How To Pass Your G Test in Ontario: The Ultimate Guide

Getting your driver’s licence to make you a legal driver in Canada is an exciting time for anyone. Each province has its own process for becoming a licensed driver. Ontario has a series of G driver’s licences that help new drivers gradually learn to drive. This culminates with the G driver’s licence, which makes you a fully licensed driver in Ontario.

Many new drivers wonder how to pass their G Test in Ontario. This all begins with passing your G1 and G2 tests, then you’re eligible to take the G road test. Below we outline how to pass each test and offer tips on successfully completing the G road test in Ontario.

What Is the G Test?

The G test is the final road exam to earn your G driver’s licence. Obtaining the G driver’s licence means you are a fully licensed Ontario driver of cars, vans, small trucks, and SUVs, and it’s a step up from the G1 and G2 driver’s licences. You must acquire and complete G1 and G2 driver’s licences and all their required learning before applying to take the G test and receive your G driver’s licence.

How Does the G Licensing Process Work in Ontario?

The G driver’s licence process has three steps in total - G1, G2, and G. You must make it through the G1 and G2 tests and requirements before being eligible for the G test. Here’s how the G1 and G2 tests work.

G1 Licence

The G1 licence test is a knowledge and vision test — this written test has no driving involved — that any Ontarian is eligible to take once they reach the age of 16. To pass this test, you’ll study Ontario’s Official Driver Handbook, available online through ServiceOntario or in person at any DriveTest centre or select retail stores for $14.95.

The G1 knowledge test has 40 multiple-choice questions covering two sections, rules of the road and road signs. To pass the exam, you must correctly answer 16 of the 20 questions in each section. There is a $158.25 test fee, pass or fail. This fee also covers the G2 driving exam that comes later. If you fail the test, you can pay an additional $15.75 to retake it.

If you pass the G1 test and receive the G1 licence, you’re eligible to drive with G licensed person with at least four years of driving experience. You must hold the G1 licence for at least one year — or eight months if you’re in a driving school — before you’re eligible for the G2 test.

G1 Licence Rules and Restrictions

The G1 licence is the most restrictive licence. On top of requiring a fully licensed driver, the other rules and restrictions are as follows:

• You must maintain a 0% blood-alcohol level
• Every passenger in the vehicle must wear a seatbelt
• You cannot drive between midnight and 5:00 a.m.
• You cannot drive on a 400-series highway or high-speed expressway, such as:

• 401
• Queen Elizabeth Way
• Gardiner Expressway

• The licensed driver supervising you must

• Have at least four years of driving experience
• Have a blood-alcohol level of 0.05% or less or 0% if they are under 21 years old

G2 Licence

A G2 licence allows the driver to drive without an accompanying G-licensed driver, but this is still a novice driver’s licence and has restrictions that we’ll cover later.

Acquiring a G2 driver’s licence requires you to complete eight months or one year with the G1 licence and adhere to all its restrictions. Then, you can take this road test to receive your G2 licence.

The G2 road test includes relatively basic driving skills, including:

• Making left and right turns
• Stopping
• Parallel parking
• Driving on one-way streets
• Making lane changes
• Making three-point turns
• Driving in residential neighbourhoods
• Following traffic lights, stop and yield signs

If the driving instructor feels you successfully demonstrated the ability to drive in this test, you will pass and receive your G2 licence, which allows you to drive unaccompanied on all Ontario roads and at any time of the day or night with certain restrictions.

G2 Licence Rules and Restrictions

The G2 licence is less restrictive than the G1 licence, and requires all licence holders to maintain a 0% blood-alcohol level and carry only as many passengers as the vehicle has seat belts.

If you’re under 19 years old, between midnight and 5:000 a.m., you can only drive with one passenger under 19 years old in the vehicle for the first six months you’re licensed. After six months, the limit increases to three under-19 passengers. The limitation does not apply if you have a fully licensed passenger in the vehicle with four or more years of driving experience or if the passengers are immediate family members.

How Do You Pass the G Test in Ontario?

