25 realistic School Bus practice questions for Alaska CDL applicants. Required for: Drivers operating a school bus. Official test: 20 questions, 16 correct to pass.
Question 1 of 25 · Inspection
What's the importance of pre-trip inspection on a school bus?
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A.
To identify defects before driving children
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B.
To comply with regulations
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C.
To ensure student safety
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D.
All of the above
Correct answer: D.
Pre-trips identify defects, comply with rules, and protect children.
Question 2 of 25 · Emergency Equipment
What's the importance of using safety equipment?
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A.
Protects driver and students
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B.
Required by law
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C.
Reduces injuries in emergencies
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D.
All of the above
Correct answer: D.
Safety equipment protects everyone, meets legal requirements, and reduces injury.
Question 3 of 25 · Inspection
When must school bus drivers check the brakes?
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A.
Before each trip and at any time the brakes are suspect
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B.
Once a week
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C.
Only at maintenance
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D.
Once a month
Correct answer: A.
Inspect brakes every pre-trip and any time something seems wrong.
Question 4 of 25 · Loading
What's the proper procedure for loading students?
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A.
Activate flashing lights and stop arm, then allow students to board
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B.
Drive forward to greet students
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C.
Honk to alert students
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D.
Open the door immediately
Correct answer: A.
Activate warning lights and stop arm before opening the door.
Question 5 of 25 · Operation
What's the proper way to handle a student with special needs?
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A.
Provide assistance and ensure their safety
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B.
Refuse to transport
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C.
Treat them like other students without help
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D.
Charge extra
Correct answer: A.
Provide appropriate assistance; safety comes first.
Question 6 of 25 · CDL Rules
School bus drivers must:
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A.
Have a CDL with School Bus and Passenger endorsements
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B.
Pass a background check
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C.
Have a current Medical Examiner's Certificate
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D.
All of the above
Correct answer: D.
School bus drivers need both S and P endorsements plus background and medical checks.
Question 7 of 25 · Rail Crossings
What's the safest way to handle a school bus at a railroad crossing?
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A.
Stop within 15-50 feet of nearest rail, look and listen, and turn off any noise-producing equipment
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B.
Speed up to clear quickly
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C.
Stop on the tracks
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D.
Drive across normally
Correct answer: A.
Stop, open windows or door if helpful, listen, and check both directions.
Question 8 of 25 · Danger Zone
What should drivers do if a student is in the danger zone?
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A.
Sound the horn and wait until the student moves to safety
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B.
Continue driving
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C.
Open the door to alert them
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D.
Speed up to scare them
Correct answer: A.
Sound the horn and wait until the student is safely clear.
Question 9 of 25 · Emergencies
How should drivers handle a bus breakdown?
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A.
Move to a safe area, set warning devices, and call for help
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B.
Continue driving
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C.
Tell students to walk
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D.
Leave the bus
Correct answer: A.
Pull off safely, set warning triangles, and contact dispatch and emergency services.
Question 10 of 25 · Driver Wellness
What's the safest way to handle a school bus on a long trip?
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A.
Take regular breaks and stay alert
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B.
Drive without breaks
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C.
Use stimulants
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D.
Sleep while driving
Correct answer: A.
Take regular breaks; fatigue is the enemy of safety.
Question 11 of 25 · Mirrors
How should drivers handle blind spots?
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A.
Use mirrors and check before moving
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B.
Ignore blind spots
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C.
Drive in the middle lane
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D.
Use only the driver's side mirror
Correct answer: A.
Mirror checks are critical, especially around children entering or exiting.
Question 12 of 25 · Danger Zone
What is the "danger zone" around a school bus?
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A.
10 feet around the bus where children are at risk of being hit
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B.
The driver's seat area
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C.
The aisle
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D.
The cargo area
Correct answer: A.
The danger zone is the 10-foot perimeter where children may not be visible to the driver.
Question 13 of 25 · Emergencies
What's the role of the driver during a school bus evacuation?
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A.
Direct students to safety and call for help
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B.
Drive away
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C.
Tell students to handle it
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D.
Stay in the bus
Correct answer: A.
Lead students to safety and contact emergency services.
Question 14 of 25 · Mountain Driving
What's the safest way to handle a school bus on a steep downgrade?
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A.
Use lower gears and engine braking
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B.
Coast in neutral
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C.
Brake hard
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D.
Use parking brake
Correct answer: A.
Lower gears and engine braking keep speed under control.
Question 15 of 25 · Adverse Conditions
What's the safest way to handle a school bus on a wet road?
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A.
Reduce speed and increase following distance
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B.
Drive at posted speed
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C.
Use engine retarder
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D.
