Texas School Bus CDL Practice Test
Below are 25 exam-style questions for the Texas School Bus CDL knowledge test, modeled on the FMCSA-aligned content used by the Texas Department of Public Safety. 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 Run to the next stop
- B Leave it
- C Pick it up quickly
- D Stop and tell the driver before retrieving the item
- A Use interior dome lights and ensure exterior lights and stop arm are visible
- B Have students load without lights
- C Skip the lights
- D Use only the four-ways
- A Use only mirrors
- B Avoid backing whenever possible; use a spotter when you must back
- C Have students guide you
- D Back at the same speed as forward
- A Quickly close the door
- B Move the bus while students are crossing
- C Watch the danger zone, especially in front, until all students are clear of the area
- D Pull away as soon as the door is closed
- A All of the above
- B How to handle parents at stops
- C Loading and unloading procedures, route timing, and emergency contacts
- D Reporting absences
- A Setting clear rules, addressing minor issues quickly, and reporting major issues to the school
- B Stopping the bus to argue
- C Ignoring problems
- D Driving faster to end the trip
- A Within 5 feet of the rail
- B Between 15 and 50 feet from the nearest rail
- C Only at night
- D Only when a train is visible
- A Cracks in mirrors
- B Loose parts
- C All of the above
- D Damage that could endanger students
- A A passenger forgot a backpack
- B There is a fire or danger of fire, hazmat spill, the bus is in the path of a train, or the bus position may shift
- C Students are noisy
- D There is heavy rain
- A Honk continuously
- B Slow down and move over if possible
- C Speed up
- D Maintain speed
- A Skip the stop if running late
- B Be at a low speed and prepared to stop, watching for waiting students
- C Speed past
- D Honk to scare them
- A Strike pedestrians
- B All of the above
- C Damage the bus
- D Hit objects on the side opposite the turn
- A Disconnecting the battery
- B Walking the bus to check for sleeping or hidden children, items left behind, and damage
- C Cleaning windows
- D Refueling
- A Allow boarding without securement
- B Refuse service
- C Use the lift or ramp per training and secure the mobility device
- D Charge a fee
- A More students than the seating capacity
- B Improperly stored hazardous items
- C Loose objects that could become projectiles
- D All of the above
- A Within seatbacks and using lap belts where installed
- B In the driver's area
- C Anywhere in the aisle
- D Standing if the bus is full
- A 5 feet on each side
- B 10 feet around the bus
- C 20 feet behind only
- D The length of the bus
- A Only when convenient
- B Up to date per state and federal rules
- C Only at the start of the school year
- D Once every 5 years
- A Door only
- B Left flat, left convex, crossover, right flat, right convex, then door
- C Right flat then left flat
- D Crossover then door
- A Walk to the curb, then to the home
- B Walk in front of the bus to cross only after a driver signal and at least 10 feet from the bus
- C Cross diagonally
- D Go behind the bus
- A Allow students to dress lightly
- B Skip pre-trip in cold weather
- C Use only the parking brake
- D Inspect heater and defroster operation, tires, and lights for snow and ice
- 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
- A Cargo and personal items secured and out of the aisle
- B A clear view through windows and mirrors
- C A clear path to emergency exits
- D All of the above
- A Wide rear of the bus when changing lanes
- B All of the above
- C Off-tracking on right turns
- D Tail swing when turning corners
- A Be checked daily as part of pre-trip
- B Be unobstructed
- C Open from inside and outside as designed
- D All of the above
Study tips for the Texas School Bus exam
The School Bus portion of the Texas CDL exam is graded out of the bank of questions the Texas Department of Public Safety draws from each year. While the exact bank is not published, every question is sourced from the School Bus chapter of the Texas 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 Texas 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 Texas Department of Public Safety 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 Texas 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 Texas 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 Texas Department of Public Safety office.
Already comfortable with this endorsement? Drill another: TX General Knowledge · TX Air Brakes · TX Combination Vehicles · TX Hazardous Materials · TX Passenger · TX Tank Vehicle · TX Doubles / Triples
New to the CDL process in Texas? Read How to apply for a CDL in Texas for the document checklist and step-by-step timeline.