[Learner's Permit Exam Prep Course] How to Get the Most out of the Course? A clear, easy-to-understand guide to recommended study methods!

The written test for the provisional license (karimen) has 50 questions worth 50 points in total. You need 45 points or more (90% correct) to pass. The test time is 30 minutes. You answer true or false, but that does not mean you can pass by guessing half right. You can get no more than 5 questions wrong.

This article explains what order to study in, and for how long, to pass using Drivey's provisional license written test course. If you have signed up but are not sure how to use it, read on.

What kind of test is the provisional license written test?

A provisional license is the license you need to practice driving on public roads (karimen: a temporary license you get partway through driving school). Its written test is given as follows.

*The number of questions, format, test time, and passing score are based on Osaka Prefectural Police: Regular License. Eligibility is based on Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department: Regular Provisional License Test.

👉 You can get only 5 questions wrong. Do not relax just because there are only 2 choices, or you will fail. The test has fewer questions than the written test for the full license (95 questions, 50 minutes, 90% or more), but the required score is the same.

What topics are on the test?

The provisional license written test broadly checks the basics of safe driving. The main topics are as follows.

Unlike the written test for the full license, the provisional license test does not include expressway driving. The range is limited to the knowledge you need before going out on public roads.

What languages can I take the test in?

At a driver's license test center, the test is available in 20 languages. They are English, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Indonesian, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, Thai, Tagalog, Persian, Khmer, Nepali, Myanmar, Mongolian, Ukrainian, Sinhala, Urdu, Arabic, and Hindi (Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department: Written Tests Available in Foreign Languages).

However, the days and test centers depend on the language. In Tokyo, 5 languages including English are available on weekdays at the Fuchu, Samezu, and Koto test centers, but the other 15 languages are available only on set days at each test center (Fuchu on Tuesdays, Samezu on Wednesdays, and Koto on Thursdays).

👉 If you take the provisional license written test at a designated driving school, the available languages are different. If you plan to attend a driving school, always check whether it supports your language before you apply. If you enroll without checking, you will have to take the test in Japanese.

How long do I need to study to pass?

Covering the full range takes about 2 to 4 weeks. At 4 to 5 lessons a day, it takes about 4 weeks. If you have more time, you can finish one round in about 2 weeks. This estimate is for going through Drivey's learning content from start to finish.

The table below is an example of a 4-week plan. For a 2-week plan, combine weeks 1 and 2 into one week, and weeks 3 and 4 into one week.

Keep working on the glossary throughout this period. The goal is 30 terms a week.

Where should I start studying?

Start with the videos in the learning content. Memorizing answers alone will not get you through the written test. You score points only when you can understand, remember, and actually make the right judgment. Drivey's lessons take you through these 3 steps in order.

1. Understand with videos

First, watch the videos to grasp the traffic rules, cautions, and key points with images. Content that is hard to follow in text is easier to understand in a video.

2. Remember with Q&A

Next, check what you learned in the videos with question-and-answer Q&A. Recalling the answer yourself and checking it right away helps you remember it.

3. Check with mini tests

Finally, take a short mini test to check that you really understand. When you get something wrong, go back to the video or Q&A and review it, fixing weak points on the spot.

For topics you are not confident about, watch the video again and then retry the mini test. Going back and forth like this is the most effective way to build your skills.

How many terms do I need to learn?

The goal is 30 terms a week. On the provisional license written test, whether you know the meaning of the words has a big effect on whether you pass. The more traffic-rule words you know, the faster you understand the text questions.

The glossary is most useful on days when you do not have much time. You can use it on the train or bus, during breaks, or for a few minutes before bed. 3 to 5 minutes is enough.

Once the videos, Q&A, and glossary feel easy, move on to the test features early.

In what order should I work on the questions?

Traffic sign questions → practice questions → skill check → mock tests. If you start with mock tests right away, you will not score well and may stop studying.

(A) Traffic sign questions

Traffic sign questions always appear on the provisional license test. Japan has more than 200 kinds of traffic signs, and many look alike in shape or color or have similar meanings that are easy to mix up.

