If English is not your first language, taking the G1 knowledge test can feel like two tests in one: a test of Ontario's road rules, and a reading comprehension test on top of it. The good news is that you may not have to take it in English at all.
According to DriveTest's official knowledge test page, Class G1 knowledge tests are offered in 32 languages — both the computerized version and the paper version. Here is the complete official list, plus how the audio option and interpreter accommodations work.
The full list of 32 G1 test languages
DriveTest states that computerized Class G1 knowledge tests for cars, vans, and small trucks are offered in the following languages:
- Amharic
- Arabic
- Armenian
- Badini
- Bengali
- Chinese (Cantonese)
- Cree
- Croatian
- English
- Farsi
- Finnish
- French
- German
- Greek
- Hindi
- Italian
- Korean
- Kurmanji
- Ojibway
- Oji-Cree
- Polish
- Portuguese
- Punjabi
- Russian
- Somali
- Spanish
- Tamil
- Thai
- Tigrinya
- Turkish
- Ukrainian
- Urdu
Paper versions of the G1 knowledge test are offered in the same languages. The list includes three Indigenous languages — Cree, Ojibway, and Oji-Cree — alongside many of the most common first languages of newcomers to Ontario.
How to take the test in your language
You do not need to do anything special in advance. Knowledge tests are available at every DriveTest Centre without an appointment — DriveTest recommends arriving at least one hour before the office closes. When you register at the counter, tell the agent which language you want to take the test in.
A few other official details worth knowing:
- The test is not timed. DriveTest states you can take all the time you need until the office closes.
- You need a total score of at least 80% to pass.
- The test is marked on the spot, so you get your results immediately.
- Test results are valid for one year. If you fail and retry within that year, you only redo the sections that did not meet MTO standards.
The audio option: every kiosk has it
If reading on a screen is the hard part, DriveTest's computerized test kiosks can help. Per the official page:
"All computerized knowledge test kiosks are equipped with an audio function, with options to skip or repeat questions as needed."
No appointment is required for the audio version — just tell the agent before entering the test room (or as soon as it becomes apparent you need one) that you need an audio test, and disposable headphones will be provided. You can also bring your own headphones, as long as they are wired (non-Bluetooth) with a 3.5mm headphone jack.
Interpreters and other accommodations
If your language is not on the list of 32, or you need additional support, DriveTest offers accommodations — but unlike the standard test, these require an appointment:
- A verbal knowledge test, for those who cannot take an audio test or have an approved accommodation.
- An interpreter, either foreign-language or sign-language. Interpreters must meet DriveTest's criteria and must not interfere with the testing.
If you are deaf, deafened, or hard of hearing, you can use a sign-language interpreter for your knowledge test. It is your responsibility to arrange the interpreter, but DriveTest states it will reimburse the reasonable and necessary costs of a sign-language interpreter appointment.
One catch: the study materials are mostly in English
Here is the practical wrinkle. The knowledge test is based on the Official MTO Driver's Handbook, and the handbook — along with most practice materials — is published in English and French. So even if you plan to take the test in Korean, Punjabi, or Arabic, most of your preparation will likely happen in English.
That is not necessarily a bad thing. Most road signs you will drive with every day use English text, and studying the rules in English builds vocabulary you will keep using after the test. Many test-takers study in English and then choose whichever test language feels safest on the day.
Whichever language you choose for the real test, the content is the same: road signs, traffic laws, right-of-way rules, and safe driving practices from the official handbook. Our Ontario G1 practice app covers all of it with 300+ exam-style questions, structured lessons that follow the MTO handbook, timed mock exams, and road sign flashcards — so by test day, you know the material itself cold, in whatever language it appears.
The app is currently in English, but we are planning to add study materials in more languages over time, starting with the ones people ask for most. If you would like to study in your language, let us know through the app's feedback option — requests directly shape which languages we add first.