ND · S Endorsement

North Dakota School Bus CDL Practice Test

Below are 25 exam-style questions for the North Dakota School Bus CDL knowledge test, modeled on the FMCSA-aligned content used by the North Dakota Department of Transportation. 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.

Heads up: this is a study tool, not a graded exam. Cover the answer with your hand or a sheet of paper for an honest practice run, then re-read the explanations for any questions you missed. Aim for 22 out of 25 or better, three times in a row, before scheduling the real exam.

Question 1 of 25

A school bus driver must keep:

A A clear path to emergency exits
B A clear view through windows and mirrors
C Cargo and personal items secured and out of the aisle
D All of the above

Correct answer: D

All three are required for safe operation.

Question 2 of 25

When an evacuation requires students to walk on a roadway:

A Send them home individually
B Walk them along the lane line
C Have them stand near the bus
D Move them to a safe area off the road, well away from traffic

Correct answer: D

Move students well off the road to a safe assembly point.

Question 3 of 25

When students are in the bus and you need to evacuate due to fire:

A Wait for the fire department
B Open all windows first
C Use the door away from the fire and lead students to a safe distance away from the bus
D Use only the rear door

Correct answer: C

Evacuate to a safe distance upwind of the fire.

Question 4 of 25

A school bus driver may NOT:

A Permit unauthorized persons to ride
B Use a hand-held cell phone while driving
C Smoke on the bus
D All of the above

Correct answer: D

All three are restricted on school buses.

Question 5 of 25

When students must be loaded after dark:

A Have students load without lights
B Skip the lights
C Use interior dome lights and ensure exterior lights and stop arm are visible
D Use only the four-ways

Correct answer: C

Visibility is essential at night; full lighting protects students and informs traffic.

Question 6 of 25

If a student drops something near the bus, the driver should instruct the student to:

A Run to the next stop
B Stop and tell the driver before retrieving the item
C Pick it up quickly
D Leave it

Correct answer: B

Students must never reach under or around the bus without driver permission.

Question 7 of 25

When students are crossing in front of the bus, they should:

A Run across
B Walk close to the bus where the driver can see them, after a hand signal from the driver
C Cross behind the bus
D Cross at any time

Correct answer: B

Students cross 10+ feet in front of the bus on a signal from the driver, where they remain visible.

Question 8 of 25

When stopping a school bus to load students:

A Slam on the brakes at the stop
B Use only the four-ways
C Honk repeatedly
D Activate amber warning lights about 100-300 feet before the stop, then red lights and stop arm at the stop

Correct answer: D

Amber-then-red sequence gives following traffic time to stop.

Question 9 of 25

During winter operation, a school bus driver should:

A Inspect heater and defroster operation, tires, and lights for snow and ice
B Allow students to dress lightly
C Use only the parking brake
D Skip pre-trip in cold weather

Correct answer: A

Winter pre-trips include extra checks for heater, defroster, and traction items.

Question 10 of 25

A school bus driver should manage student behavior by:

A Setting clear rules, addressing minor issues quickly, and reporting major issues to the school
B Driving faster to end the trip
C Stopping the bus to argue
D Ignoring problems

Correct answer: A

Calm, consistent management keeps the bus safe; major issues are reported.

Question 11 of 25

During evacuation, the driver should:

A Evacuate from the closest exit regardless of danger
B Wait for help
C Send students out the rear
D Choose the safest exit (often the front door, away from the danger), evacuate students, and account for all of them

Correct answer: D

Use the safest exit and account for every student before leaving the bus.

Question 12 of 25

A school bus driver must do a post-trip inspection that includes:

A Walking the bus to check for sleeping or hidden children, items left behind, and damage
B Refueling
C Disconnecting the battery
D Cleaning windows

Correct answer: A

The post-trip walk-through is mandatory to prevent leaving a child on the bus.

