WV · S Endorsement

West Virginia School Bus CDL Practice Test

Below are 25 exam-style questions for the West Virginia School Bus CDL knowledge test, modeled on the FMCSA-aligned content used by the West Virginia 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.

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

When a school bus is in a winter storm:

A Reduce speed and increase following distance, and consider chains where allowed
B Skip the pre-trip
C Allow students to walk home
D Maintain normal speed

Correct answer: A

Winter operations require all the standard adjustments — slower speeds, more cushion, extra inspections.

Question 2 of 25

Before students approach the bus to board, the driver should:

A Roll down all windows
B Honk
C Activate the alternating red lights and stop signal arm
D Open the rear door

Correct answer: C

Use red lights and stop arm to alert traffic and signal students that it is safe to approach.

Question 3 of 25

When a student is left at school after the route, the driver should:

A Notify the school and follow company policy
B Drive home
C Leave the student
D Take the student home personally

Correct answer: A

Lost or left students are reported and reunited per company procedure.

Question 4 of 25

A school bus emergency exit must:

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

Correct answer: A

All three apply to all emergency exits.

Question 5 of 25

On a school bus, students should be seated:

A Standing if the bus is full
B Anywhere in the aisle
C In the driver's area
D Within seatbacks and using lap belts where installed

Correct answer: D

Within seatbacks; use seat belts where equipped; never standees on a school bus in motion.

Question 6 of 25

Tail swing on a school bus can:

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

Correct answer: C

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

Question 7 of 25

When students are loading, the bus is:

A In reverse
B Moving slowly
C Idling in gear
D Stopped with the parking brake set, transmission in neutral or park, and warning lights on

Correct answer: D

Bus must be fully stopped and secured during loading.

Question 8 of 25

Most school-bus fatalities involving students happen:

A On the highway during the trip
B During loading and unloading near the bus
C At fueling stops
D In the bus garage

Correct answer: B

Loading/unloading is the most dangerous part of the school-bus operation; the danger zone extends 10 feet around the bus.

Question 9 of 25

When you must evacuate students near a railroad track:

A Send them along the tracks
B Move them at least 100 feet upwind from the bus and away from the tracks
C Have them wait next to the bus
D Have them sit in the road

Correct answer: B

Distance and direction matter; clear of the tracks and at least 100 feet from any explosion or fire risk.

Question 10 of 25

The "danger zone" around a school bus extends:

A The length of the bus
B 20 feet behind only
C 10 feet around the bus
D 5 feet on each side

Correct answer: C

10-foot perimeter; the most dangerous spot is directly in front of the bus.

Question 11 of 25

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

A Open all windows first
B Use only the rear door
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

Correct answer: D

Evacuate to a safe distance upwind of the fire.

Question 12 of 25

When approaching the loading area, the driver should:

A Skip the stop if running late
B Honk to scare them
C Speed past
D Be at a low speed and prepared to stop, watching for waiting students

Correct answer: D

Approach the stop slowly so students see you and you see them.

Question 13 of 25

Before crossing the tracks, the driver should:

A Roll up windows
B Shift gears
C Open the door, turn off the radio and noisy fans, look and listen
D Honk

Correct answer: C

Senses must be clear; do not shift gears while crossing.

Question 14 of 25

A school bus must have working:

A Functional emergency exits
B Pre-trip inspection completed
C Crossing arms, stop signal arms, and red flashing lights
D All of the above

Correct answer: D

All three are required for legal operation.

Question 15 of 25

A school bus driver may NOT:

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

Correct answer: B

All three are restricted on school buses.

Question 16 of 25

When students must be loaded after dark:

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

Correct answer: A

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

Question 17 of 25

A school bus driver may discharge a student at:

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

Correct answer: A

Designated stops only, except where school authorization permits otherwise.

Question 18 of 25

A school bus driver must report:

A Behavior that disrupts the safety of the bus
B Mechanical defects discovered during the trip
C All of the above
D Accidents involving the bus or students

Correct answer: C

All three reporting duties apply.

Question 19 of 25

During loading at the bus stop, students should:

A Walk in the bus path
B Stand in the road
C Wait at least 10 feet from the road until the bus stops and the driver signals
D Run to the bus when it appears

Correct answer: C

Students wait at a safe distance and approach only on the driver's signal.

Question 20 of 25

School bus drivers should be especially aware of:

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

Correct answer: A

Bus body movement around corners requires constant awareness.

Question 21 of 25

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

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

Correct answer: A

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

Question 22 of 25

A school bus driver must evacuate the bus when:

A 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
B Students are noisy
C There is heavy rain
D A passenger forgot a backpack

Correct answer: A

Mandatory evacuation conditions are specifically taught in S endorsement training.

Question 23 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 Move them to a safe area off the road, well away from traffic
D Have them stand near the bus

Correct answer: C

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

Question 24 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 25 of 25

After a school bus accident, the driver should:

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

Correct answer: B

Student care and notification come first.

Study tips for the West Virginia School Bus exam

The School Bus portion of the West Virginia CDL exam is graded out of the bank of questions the West Virginia 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 West Virginia 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 West Virginia 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 West Virginia 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 West Virginia 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 West Virginia 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 West Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles office.

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

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