Part
01
of one
Part
01
Please research the most recent pass/fail rates for the DMV written test for each US state.
Hello there! Thank you for your question on the most recent pass or fail rates for the written DMV test in each US state. The short answer is that I have compiled a list of 30 states with quantitative information for the failure rate in 2007 and in 2016. In terms of the United States as a whole, I have found that the overall pass rate is 49% in English written exams. Below you will find a deep dive of my findings.
METHODOLOGY
I conducted a comprehensive search of academic databases, government reports and databases, corporate websites, and industry reports. Next, I widened my search to include trusted media sites in an effort to the most usable data that is publicly available. A federal report by the Department of Transportation was found to be the most helpful resource, but not the most current. DMVCheatSheets contains more recent information for every state but provides no verification as to how those figures were obtained.
LIMITATIONS
After 3 hours of exhaustive searching through a wide variety of databases, I was unable to find the information requested. I have found that the information simply is not publicly available in academic databases, government reports and databases, corporate websites, and industry reports. It is most likely that this particular information is protected by the governance of each respective state under non-disclosure agreements. However, despite this limitation, I have obtained some usable but less recent information that is available to the public. Full coverage of all states was not possible.
FINDINGS
As an overview, I have found this insight on the general pass rate in the United States in 2015: "Overall pass rate (for non-immigrant licenses) is about 49% in English and 28% in Spanish. The pass rates for those seeking this special licenses was about 54% of those who took the test in English and 36% for those who took it in Spanish."
Another generalized but notable quotation is: "In the fiscal year 2013, the MVC [Motor Vehicle Commission] gave 250,417 tests to would-be drivers, which increased to 260,643 the next fiscal year. About 30 percent fail the test, MVC spokeswoman Sandy Grossman said."
Here I have compiled a list of the most recent quantitative information publicly available. The sources from which they derive are linked directly on each statistic, as per your request.
ALABAMA
ALASKA
ARIZONA
ARKANSAS
CALIFORNIA
COLORADO
CONNECTICUT
FLORIDA
IDAHO
• From 2004-2007 there was no reported knowledge test failure rate, the in-vehicle test failure rate is shown at 4.0%.
ILLINOIS
IOWA
• From 2002-2006 there was no reported knowledge test failure rate, for reference the in-vehicle test failure rate is shown at 22.2%.
KENTUCKY
MAINE
MARYLAND
MASSACHUSETTS
MINNESOTA
MISSISSIPPI
MISSOURI
NEBRASKA
NEVADA
NEW HAMPSHIRE
NEW MEXICO
NEW YORK
OREGON
PENNSYLVANIA
TENNESSEE
UTAH
• From 2001-2007 there was no reported knowledge test failure rate, for reference the in-vehicle test failure rate is shown at 33.0%.
• The DMV specified that the written segment was an open book test, as such no pass or fail rate can be reported.
VERMONT
WASHINGTON
WISCONSIN
CONCLUSION
To summarize, I have created a list of every publicly available statistic on the failure rates in each state. Some states have more statistical information than others due to restrictions on privacy. I have also provided some general statistics on the pass rate in the United States as a whole, in order to give you a complete picture of the industry.
Thank you for using Wonder! Please let us know if there's anything else we can assist you with.