Pennsylvania CDL knowledge test: what is different

Pennsylvania publishes a Class A written-test total rather than a count per test, makes permit holders wait 15 days before a skills test, and gives its School Bus test 25 questions.

Pennsylvania test facts

Fact	Pennsylvania	Source	Checked
Class A written tests	70 questions in total; the fact sheet does not split them by test	PennDOT CDL fact sheet, June 2025	2026-10-29
Other knowledge tests	Air Brakes 25, Passenger 20, School Bus 25, Tank 20, Doubles/Triples 20, HazMat 30	PennDOT CDL fact sheet, June 2025	2026-10-29
Pass mark	Not published by PennDOT; the federal minimum is 80%	PennDOT CDL pages and fact sheet	2026-10-25
Wait before the skills test	At least 15 days after the permit is issued (the federal minimum is 14)	PennDOT CDL learner's permit FAQ	2026-10-26
Language	PennDOT pages disagree: the fact sheet says written and audio tests come in multiple languages (it names none); the CDL FAQ says certain oral and Spanish tests are available by appointment. HazMat is in English only	PennDOT CDL fact sheet (June 2025) and CDL FAQ	2026-10-29
Manual	PUB 223 (6-26)	PennDOT Commercial Driver's Manual	2026-10-26

Where each chapter is in the Pennsylvania manual

Pages in the Pennsylvania manual (PDF page numbers, checked 2026-10-27).

Examlane chapter	Pennsylvania page
1 Section 1: introduction, tests and disqualifications	p. 13
2.1 Vehicle inspection	p. 30
2.2 Basic control of your vehicle	p. 41
2.3 Shifting gears	p. 42
2.4 Seeing	p. 44
2.5 Communicating	p. 46
2.6 Controlling speed	p. 48
2.7 Managing space	p. 50
2.8 Seeing hazards	p. 54
2.9 Distracted driving	p. 57
2.10 Aggressive drivers	p. 60
2.11 Driving at night	p. 61
2.12 Driving in fog	p. 64
2.13 Winter driving	p. 64
2.14 Hot weather	p. 65
2.15 Railroad crossings	p. 66
2.16 Mountain driving	p. 68
2.17 Driving emergencies	p. 70
2.18 Antilock brakes	p. 72
2.19 Skids	p. 73
2.20 Crashes	p. 75
2.21 Fires	p. 75
2.22 Alcohol and drugs	p. 77
2.23 Staying alert	not in this manual
2.24 Hazardous materials basics	p. 79 (their 2.23)
3 Section 3: transporting cargo	p. 82
4 Section 4: passenger	p. 88
5 Section 5: air brakes	p. 94
6 Section 6: combination vehicles	p. 106
7 Section 7: doubles and triples	p. 123
8 Section 8: tank vehicles	p. 130
9 Section 9: hazardous materials	p. 134
10 Section 10: school buses	not in this manual

What Examlane does for Pennsylvania

When you choose Pennsylvania, the School Bus mock test has 25 questions.
Pennsylvania prints its own stopping-distance figures. Our questions use the national model text, so check Section 2 of PUB 223 for Pennsylvania's numbers.

Practice and choose Pennsylvania when asked.

Changes

2026-10-25: counts read in the June 2025 fact sheet; manual PUB 223 (6-26) checked.
2026-10-29: the two question-count rows now link the fact sheet (they linked the permit FAQ), read again: the same counts. The language row now links the CDL FAQ and says what each source gives.

Checked by the Examlane team. If Pennsylvania's own site differs, it wins; tell us at [email protected].