After you’ve had your G2 licence for 12 months, you’re eligible to take the full G licence test — you can book a road test appointment online. Passing this test would make you a fully licensed driver in Ontario with no additional restrictions. As expected, this test includes more advanced driving skills, but the Ministry of Transportation (MTO) doesn’t require you to repeat some skills displayed in the G2 test until further notice, such as:

• Parallel parking
• Roadside stops
• Three-point turn
• Driving in residential neighbourhoods

So, what is included in the G test in Ontario? Here’s what you’ll be expected to perform successfully:

• Left and Right Turns
• Stopping at an Intersection
• Driving Through an Intersection
• Freeway Driving
• Lane Changes
• Navigating Curves
• Driving in a Business Area

In addition to these tests, you must also sign a “Declaration of Highway Driving Experience.” This form indicates how many times in the preceding three months you drove on a freeway or highway with at least an 80 km/h speed limit and the average trip length in kilometres.

How to Pass Each Section of the G Test in Ontario

Knowing what’s on the G test in Ontario is one thing, but understanding what the test administrator expects from you is critical for passing the test. Here’s what you’ll need to successfully do to pass each section of the test and earn your Ontario G licence.

Making Left and Right Turns

As you approach an intersection, the instructor will tell you to make a left or right turn — this is the start of this test. The test ends right before the intersection. To successfully complete this section, the instructor is looking for you to perform these actions in order:

• Check your surroundings by looking in the rearview and side mirrors. If you’re changing lanes, check your blind spot by looking over your shoulder.
• Move into the far left or right lane once it’s clear of other traffic.
• Turn on your turn signal unless vehicles are on side roads between you and the intersection you’re turning into. Only activate the signal after passing these vehicles to prevent them from thinking you’re turning onto the street they are on.
• Reduce your speed as you approach the turn. If you’re driving a manual transmission, you may want to downshift but don’t coast with your foot on the clutch pedal.
• Maintain a two to three-second distance between you and any vehicle ahead of you.
• If you must stop to make the turn, come to a complete stop behind the stop line or crosswalk with enough space to pull out and pass any vehicle in front of you without backing up. Don’t allow the vehicle to roll forwards or backwards. Keep your wheels facing straight while stopped. Once the conditions are clear, move forward, verify the way is clear, and begin the turn.
• While you're about to start the turn, you must check for traffic all around you by looking left, right and ahead. If there is doubt of the right-of-way, make eye contact with the other drivers or pedestrians before proceeding. If another vehicle can overtake you while turning, check your blind spot before proceeding. Once clear, initiate the turn within four to five seconds.
• While turning, use both hands to turn the wheel throughout the turn and do not shift gears in a manual transmission during the turn. Maintain a steady speed throughout the turn and increase your speed steadily as you complete the turn.
• Complete the turn without crossing into other lanes and ending in the lane that corresponds to the lane you began the turn in. Return to normal traffic speed if possible or move to another lane.

Stopping at an Intersection

The stopping at an intersection segment of the class G road test in Ontario involves approaching an intersection that requires you to come to a complete stop. By following these actions, you can ensure you pass this part of the test.

• Before slowing down for the intersection, check all around for traffic. Use your mirrors to check the traffic behind you.
• Reduce your speed steadily as you approach the intersection — you may downshift if your vehicle has a manual transmission but don’t coast with the clutch depressed. While slowing, ensure you maintain at least a two to three-second distance behind the vehicle in front of you.
• Once you come to a complete stop behind the stop line or crosswalk, don’t allow the vehicle to roll forwards or backwards. When the traffic conditions permit, move forward and check that crossing the intersection is clear.
• While stopped behind another vehicle at the intersection, always leave enough room for you to pull out and pass the vehicle if needed without having to back up.
• Always check traffic while stopped at a red light and awaiting the green light. Once it’s clear for you to proceed, look left, ahead, and right to ensure it is clear. If there are doubts about the right of way, attempt to make eye contact with the other drivers or pedestrians.
• When safe, proceed through the intersection with both hands on the steering wheel within four to five seconds of it becoming clear. Don’t shift gears until you are almost entirely through the intersection if the vehicle has a manual transmission. If the intersection is more than four lanes wide, you can shift gears freely as you drive through it.
• As you approach normal traffic speeds, check your mirrors to be aware of current traffic conditions.

Driving Through an Intersection

This section of the G road test involves driving through an intersection that doesn’t require stopping the vehicle. To pass this section, ensure you follow these tips:

• When approaching the intersection, look left and right for crossing traffic. If you must slow the vehicle down when approaching the intersection, check your mirrors for traffic behind you.
• Drive through the intersection while maintaining the same speed unless there’s a chance traffic may cross your path. Hold your foot over the brake pedal or slow down if you detect possible crossing traffic. Also, watch for pedestrians and vehicles lurching toward the intersection.
• If you’re following another vehicle through the intersection, always keep a two to three-second distance behind the leading vehicle.
• Remain in your lane while crossing the intersection with both hands on the wheel. If your lane is blocked by a vehicle turning or edging into traffic, slow down or stop instead of overtaking.
• Don’t shift gears until you are almost entirely through the intersection if the vehicle has a manual transmission. If the intersection is more than four lanes wide, you can shift gears freely as you drive through it.
• If you had to slow down in the intersection, check your mirrors for traffic before accelerating again.