Lock the brakes
Correct answer: A.
Slower speeds and more space; engine retarder can cause skids on wet roads.
Question 16 of 25 · Loading
What's the importance of seat belts on a school bus?
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A.
Required in some states; provides additional safety
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B.
Decoration
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C.
Driver use only
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D.
For luggage
Correct answer: A.
Some states require seat belts on school buses for added passenger safety.
Question 17 of 25 · Adverse Conditions
What's the safest way to handle a school bus during a thunderstorm?
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A.
Pull over to a safe location and wait until the storm passes
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B.
Continue driving
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C.
Drive faster to escape
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D.
Tell students to handle it
Correct answer: A.
Stop in a safe area; resume only when conditions are safe.
Question 18 of 25 · Hours of Service
What's the importance of the driver's log book?
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A.
To track hours of service and ensure compliance
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B.
To track student attendance
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C.
To plan routes
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D.
For tax purposes
Correct answer: A.
Logs document compliance with hours of service rules.
Question 19 of 25 · Emergencies
How often should school bus drivers practice evacuation procedures?
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A.
Regularly, as required by state regulations
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B.
Once a year
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C.
Never
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D.
Only when an emergency happens
Correct answer: A.
Most states require regular evacuation drills with students.
Question 20 of 25 · Adverse Conditions
How should drivers handle a school bus in heavy wind?
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A.
Slow down and grip the wheel firmly
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B.
Speed up to clear
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C.
Lock the brakes
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D.
Use engine retarder
Correct answer: A.
Buses are tall and catch wind; slow down and steer firmly.
Question 21 of 25 · Operation
What's the role of the driver in student behavior?
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A.
Maintain order and a safe environment
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B.
Ignore students
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C.
Be friends with students
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D.
Enforce school rules only
Correct answer: A.
Maintain a safe environment with calm authority.
Question 22 of 25 · Emergencies
How should drivers handle a school bus emergency?
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A.
Stop in a safe area, evacuate if needed, call for help
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B.
Continue driving
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C.
Tell students to handle it
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D.
Drive faster
Correct answer: A.
Stop, evacuate if needed, and call for emergency assistance.
Question 23 of 25 · Emergencies
What is "evacuation procedure"?
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A.
Steps to safely remove students from the bus in an emergency
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B.
A type of bus stop
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C.
A maintenance task
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D.
A driving technique
Correct answer: A.
Evacuation procedures move students out of the bus quickly and safely in emergencies.
Question 24 of 25 · Inspection
What's the importance of regular maintenance for a school bus?
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A.
Prevents breakdowns
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B.
Ensures safety for students
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C.
Reduces costs in the long run
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D.
All of the above
Correct answer: D.
Maintenance keeps the bus safe, reliable, and cost-effective.
Question 25 of 25 · Adverse Conditions
What's the safest way to handle a school bus in fog?
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A.
Use low beams and slow down
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B.
Use high beams
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C.
Speed up to escape fog
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D.
Stop on the highway
Correct answer: A.
Low beams and slower speeds; high beams reflect off fog.
About the School Bus Test
The School Bus test covers danger zones and use of mirrors, loading and unloading, emergency exit and evacuation, railroad-highway grade crossings, student management, antilock brake systems, and special safety considerations. School bus drivers must also pass the Passenger Transport test.
The Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles administers this knowledge test as part of its commercial driver license program. To earn the School Bus Endorsement (S) on your Alaska CDL, you need to score at least 16 out of 20 on the official version.
Topics covered on this practice test
- Emergencies: 5 questions
- Adverse Conditions: 4 questions
- Inspection: 3 questions
- Loading: 2 questions
- Operation: 2 questions
- Danger Zone: 2 questions
- Emergency Equipment: 1 question
- CDL Rules: 1 question
- Rail Crossings: 1 question
- Driver Wellness: 1 question
- Mirrors: 1 question
- Mountain Driving: 1 question
- Hours of Service: 1 question
How to use this practice test
- Read each question carefully. CDL questions are written precisely — small wording differences matter.
- Click "Show Answers & Explanations" only after answering every question. Don't peek mid-test.
- Read the explanation for every question, even ones you got right. The reasoning is more important than the answer.
- Repeat the test until you score 100%. The questions are deterministic per state, so you can track your improvement over multiple sessions.
- Move on to the other endorsement tests for Alaska until you're ready for the official exam.
Tips specific to the School Bus test
School Bus drivers need both the Passenger and School Bus endorsements. Most school bus questions cover the danger zone, mirror checks, loading and unloading procedures, evacuation, railroad crossings, and student behavior management. Topics like the brake-door interlock and post-trip child-check sweeps appear frequently.