Quick start
Ten short reads to get your bearings.
How The Test Works
- 30 multiple-choice questions; 25 correct answers are needed to pass.
- Take the test at an Alberta registry agent; confirm fees and arrangements with the office.
- You may take the knowledge test once per day.
- English, Chinese and French are available among the test languages.
- The minimum age for a Class 7 learner licence is 14; parental consent is required under 18.
The Basic Right-of-Way Logic
- Uncontrolled intersection, arriving together: yield to the vehicle on your right
- Stop signs: first to arrive goes first; if simultaneous, yield right
- A pedestrian in a crosswalk, a school bus with lights on, an approaching emergency vehicle — yielding is common sense
The Core Speed Numbers
- Provincial highway: 100 km/h outside a city, 80 km/h inside
- Other rural roads: 80 km/h; city streets: 50 km/h These are provincial defaults; municipal limits and posted signs can differ.
- School & playground zones while in effect: 30 km/h
Traffic Signal Basics
- Red: come to a complete stop; a right turn is allowed if conditions are met
- Steady yellow: stop before the intersection if you can do so safely; otherwise proceed cautiously.
- Green: proceed, but a left turn yields to oncoming traffic
Seatbelts & Impaired Driving, In Brief
- Everyone buckles up, or a child rides in an approved seat
- Never drive after drinking or using drugs — exact thresholds come later
- New drivers in the GDL program face zero tolerance for alcohol
Following Distance & Lights, In Brief
- Minimum 2 seconds behind the car ahead, at any speed Increase the gap in poor conditions.
- Headlights on whenever you can't see 150 m ahead
- Switch to low beams within 150 m of a car you're following, or 300 m of oncoming traffic
How The Sign System Works
- Shape sorts by category: octagon = stop, inverted triangle = yield, diamond = warning
- Colour adds detail: red = prohibition/stop, yellow = caution, green = guidance
- Learn the system once — far more efficient than memorizing every sign
The GDL Program, Big Picture
- Three stages: Class 7 Learner → Class 5-GDL Probationary → Full Class 5
- A Learner needs a supervising driver in the car; Probationary doesn't
- Zero alcohol tolerance applies throughout both GDL stages. Never drive impaired, whatever your licence class.
Parking's "5-Metre Family"
- Keep 5 m clear of a fire hydrant, a stop/yield sign, a crosswalk, or an intersection edge
- Keep 1.5 m clear of a driveway or garage entrance
- Memorize "5 metres" — it covers most no-parking situations at once
A Few Easy Points
- Stop for a school bus with flashing red lights; the opposite direction is excepted on a road separated by a median.
- No hand-held phone use while driving
- Pull over for an approaching police car or ambulance with sirens on
- A pedestrian in a crosswalk always has the right of way
Sources and updates
Adapted from the AB Driver’s Guide study project, with illustrations and checks. The French translation is a study aid. Refer to Alberta’s official guide and current topic pages for the rules; local signs can set different requirements.
Integration and linked-source review: