Getting your learner permit at 15½ or 16 is a huge milestone — and the California permit test is the gatekeeper. The good news: with the right preparation, most teens pass on their first try. The bad news: about 1 in 3 first-time test-takers fail because they underestimated the exam. This page is built specifically for California teens preparing for the learner permit knowledge test. In California, you can apply for a learner permit starting at age 15½. The exam itself is the same regardless of age — 46 multiple-choice questions, 83% passing score, drawn from the official Driver's Handbook. W