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  • Updated for January 2025
  • Based on 2025 IA commercial driver's license manual

Free IA CDL School Bus Practice Test 2025

To obtain a School Bus endorsement, residents of Iowa with a valid Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) must meet a series of requirements. They must pass a written exam and a skills test. The written exam evaluates their knowledge of various aspects of this subject, such as safe driving practices, the unique features of school buses, and handling various weather conditions. To pass the CDL school bus written test in Iowa, students should begin studying several weeks in advance.

Additionally, aspiring school bus drivers must complete both the 12-hour STOP class and the current 3-hour training class for the year in which they are hired. They must pass a medical examination, and their general character and emotional stability will be evaluated. They must also pass several background checks, including a check of any criminal background and a check of any past child abuse.

The Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) offers an official CDL manual (https://driving-tests.org/iowa/ia-cdl-handbook/), which contains crucial information for everyone who wants to become a school bus driver. Updated for 2025, this manual serves as the inspiration for the official written exam, which consists of 20 questions. To pass, you’ll need to score at least 80%. It’s not unusual for students to feel anxious on the day of the test, making it difficult for them to focus. After all, the School Bus endorsement covers complex topics, but there’s a smarter approach that will help you pass this exam on your first try.

Our free Iowa CDL school bus practice tests closely reflect the actual written exam, offering a learning environment that allows you to evaluate your knowledge of this topic. The lack of a timer gives you the freedom to move at your own pace, so you should note down the explanations provided after each question.

For your comfort and ease of use, there are several keyboard shortcuts you can try. Check them out by pressing the SHIFT + ? key combination, which will display a full list of available shortcuts. Another useful feature shows the popularity of each answer after you’ve made a choice, giving insight into how other students answered.

Pro Tip: Keep the official CDL manual open in another browser tab while you are practicing on these tests. For each question, take your time and search through the School Buses section of the manual. By actively looking for the correct answer, you’ll also develop a better understanding of the material.

  • Perfect for first-time and renewal CDL/CLP applicants, and those adding endorsements

What you need to know

5 min to complete
Available in EN and ES
Verified by Steven Litvintchouk, M.S., Chief Educational Researcher, Member of ACES. See our detailed commitment to accuracy and quality in our practice tests.

What to expect on the actual IA DOT exam

20

questions

16

correct answers to pass

80%

passing score

List of questions (classic view)

  1. Which of the following statements about the special dangers of loading and unloading is true?
  2. After you decide on the best type of evacuation, what must you do next?
  3. While you're loading students, if you cannot account for a student, what should you do?
  4. A passive railroad crossing
  5. During your pre-trip vehicle inspection test, make sure that
  6. What color are all school buses painted?
  7. Which of the following statements is true about students who must cross in front of the bus after exiting it?
  8. You should adjust the outside left and right side flat mirrors so you can see
  9. Which of the following statements about evacuation procedures is true?
  10. When unloading students at a school, you should
  11. Immediately after stopping, you should first
  12. In addition to spare electrical fuses (if equipped), three red reflective triangles, and a working fire extinguisher, emergency equipment for a school bus also includes
  13. For up to ______ of parents, the school bus driver is the only school official they ever meet.
  14. Before you proceed through a railroad crossing, make sure that your bus will have enough containment (the space on the opposite side of the crossing) to completely clear the railroad tracks. As a general rule, adequate containment is
  15. Which of the following will confirm that your bus is equipped with an antilock braking system (ABS)?
  16. Antilock brakes
  17. You should adjust the left and right side crossover mirrors so you can see
  18. The overhead inside rear-view mirror is used to
  19. You MUST evacuate everyone from your school bus if
  20. The blind spot behind the school bus may extend up to ________, depending on the length and width of the bus.
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