Maryland School Bus CDL Practice Test
Below are 25 exam-style questions for the Maryland School Bus CDL knowledge test, modeled on the FMCSA-aligned content used by the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration. 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 Operate the bus while distracted by passengers
- B Allow standees in the aisle
- C Operate without working emergency exits
- D All of the above
- A Accidents involving the bus or students
- B All of the above
- C Behavior that disrupts the safety of the bus
- D Mechanical defects discovered during the trip
- A Stopped with the parking brake set, transmission in neutral or park, and warning lights on
- B Idling in gear
- C In reverse
- D Moving slowly
- A At fueling stops
- B On the highway during the trip
- C In the bus garage
- D During loading and unloading near the bus
- A Run to the next stop
- B Leave it
- C Pick it up quickly
- D Stop and tell the driver before retrieving the item
- A Loading and unloading procedures, route timing, and emergency contacts
- B How to handle parents at stops
- C Reporting absences
- D All of the above
- A Cargo and personal items secured and out of the aisle
- B A clear path to emergency exits
- C All of the above
- D A clear view through windows and mirrors
- A Emergency exits and warning devices
- B Mirrors and adjustment
- C All of the above
- D Lights and reflectors, including alternating red lights and stop arm
- A Skip the pre-trip
- B Allow students to walk home
- C Maintain normal speed
- D Reduce speed and increase following distance, and consider chains where allowed
- A Driving faster to end the trip
- B Stopping the bus to argue
- C Setting clear rules, addressing minor issues quickly, and reporting major issues to the school
- D Ignoring problems
- A Loose objects that could become projectiles
- B More students than the seating capacity
- C All of the above
- D Improperly stored hazardous items
- A Refuse service
- B Charge a fee
- C Allow boarding without securement
- D Use the lift or ramp per training and secure the mobility device
- A Crossover then door
- B Right flat then left flat
- C Left flat, left convex, crossover, right flat, right convex, then door
- D Door only
- A All of the above
- B Functional emergency exits
- C Pre-trip inspection completed
- D Crossing arms, stop signal arms, and red flashing lights
- A Honk to scare them
- B Speed past
- C Skip the stop if running late
- D Be at a low speed and prepared to stop, watching for waiting students
- A Honk and continue
- B Drive faster to clear it quickly
- C Ignore it; the bus is short enough
- D Stop and check clearance — never assume
- A Use only the four-ways
- B Have students load without lights
- C Skip the lights
- D Use interior dome lights and ensure exterior lights and stop arm are visible
- A Only at the start of the school year
- B Up to date per state and federal rules
- C Only when convenient
- D Once every 5 years
- A Move the bus while students are crossing
- B Pull away as soon as the door is closed
- C Watch the danger zone, especially in front, until all students are clear of the area
- D Quickly close the door
- A Walking the bus to check for sleeping or hidden children, items left behind, and damage
- B Cleaning windows
- C Refueling
- D Disconnecting the battery
- A Walk in the bus path
- B Wait at least 10 feet from the road until the bus stops and the driver signals
- C Stand in the road
- D Run to the bus when it appears
- A In the driver's area
- B Anywhere in the aisle
- C Within seatbacks and using lap belts where installed
- D Standing if the bus is full
- A Honk and drive
- B Drive on the shoulder
- C Pull away as the door closes
- D Wait until students have moved at least 10 feet from the bus and then check mirrors before pulling away
- A Operate the lift while moving
- B Allow another student to operate the lift
- C Set the parking brake and ensure the lift is fully deployed before allowing boarding
- D Skip the parking brake
- A Choose the safest exit (often the front door, away from the danger), evacuate students, and account for all of them
- B Evacuate from the closest exit regardless of danger
- C Send students out the rear
- D Wait for help
Study tips for the Maryland School Bus exam
The School Bus portion of the Maryland CDL exam is graded out of the bank of questions the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration draws from each year. While the exact bank is not published, every question is sourced from the School Bus chapter of the Maryland 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 Maryland 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 Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration 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 Maryland 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 Maryland 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 Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration office.
Already comfortable with this endorsement? Drill another: MD General Knowledge · MD Air Brakes · MD Combination Vehicles · MD Hazardous Materials · MD Passenger · MD Tank Vehicle · MD Doubles / Triples
New to the CDL process in Maryland? Read How to apply for a CDL in Maryland for the document checklist and step-by-step timeline.