Tennessee: Licensing basics — Teaching a New Driver Practice Test
Questions in this part include: “What does the manual say is the most important thing you can do when trying to teach someone how to drive?” · “Which practice does the manual suggest for Phase Four?”
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Questions are original and based on the official manual "Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual" (March 2025 printing), Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security.
All 19 questions in this practice test
Take the test above first, then use this list to study. Tap “Show answer” to see the correct answer and explanation.
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What does the manual say is the most important thing you can do when trying to teach someone how to drive?
- Drive safely yourself
- Give directions in a loud voice
- Let the learner drive on interstates first
- Teach only in the evening hours
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Correct answer: Drive safely yourself
A new driver watches closely and copies what you do, so your own safe driving is the most important lesson.
Source: Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual (March 2025 printing), page 116 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 116)
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What does the manual say you should do before each practice session with a new driver?
- Drive at random to give the learner variety
- Decide where to go and what you are going to do
- Let the learner choose any road they like
- Plan nothing so the learner stays relaxed
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Correct answer: Decide where to go and what you are going to do
Planning each session ahead matters because random driving can be dangerous for a novice.
Source: Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual (March 2025 printing), page 116 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 116)
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Before a new driver ventures into traffic for practice, what should the driver have?
- A full year of passenger experience
- A written test score of 100 percent
- A commercial license
- Good coordination with the hands and feet
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Correct answer: Good coordination with the hands and feet
The manual says the learner should have good hand and foot coordination so they do not hit the wrong pedal in a panic.
Source: Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual (March 2025 printing), page 116 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 116)
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What should the first lessons with a new driver concentrate on?
- Simply gaining control of the vehicle
- Driving on an interstate highway
- Parallel parking between two cars
- Driving in heavy traffic
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Correct answer: Simply gaining control of the vehicle
The manual says first lessons should focus on gaining control of the vehicle, with later lessons getting more challenging.
Source: Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual (March 2025 printing), page 116 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 116)
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In the manual's suggested approach, where should Phase One practice take place?
- On a quiet residential street with very little traffic
- On a multi-lane highway during light traffic
- A large deserted parking lot, away from traffic
- In a busy downtown area with many intersections
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Correct answer: A large deserted parking lot, away from traffic
Phase One has the beginner practice vehicle control in a safe place like a large empty parking lot.
Source: Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual (March 2025 printing), page 116 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 116)
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Which skill does the manual list for Phase One practice?
- Parallel parking between two parked cars
- Buckling up and adjusting the seat and mirrors
- Driving on interstates in heavy traffic
- Driving at night in bad weather
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Correct answer: Buckling up and adjusting the seat and mirrors
Phase One starts with the basics: buckling up, adjusting the seat and mirrors, and using the controls.
Source: Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual (March 2025 printing), page 116 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 116)
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In the manual's suggested approach, where is Phase Two practice done?
- In a large deserted parking lot
- On an interstate
- In heavy traffic downtown
- In a quiet residential area
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Correct answer: In a quiet residential area
Phase Two moves the driver from the parking lot to a quiet residential area.
Source: Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual (March 2025 printing), page 116 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 116)
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Which skill does the manual first add in Phase Two?
- Pulling into traffic and simple intersections
- Parallel parking and uphill or downhill parking
- U-turns and quick stops to simulate emergencies
- Driving on high-speed interstates at night
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Correct answer: Pulling into traffic and simple intersections
Phase Two adds pulling into traffic, simple intersections, lane position, safe following distances and easy lane changes.
Source: Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual (March 2025 printing), page 117 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 117)
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Which skill does the manual first add in Phase Three, when the new driver is taken into heavier traffic?
- Easy lane changes
- Parallel parking and up/down hill parking
- Buckling up and adjusting mirrors
- Pulling into traffic from a quiet street
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Correct answer: Parallel parking and up/down hill parking
Phase Three adds parallel and hill parking, multiple turn lane intersections, U-turns and quick stops.
Source: Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual (March 2025 printing), page 117 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 117)
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Which practice does the manual suggest for Phase Four?
