Virginia Road Signs Cheat Sheet.

The Numbers to Remember

• 40 total questions: 10 road-sign questions in part one, 30 general-knowledge questions in part two.
• Part one is all-or-nothing: all 10 road-sign questions must be correct before you can move on to part two at all.
• Part two passing score: 80% — you need 24 of 30 general-knowledge questions correct.
• No margin on signs, some margin on knowledge: the general-knowledge section allows for a few missed answers and still results in a pass, but the sign section allows for zero.

Sign Shapes at a Glance

• Red octagon = stop, no exceptions.
• Red-and-white triangle = yield.
• Yellow diamond = general warning.
• Orange diamond = construction/work zone warning.
• Pentagon = school zone or crossing.
• Circle = railroad crossing.
• White rectangle, black text = regulatory rule (e.g., speed limit).
• Green = guide sign (direction/distance/exit).
• Blue = motorist services (gas, food, lodging).

Right-of-Way in One Breath

• First to arrive at a four-way stop goes first; if tied, yield to the driver on your right.
• At unmarked intersections, yield to whoever is already in the intersection or arriving from the right.
• Left turns yield to oncoming traffic and to pedestrians.
• Entering a roundabout, yield to traffic already circulating.
• Pull right and stop for any emergency vehicle running lights/sirens.
• Pedestrians already crossing generally have the right-of-way.

Speed and Conditions

• Posted limits are maximums under ideal conditions, not a target — slow down for rain, fog, ice, or darkness.
• A 3-second following gap is a normal-conditions minimum; increase it in bad weather or behind large vehicles.
• Reducing speed on wet pavement helps prevent hydroplaning.

Top Traps

• Missing just one of the 10 sign questions stops your attempt cold — you never even see part two.
• Any level of alcohol or drug impairment counts, well before a driver feels obviously 'drunk.'
• Texting and handheld phone use are treated as distraction, not a minor habit.
• Fatigue slows reaction time similarly to impairment — don't underrate drowsy driving.
• When in doubt on a scenario question, pick the most cautious, most conservative answer — slow down, yield, or pull over.
• Practice tests exist to expose exactly these gaps before they cost you a real attempt.
• Seat belts are required and dramatically reduce injury severity — questions on this topic reward the obvious, safe answer.
• Extra caution around motorcyclists, cyclists, and pedestrians is expected on any shared-road scenario question.

Night-Before Checklist

• Run through all standard sign shapes and colors one more time until each is instant, not a guess.
• Re-read the right-of-way rules above — four-way stops, unmarked intersections, and roundabouts are the most commonly missed scenarios.
• Remind yourself: on part one, every single sign question counts equally toward the 10-of-10 requirement.
• Get normal sleep — fatigue affects reaction time and judgment just like the concepts tested on the exam itself.