Driving on a Freeway

This section of the G licence test in Ontario verifies your ability to enter, drive on, and exit a freeway. To pass this section, follow these tips:

• When driving on the entrance ramp, once you can see the freeway traffic approaching from behind, check your mirrors and blind spot for room to merge in with the flowing traffic. Also, remain aware of any traffic ahead of you on the ramp and maintain a safe two- to three-second following distance.
• Engage your turn signal once the freeway traffic can see your vehicle on the ramp. Merge into traffic when there is an opening, ensuring you don’t merge in next to another vehicle or into another vehicle’s blind spot.
• Turn off your turn signal after you’ve completed the merge.
• Continue driving along the freeway, checking traffic through your mirrors every 10 seconds. Observe and adhere to the posted speed limit, but avoid driving unreasonably slow. Maintain a steady speed and look about 12 to 15 seconds ahead in your path for potential dangers.
• Maintain a safe two- to three-second following distance from the vehicle ahead of you. If a vehicle follows you too closely, adjust your speed (if you’re driving under the speed limit) to increase your leading room or change lanes. Don’t remain behind large vehicles, as they can obstruct your view.
• When exiting the freeway, look left and right and check your mirrors for traffic before entering the exit lane. Also, check your blind spot if there is an acceleration lane or a paved shoulder.
• Activate your turn signal toward the exit lane to alert traffic of your intentions. Enter the exit lane at or near the beginning of the lane smoothly. Stay within the lane lines. Do not cross solid lines if there are multiple exit lanes.
• Once you're completely in the exit lane, slow gradually without forcing traffic to pile behind your vehicle. Keep your speed slow enough to avoid jostling passengers and items in the vehicle while going through any curves on the exit ramp. Maintain a safe two- to three-second following distance.
• Cancel your turn signal.

Lane Changes

This section of the G test in Ontario checks your ability to change lanes safely. To pass this section, follow these tips.

• Look all around, splitting your attention between the traffic ahead, your mirrors, and your blind spot. If there is another lane next to the one you will change into, check that lane for traffic too.
• Activate your turn signal when it’s safe to change lanes and check your blind spot while maintaining a two- to three-second gap between you and the vehicle ahead of you.
• Adjust your speed to match the travelling speed of the traffic in your new lane, then change lanes smoothly and gradually while keeping both hands on the wheel. Cancel your turn signal.

Driving on a Curve

This section of the test verifies your ability to maintain control through a curve in the road. To pass this section of the G road test, follow these tips.

• While approaching the curve, determine a safe travelling speed through it. You can find clues like traffic signs indicating a lower speed for the curve or by looking at the shape of the curve. Slow down to this safe speed within 30 metres of entering the turn. In a blind curve, drive even slower to ensure you have time to react.
• Keep your speed steady throughout the curve to not jolt people and objects in the car. Near the curve’s ending, accelerate smoothly toward the normal traffic speed. If the vehicle has a manual transmission, don’t shift gear while in the turn.
• While in the curve, allow your eyes to follow the curve ahead. This will help you maintain a smooth driving line within the lines of the road.

Driving in a Business Area

This section of the G test in Ontario verifies your ability to drive in a business area. Follow these tips to help you pass this part of the test:

• A business area has many places other than intersections where vehicles or pedestrians will likely enter the road. These areas include business entrances, institutions, construction sites, and railway entrances. Always look left and right at all these locations to check for other vehicles and pedestrians.
• When driving through a business area, check your mirrors every five to 10 seconds and even more often when in heavy traffic or in areas where vehicles are moving at differing speeds.
• Remain in the safest lane while driving through the area — typically the curb or centre lanes. Keep in the centre of the lane markings, always look 10 to 12 seconds ahead, and remain within the posted speed limit.
• Maintain a safe two to three-second following distance and try to keep an open space on both sides of you on a multi-lane road. Avoid driving in other vehicles’ blind spots and behind large vehicles obstructing your view.

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