- Practicing in a large deserted parking lot only
- Skipping night driving until after licensing
- Driving only in good weather
- Driving on high-speed multi-lane highways or interstates
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Correct answer: Driving on high-speed multi-lane highways or interstates
Phase Four has the driver practice in challenging conditions such as highways, weather, night driving and heavy city traffic.
Source: Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual (March 2025 printing), page 117 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 117)
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What does the manual say about giving directions to a new driver?
- Give directions well in advance and use the same terms each time
- Give directions at the last moment so the learner stays alert
- Use different terms so the learner learns more words
- Give no directions during practice
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Correct answer: Give directions well in advance and use the same terms each time
Clear, early directions with consistent words (not "accelerator" one time and "gas pedal" the next) help the learner.
Source: Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual (March 2025 printing), page 117 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 117)
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Why does the manual say not to overload a new driver with everything at once?
- Beginners should never practice turns in early sessions
- Turns are not part of the road test
- A simple right turn already involves several steps
- A beginner only needs to practice right turns
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Correct answer: A simple right turn already involves several steps
Even a simple right turn involves several steps, so the manual advises starting in calmer traffic.
Source: Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual (March 2025 printing), page 117 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 117)
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How should you respond when a new driver makes a mistake during a practice session?
- With loud corrections after each error
- Calmly, without yelling and fussing over every mistake
- By taking over the controls every time
- By ignoring all mistakes until the session ends
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Correct answer: Calmly, without yelling and fussing over every mistake
The manual says yelling and fussing erodes the learner's confidence and makes performance difficult.
Source: Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual (March 2025 printing), page 117 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 117)
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Why does the manual tell you to be sparing in your comments during practice?
- The learner cannot hear you while driving
- Comments are against the law while a vehicle moves
- The examiner will later grade your comments
- Everything you say is also a distraction for the driver
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Correct answer: Everything you say is also a distraction for the driver
Remember that your talking distracts the driver, so keep your comments few.
Source: Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual (March 2025 printing), page 117 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 117)
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After a major mistake during practice, when should you stop to discuss it?
- As soon as you can, while the mistake is fresh
- Only at the end of the week, after several sessions
- Only after the learner has driven all the way home
- Never; the learner should work it out alone
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Correct answer: As soon as you can, while the mistake is fresh
Stopping soon lets you talk about what happened and what the safest response should be.
Source: Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual (March 2025 printing), page 117 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 117)
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The manual says safety researchers have found that more supervised miles before driving alone leads to what?
- More traffic tickets
- Shorter road tests
- Fewer accidents
- Higher insurance costs
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Correct answer: Fewer accidents
Researchers found that the more supervised miles new drivers have before driving alone, the fewer accidents they have.
Source: Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual (March 2025 printing), page 117 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 117)
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What does the manual say about a driving "contract" between parents and a new driver?
- It must be written and signed before the road test
- It must be filed with the Department of Safety
- It is up to you whether it is written or just discussed
- It is required before an Intermediate license is issued
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Correct answer: It is up to you whether it is written or just discussed
The manual suggests a contract as an option and leaves it to the family to write it down or just discuss it.
Source: Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual (March 2025 printing), page 117 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 117)
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According to the manual, what is the novice driver's biggest enemy?
- Being too cautious when driving at night
- The complacency that comes from early success
- Driving on roads with little traffic
- Too much supervised practice
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Correct answer: The complacency that comes from early success
Early success can make a new driver complacent, so mentors should help them keep building skills after licensing.
Source: Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual (March 2025 printing), page 117 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 117)
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Who is responsible for educating and teaching a child to drive, since the license examiner only evaluates competence?
- The license examiner who tested the driver
- The Driver Service Center that gave the test
- The school the child attends
- The parents or concerned mentor
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Correct answer: The parents or concerned mentor
The examiner can evaluate competence, but teaching a young driver is the job of the parents or mentor, who should keep monitoring after licensing.
Source: Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual (March 2025 printing), page 118 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 118)