Delaware School Bus CDL Practice Test
Below are 25 exam-style questions for the Delaware School Bus CDL knowledge test, modeled on the FMCSA-aligned content used by the Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles. Try to answer each question on your own before reading the answer key directly under it. The questions and answer choices are shuffled deterministically per state and endorsement, so the order will stay the same on repeat visits — that lets you genuinely measure your improvement.
- A Use the lift or ramp per training and secure the mobility device
- B Refuse service
- C Allow boarding without securement
- D Charge a fee
- A Standees are allowed
- B Looser rules apply
- C Same safety rules apply as the regular route
- D Seat belts are optional
- A A clear view through windows and mirrors
- B A clear path to emergency exits
- C All of the above
- D Cargo and personal items secured and out of the aisle
- A Move the bus until all students are seated
- B Cross a railroad track without stopping
- C All of the above
- D Allow students to remain seated during evacuation
- A Speed past
- B Skip the stop if running late
- C Honk to scare them
- D Be at a low speed and prepared to stop, watching for waiting students
- A Back at the same speed as forward
- B Avoid backing whenever possible; use a spotter when you must back
- C Use only mirrors
- D Have students guide you
- A Walk in front of the bus to cross only after a driver signal and at least 10 feet from the bus
- B Go behind the bus
- C Walk to the curb, then to the home
- D Cross diagonally
- A Traffic may pass
- B Traffic in both directions usually must stop, depending on the road configuration and state law
- C Only oncoming traffic must stop
- D No traffic rules apply
- A Activate the alternating red lights and stop signal arm
- B Open the rear door
- C Roll down all windows
- D Honk
- A Skip pre-trip in cold weather
- B Use only the parking brake
- C Inspect heater and defroster operation, tires, and lights for snow and ice
- D Allow students to dress lightly
- A Allow standees in the aisle
- B Operate without working emergency exits
- C Operate the bus while distracted by passengers
- D All of the above
- A All of the above
- B Loose parts
- C Damage that could endanger students
- D Cracks in mirrors
- A Reduce speed to school zone limits and watch for children
- B Honk to clear the area
- C Use only four-ways
- D Maintain normal speed
- A Notify the school and follow company policy
- B Take the student home personally
- C Leave the student
- D Drive home
- A Walk in the bus path
- B Stand in the road
- C Run to the bus when it appears
- D Wait at least 10 feet from the road until the bus stops and the driver signals
- A Wide rear of the bus when changing lanes
- B Off-tracking on right turns
- C All of the above
- D Tail swing when turning corners
- A Run to the next stop
- B Leave it
- C Stop and tell the driver before retrieving the item
- D Pick it up quickly
- A Drivers will always stop for the red lights
- B All children will follow the rules
- C Children may not see or hear the bus
- D No traffic will pass while the bus is stopped
- A Care for injured students, contact emergency services, and notify the school
- B Leave students unattended
- C Continue the route
- D Move the bus immediately
- A Use only the rear door
- B Open all windows first
- C Wait for the fire department
- D Use the door away from the fire and lead students to a safe distance away from the bus
- A Honk repeatedly
- B Activate amber warning lights about 100-300 feet before the stop, then red lights and stop arm at the stop
- C Use only the four-ways
- D Slam on the brakes at the stop
- A Watch the danger zone, especially in front, until all students are clear of the area
- B Move the bus while students are crossing
- C Quickly close the door
- D Pull away as soon as the door is closed
- A On the highway during the trip
- B During loading and unloading near the bus
- C At fueling stops
- D In the bus garage
- A Moving slowly
- B In reverse
- C Idling in gear
- D Stopped with the parking brake set, transmission in neutral or park, and warning lights on
- A Be especially alert at stops where students might cross the road
- B Skip warning lights
- C Maintain normal city speed
- D Allow students to walk on the road
Study tips for the Delaware School Bus exam
The School Bus portion of the Delaware CDL exam is graded out of the bank of questions the Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles draws from each year. While the exact bank is not published, every question is sourced from the School Bus chapter of the Delaware CDL handbook, which itself is derived from the FMCSA Model Commercial Driver's License Manual. That means studying our practice tests, reading the corresponding handbook chapter, and re-reading the parts you got wrong is genuinely the most efficient route to a first-time pass.
Most successful applicants follow a simple cycle: take the practice test cold, write down every question you missed, open the matching chapter of the official Delaware handbook, re-read the section that contains the right answer, then re-take the practice test 24 to 48 hours later. The 24-hour delay matters — sleep is when your brain commits new information to long-term memory, and CDL knowledge questions reward that kind of consolidated learning rather than cramming.
Pay particular attention to questions that include qualifier words like always, never, only, primary, or most. CDL test writers love to flip the right answer with a single qualifier. When two answer choices look almost identical, pay attention to the verb (is it must, should, or may?) and to any numbers (14 days, 100 air miles, 8 hours, 70/8 split). On endorsement tests in particular, watch for trick framing where a true statement about a different endorsement is offered as the "correct" answer to a question that is actually about School Bus.
Test-day logistics matter too. Bring photo ID, your Social Security card or birth certificate, your medical examiner's certificate (DOT card), and proof of state residency if you haven't already submitted those documents. The Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles will not let you sit for the knowledge exam without your documentation, and most offices charge an additional fee for re-attempts. Arrive early — the wait at most CDL testing offices runs 30 to 60 minutes — and silence your phone before the exam begins.
Finally, keep your General Knowledge fundamentals sharp even when you're focused on the School Bus exam. Many states administer multiple knowledge tests in a single sitting, and questions on weight definitions (GVWR, GCWR, GAWR), stopping distance, and the pre-trip inspection routine show up across endorsements. If you're unsure on the basics, sit a fresh Delaware General Knowledge practice test before scheduling the real exam.
Next steps
Missed more than four questions? Re-read the School Bus study guide and the matching chapter in the official Delaware CDL handbook. Then come back and re-take the test. Once you can score 22 of 25 or higher on three runs in a row, you're in good shape to schedule the real exam at your local Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles office.
Already comfortable with this endorsement? Drill another: DE General Knowledge · DE Air Brakes · DE Combination Vehicles · DE Hazardous Materials · DE Passenger · DE Tank Vehicle · DE Doubles / Triples
New to the CDL process in Delaware? Read How to apply for a CDL in Delaware for the document checklist and step-by-step timeline.