and skills test or a test that meets the requirements outlined on this page. Some pre-made curricula may already include this test. The final test can not use questions from the Department of Licensing Knowledge Exam.

Creating the Test

Question Bank and Test Versioning: The test question bank must encompass all 53 curriculum standards and contain a sufficient volume of validated items to generate at least three distinct versions of the final test. To maintain test security and integrity, test versions cannot be identical. A maximum of 25% of the questions (e.g., 12 or 13 items on a 50-question test) may appear across all versions. The remaining 75% of questions must be unique to each version or dynamically randomized from the broader question bank to ensure meaningful variance between test administrations.

Test Composition and Domain Distribution: Each version must contain a minimum of 50 questions designed to provide a meaningful assessment of learner proficiency for course completion. The test must distribute questions to meet the minimum thresholds established in Appendix A (Licensing: 2, Vehicle: 7, Driver: 12, Road: 17, Risk: 7, and Signs: 5). Schools retain the flexibility to exceed 50 questions to fully reflect their specific course of instruction.

Questioning Methods: Course providers may utilize a mix of multiple-choice, multiple-selection, fill-in-the-blank, and short-answer formats. Test design should balance these formats to accurately measure competency while mitigating cognitive fatigue.

Accessibility & Accommodations: Tests must be accessible to students of all abilities. Recommended accommodations include scalable font options for print and digital formats, auditory delivery capabilities (e.g., integrated text-to-speech or instructor-read options), and plain-language formatting that mirrors the vocabulary taught during the course. Non-revealing visual aids may support comprehension. Digital test platforms must align with the Washington State Office of Equity's digital accessibility standards.

Language Access: To provide equitable opportunities for students to demonstrate their knowledge, make tests available in languages other than English. Recommended best practice: Providers should offer translated tests in the top-tier languages spoken within their service area or permit the use of approved interpreters when written translations are unavailable, consistent with state language access protocols.

Administering the Test

Delivery: Tests may be proctored live in person, live in a virtual setting, or contained in a self-paced online course.

Proctoring: Tests delivered live, virtually or in person, must be proctored by a licensed instructor authorized to conduct testing. Whether a course is delivered live or self-paced, the test can be proctored virtually or in person.

Student monitoring and tracking: Courses that use xAPI to track and monitor student engagement can use the same tools to set up a secure self-paced test environment, but are not required to do so.

Passing score: Students need to score at least 80% to earn course completion.

Space Set-up (in person only): Seat applicants at least three feet apart, when possible, with sufficient desk space and no relatives or family members seated together. Keep desks clear except for approved test materials and writing utensils, and use alternate seating or rows for paper tests when possible. Distribute tests one at a time, using different versions for applicants seated within three feet of each other and labeling or color-coding tests for larger groups.

Content Requirements

Licensing (at least two questions about process and restrictions)

Requirements
Graduated driver license system, intermediate driver license restrictions
Vehicle registration, Insurance, Financial Responsibility Law
Impact of traffic violations on license (suspensions, revocations, etc.)

Vehicle (at least seven questions about operation, occupant protection, blind zones, malfunction, safety technology)

Effects of speed on braking distance and stopping ability
Steering control and techniques (e.g., hand-over-hand, shuffle steering)
Proper braking techniques (e.g., controlled braking, threshold braking)
Accelerating smoothly and avoiding wheel spin
Effects of weight distribution and load on vehicle handling
Understanding how to maintain control in skids and hydroplaning situations
Understanding the impact of vehicle size and type on handling
Knowledge of vehicle safety features (e.g., anti-lock brakes, traction control)
Airbags (types, deployment, occupant positioning)
Anti-lock braking systems (ABS)
Electronic stability control (ESC)
Traction control systems
Advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS)
Adaptive cruise control
Lane departure warning/lane keeping assist
Automatic emergency braking
Blind spot monitoring/rear cross traffic alert
Understanding the limitations of safety technologies and the importance of remaining attentive and in control

Driver (at least 12 questions about DUI alcohol, cannabis, other drugs, health/emotion/behavior, attention/perception, distractions, and hazards)

Effects of alcohol and drugs on reaction time, judgment, coordination, and vision
Blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limits and legal consequences of driving under the inﬂuence (DUI)
Understanding the risks of driving under the inﬂuence of prescription and over-the-counter medications
Strategies for avoiding impaired driving (e.g., designating a driver, using public transportation)
Recognizing signs of impaired driving in others
Importance of courtesy and respect for other road users
Avoiding aggressive driving behaviors (e.g., tailgating, speeding, weaving through traffic)
Managing emotions and avoiding road rage
Understanding the impact of stress and fatigue on driving
Responsibility for the safety of oneself and others on the road
Types of distractions (cognitive, visual, manual)
Risks associated with texting, talking on the phone, eating, grooming, and other distractions
Strategies for minimizing distractions (e.g., setting phone to silent, pulling over to make calls)
Recognizing signs of fatigue and drowsy driving
Importance of maintaining focus on the driving task

Road (at least 17 questions about school buses, large vehicles, motorcycles, bicycles, pedestrians, emergency vehicles, rules, lanes/markings, conditions, signals, intersections, work zones, and school zones)

Safe practices for interacting with pedestrians (e.g., yielding at crosswalks, yielding to blind pedestrians)
Sharing the road with bicyclists (e.g., passing safely, yielding when turning)
Interacting with motorcyclists (e.g., increased following distance, being aware of blind spots)
Understanding the limitations of large trucks (e.g., wide turns, longer stopping distances)
Safe practices around buses (e.g., stopping for school buses, yielding when re-entering traffic)
Safe driving practices in shared spaces (e.g., roundabouts, bicycle lanes)
Right-of-way rules at intersections (uncontrolled, controlled, 4-way stops)
Proper lane usage (e.g., changing lanes, passing, turning)
Following distances
Speed limits (adjusting for conditions, school zones, work zones)
U-turns and other turning maneuvers
Parking regulations
Use of headlights, turn signals, and hazard lights
Special regulations for school buses, emergency vehicles, and funeral processions
Scanning the road environment for potential hazards
Predicting the actions of other road users
Identifying potential conﬂicts and anticipating development
Adjusting driving behavior based on risk assessment
Understanding the impact of weather conditions on risk (e.g., rain, snow, fog)
Identifying and responding to road hazards (e.g., debris, potholes)

Risk (at least seven questions about speed, space/time, vision, collisions, and law enforcement)

Responding to vehicle breakdowns (e.g., pulling over safely, using hazard lights)
Procedures for handling collisions (e.g., exchanging information, reporting to authorities)
Adjusting driving to adverse weather conditions (e.g., rain, snow, fog, ice)
Driving at night and using high beams appropriately
Responding to skids and other loss of control situations

Signs (at least five questions)

Regulatory signs (e.g., speed limits, stop, yield)
Warning signs (e.g., curves, intersections, merging traffic)
Guide signs (e.g., directions, distances, destinations)
Construction and work zone signs
Traffic signals (e.g., red, yellow, green lights, ﬂashing signals)
Pavement markings (e.g., lane lines, crosswalks, stop lines)
Temporary traffic control devices (e.g., cones, barrels, ﬂaggers)
Understanding the meaning of signs in various weather conditions and lighting situations