Question 13 of 25

After a school bus accident, the driver should:

A Continue the route
B Care for injured students, contact emergency services, and notify the school
C Move the bus immediately
D Leave students unattended

Correct answer: B

Student care and notification come first.

Question 14 of 25

When a school bus stops on a multilane road:

A Traffic may pass
B No traffic rules apply
C Only oncoming traffic must stop
D Traffic in both directions usually must stop, depending on the road configuration and state law

Correct answer: D

State laws vary; usually all traffic stops on undivided roads, while divided highways may exempt the opposite direction.

Question 15 of 25

A school bus driver should know the school district's policies on:

A How to handle parents at stops
B All of the above
C Loading and unloading procedures, route timing, and emergency contacts
D Reporting absences

Correct answer: B

District policies cover daily operations and emergency communication.

Question 16 of 25

When approaching a stopped vehicle on the side of the road:

A Speed up
B Honk continuously
C Slow down and move over if possible
D Maintain speed

Correct answer: C

Move-over laws apply to school buses around stopped vehicles, especially emergency vehicles.

Question 17 of 25

A school bus emergency exit must:

A Be unobstructed
B Open from inside and outside as designed
C All of the above
D Be checked daily as part of pre-trip

Correct answer: C

All three apply to all emergency exits.

Question 18 of 25

A bus driver should always assume:

A All children will follow the rules
B Children may not see or hear the bus
C Drivers will always stop for the red lights
D No traffic will pass while the bus is stopped

Correct answer: B

Children may dart out, may not look, and may not hear; drivers must compensate.

Question 19 of 25

Tail swing on a school bus can:

A Damage the bus
B All of the above
C Hit objects on the side opposite the turn
D Strike pedestrians

Correct answer: B

Tail swing is the rear of the bus moving in the opposite direction of the turn; check both sides.

Question 20 of 25

When the bus is stopped and students must cross the street:

A Honk to clear traffic
B Use only four-ways
C Use the alternating red lights and stop arm to halt traffic
D Allow students to cross without lights

Correct answer: C

Red lights and stop arm legally require traffic to stop.

Question 21 of 25

On rural roads, a school bus driver should:

A Skip warning lights
B Maintain normal city speed
C Allow students to walk on the road
D Be especially alert at stops where students might cross the road

Correct answer: D

Rural visibility is often poor; extra caution is required at every stop.

Question 22 of 25

A school bus driver may not:

A All of the above
B Operate without working emergency exits
C Operate the bus while distracted by passengers
D Allow standees in the aisle

Correct answer: A

Each of these actions creates a serious safety risk on a school bus.

Question 23 of 25

A school bus driver must inspect the bus body and exterior daily for:

A All of the above
B Damage that could endanger students
C Loose parts
D Cracks in mirrors

Correct answer: A

Daily exterior inspection identifies hazards before students board.

Question 24 of 25

School bus drivers should be especially aware of:

A Wide rear of the bus when changing lanes
B Off-tracking on right turns
C Tail swing when turning corners
D All of the above

Correct answer: D

Bus body movement around corners requires constant awareness.

Question 25 of 25

A school bus driver may discharge a student at:

A The designated stop
B A different location only with authorization
C The bus garage
D Anywhere a student requests

Correct answer: A

Designated stops only, except where school authorization permits otherwise.

Study tips for the North Dakota School Bus exam

The School Bus portion of the North Dakota CDL exam is graded out of the bank of questions the North Dakota Department of Transportation draws from each year. While the exact bank is not published, every question is sourced from the School Bus chapter of the North Dakota 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 North Dakota 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 North Dakota Department of Transportation 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 North Dakota 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 North Dakota 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 North Dakota Department of Transportation office.

Already comfortable with this endorsement? Drill another: ND General Knowledge · ND Air Brakes · ND Combination Vehicles · ND Hazardous Materials · ND Passenger · ND Tank Vehicle · ND Doubles / Triples

New to the CDL process in North Dakota? Read How to apply for a CDL in North Dakota for the document checklist and step-by-step timeline.