Drivey does not just ask you to memorize them. It helps you understand why each sign exists and what danger it is meant to prevent. Reaching a perfect score on these early in your study builds confidence for the whole test.

(B) Practice questions

Each practice set has 10 questions, so you can work on them while commuting or during breaks. You can review the questions you got wrong in a list later, see which points you often get wrong, and focus your review on weak topics.

As you go, think about why you got a question wrong and which part you did not understand.

(C) Skill check

The skill check test has about half as many questions as the real test. It shows objectively how much you have learned and which topics are still weak. Use it to test yourself just before the exam and to decide what to focus on in the remaining time.

(D) Mock tests

The mock test is the most realistic test, with the same number of questions and the same time limit as the real test. It builds test-day skills: pacing yourself, staying focused, and making decisions under pressure.

Treating it as the real test and focusing hard shows your weak points clearly. Take the real test only after you can score over 90% consistently.

What should I be careful about on test day?

(1) Read each sentence carefully

Most questions are short, only 1 or 2 lines. That is why one word can decide whether an answer is right or wrong. Pay attention to expressions like these.

• Types of signals: steady green light, flashing red light, yellow arrow, and so on

• Different numbers: 3 seconds before / 30 meters before, within 3 meters / within 5 meters

• Sentence endings: "is / is not," "may / may not"

Do not answer based on a vague feeling. Read the numbers and words carefully.

(2) Take each question at face value

Simply decide whether what is written is true or false. Many questions can be answered with common sense, and overthinking them leads to mistakes.

However, sentences with words like "always," "absolutely," or "in any situation" often test whether there are exceptions. Read those carefully.

(3) Always review your answers

After answering all the questions, go back and review from the beginning. This prevents marking errors, misreading, and unanswered questions. On a test that requires 45 points, missing a question you know leads directly to failing.

Frequently asked questions

If I fail the provisional license written test, can I take it again right away?

Yes, but you pay the fees each time. When taking the test directly at a test center in Tokyo, the fee is 5,800 yen (2,950 yen test fee, 1,750 yen test vehicle fee, and 1,100 yen provisional license issuing fee) (Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department). Fees differ by prefecture.

How is it different from the written test for the full license?

The number of questions and the range are different. The full license test has 95 questions in 50 minutes and includes topics such as expressway driving. The provisional license test has 50 questions in 30 minutes and does not include expressways. However, both require 90% or more correct to pass (Osaka Prefectural Police).

If I have a driver's license from my home country, do I still need to start with a provisional license?

No. If you have a license from your home country, you may be able to switch it to a Japanese license through a procedure called license conversion (gaimen kirikae). It can be faster than attending a driving school. However, after the October 2025 revision, the knowledge test changed to 50 questions with 90% required, and the pass rate dropped to 42.8%. For conversion to a regular license, there is also a driving skills test (13.1% pass rate) after the knowledge test. The share of people who pass both is about 5.6%. This 5.6% is an estimate for passing both tests on the first try. Both tests can be retaken, so the final success rate after several attempts is higher. Either way, it is not always faster, so allow plenty of time. See our article on the test content and how to prepare.

Is the moped license test also available in the same 20 languages?

No. The moped license is not covered by the 20 languages. In Tokyo, the moped test is available in only 5 languages: English, Chinese, Vietnamese, Nepali, and Myanmar. Each prefecture decides its own languages (Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department). For details, see our article on the languages in all 47 prefectures.

Signing up for the course, and use by companies

For personal use, you can try the course for free from the provisional license course page. For the full license written test after you pass the provisional test, use the regular license course.

If you have a driver's license from your home country, license conversion may be faster than attending a driving school. Try the practice questions (with answers and explanations) to decide which is right for you.

If you support several learners at a company, supervising organization, or registered support organization, see our corporate service. The corporate dashboard lets you check each learner's progress remotely. For quotes and demos, please use the contact form.

*Information as of September 2026. Rules, languages, and fees may change. Before taking the test, check with the police or driver's license center of the prefecture where you will take it.