There's no official number of mistakes you're allowed on Ontario's G2 or G road test. DriveTest says the examiner scores you "according to set criteria" on a scoresheet, but it doesn't publish a points limit or a mistake count. The G1 knowledge test is different: it has a published pass mark of at least 80%.
Quick answer: on the G1 knowledge test, you need a total score of at least 80%, so you can miss no more than about one question in five. On the G2 and G road tests, there's no published mistake allowance. Small slips can cost marks, and one unsafe action can end the test on its own. Aim for zero mistakes on the actions the examiner checks.
Sources: DriveTest: Knowledge Tests, DriveTest: Road Tests – Cars, and the Official MTO Driver's Handbook. Sources checked November 9, 2026. Roadity is independent and isn't affiliated with DriveTest or the Ministry of Transportation.
How many mistakes are allowed on the G1 test?
The G1 knowledge test is the only Ontario licence test with a published pass mark. According to DriveTest, knowledge tests are:
- multiple choice, created by the Ministry of Transportation (MTO)
- split into two or three sections, for example one on signs and one on rules of the road
- passed with a total score of at least 80%
- not timed, and marked on the spot so you get your result right away
At 80%, the number of wrong answers you can afford is a simple ratio: no more than 2 out of every 10, or 1 in 5. DriveTest's official pages don't list a fixed question count, so be careful with any exact number you can't trace back to DriveTest or ontario.ca.
Sections matter too. DriveTest says that if you retry within one year, you only redo the sections that "did not meet MTO standards." So a strong score on signs won't save you if you neglected the rules of the road. Study both.
If you don't pass, you can pay the fee and try again. Your results are valid for one year. For the full breakdown of sections, timing and languages, see our G1 test format guide.
How many mistakes are allowed on the G2 road test?
DriveTest doesn't publish a number. Here's what it does say about how the G2 and G road tests are marked:
- The examiner evaluates your skills against set criteria and fills out a form or tablet scoresheet.
- The G2 test checks basic driving skills, is often called the "city test," and usually takes about 20 minutes.
- The examiner can't coach you during the test, so ask any questions before you start.
The handbook's road test chapter explains what "set criteria" means in practice. Each driving task, such as a left turn, a stop intersection or a lane change, is broken into specific actions: a traffic check, a signal, the right speed, safe space, a complete stop at the right spot. The examiner watches to make sure you perform each action. Missing one is how marks are lost.
So the real question isn't "how many mistakes can I make?" It's "which actions am I skipping?" A missed shoulder check on one lane change is a small slip. Skipping shoulder checks all test long becomes a pattern, and patterns are what fail people.
How many mistakes are allowed on the full G test?
The same answer applies: there's no published number. The G road test assesses more advanced skills, includes a highway component, and usually takes about 30 minutes, according to DriveTest.
Two things are specific to the G test:
- The test is currently modified at full-time DriveTest centres. It doesn't include parallel parking, roadside stops, the three-point turn or residential driving. Highways, merging, lane changes, turns, curves, intersections and business areas are all still included. Part-time Travel Point locations still run the standard G test.
- The highway part has its own rules. On the freeway, the handbook expects you to check your mirrors and blind spot on the ramp, signal early, match traffic speed in the acceleration lane, keep a two- to three-second gap, check your mirrors every five to 10 seconds, and avoid slowing down until you're fully in the exit lane.
Our G test mistakes guide goes through the highway, lane change and intersection actions examiners watch most closely.
Mistakes that can end a road test on their own
Some problems aren't about how many marks you lose. DriveTest says the examiner may stop the test, or refuse to start it, if:
- your vehicle isn't in good working order
- you show any signs of impairment from alcohol or drugs
- your driving skills aren't good enough to finish the test without risking safety
That third point covers dangerous driving. The handbook also gives a clear standard for observation: you haven't checked traffic properly if another vehicle or pedestrian with the right-of-way has to take action to avoid you. If another driver has to brake or swerve because of you, count that as a serious mistake, not a minor slip.
DriveTest doesn't publish an official list of "automatic fails," so be careful with long lists that claim to be official. Our G2 automatic fails guide sticks to what the official sources say.
What about the "30 points" rule you see online?
You'll find claims online that you can lose a set number of points, or that you need a certain score out of 100 to pass. We couldn't find any such number on drivetest.ca or ontario.ca. Treat it as unofficial.
Planning around a points budget is also risky. One unsafe action can end your test no matter how few marks you've lost so far. It's safer to aim for zero mistakes on every action than to count how many you can afford.
Mistakes that cost you before you drive
Some mistakes have nothing to do with your driving but still cost you money:
- Out-of-order test. If your vehicle doesn't meet ministry standards, or the examiner finds another reason the test can't go ahead, the test is declared out-of-order and you lose 50% of your road test fee, according to the handbook. DriveTest says, for example, that a test is deemed out-of-order if an in-car camera can't be disabled and you can't confirm it isn't recording the inside of the car or pointed at the examiner.
- Late cancellation or no-show. If you cancel or reschedule with less than 48 hours' notice, or don't show up, your prepaid road test fee isn't refunded.
- Not enough highway experience for the G test. You must declare your recent highway driving before the G test. DriveTest says you need at least five trips on qualifying highways in the last three months. If you don't have them, your appointment is cancelled and you lose 50% of the fee.
- Relying on driving aids. The handbook says aids such as automatic parallel parking, lane monitoring, cruise control and backup cameras may not be used during the road test. You still need to do your own mirror and shoulder checks.
How to keep your mistake count close to zero
- Practise the actions, not just the route. For every turn, stop and lane change, run through the same steps: check traffic, signal, adjust your speed, keep your space, and finish in the correct lane. Our G2 road test checklist lists them skill by skill.
- Make observation automatic. Mirrors before you slow down. A shoulder check before every lane change or pull-out. Look left, ahead and right just before you enter an intersection.
- Stop fully, in the right spot. Stop behind the stop line. With no stop line, stop at the crosswalk. With no crosswalk, stop at the edge of the sidewalk. If you roll past the line, don't back up.
- Practise in the area around the centre. Examiners choose the route on the day, but knowing the local roads, speed limits and highway ramps makes it easier to focus on your technique. The Roadity app has G2 and G practice routes around Ontario DriveTest centres, with spoken directions and hints at stops, lights and merges, for supervised practice with an instructor or a fully licensed driver.
- Ask for your scoresheet. After the test, the examiner gives you a brief verbal summary. Paper copies of the scoresheet are available on request within 13 months. If your test was done on a tablet, you can download your results within 15 days.
If you don't pass
You can take as many road tests as you need, as long as your licence is valid. The handbook says you must wait at least 10 days between tests, and the road test fees apply again. Use your scoresheet to see which actions cost you marks, practise those, then rebook. Here's what happens after a failed G2 or G test, step by step.
FAQ
How many questions can you get wrong on the G1 test?
You need a total score of at least 80%, so you can get no more than about one question in five wrong. DriveTest also says each section has to meet MTO standards, so don't let one section slip.
How many mistakes can you make on the G2 test in Ontario?
There's no official number. The examiner scores you against set criteria on a scoresheet. Minor slips cost marks, and driving that puts safety at risk can end the test.
Is there a points limit on the G road test?
Not one that DriveTest or the Ministry of Transportation publishes. Claims of a fixed points limit come from unofficial sources.
Will the examiner tell me what I did wrong?
Yes. You get a brief verbal summary after the test, and if you don't pass, the scoresheet shows where you need to improve.
How soon can I retake a failed road test?
The handbook says you must wait at least 10 days between road tests. DriveTest says "generally" at least 10 days, and the road test fees apply again.
