Traffic Sign Test: What It Is, What Is Asked and Free Online Practice
A traffic sign test is a short exam that checks whether you can recognise road signs and know what each one tells a driver to do. In Pakistan it is part of getting a driving licence: you are shown pictures of signs (such as Stop, No U-Turn or Pedestrian Crossing) and choose the correct meaning. The format, number of questions and pass mark are set by your licensing authority, so they are not the same everywhere.
The fastest way to prepare is to practise with real sign pictures until you can name every sign without guessing. You can start the free traffic sign test below right now. No sign-up is needed.
Free Traffic Sign Test Online
Pick the correct meaning for each sign. You see right and wrong answers straight away, so you learn as you go.
Want a longer test? Try the full English sign and theory test (with voice narration), or pick a test for your vehicle: motorcycle, car or LTV / HTV / PSV.
On this page
- What is a traffic sign test?
- Why the traffic sign test matters
- Traffic sign types, shapes and colours
- Signs you are likely to see in the test
- Commonly confused signs
- Test yourself: 5 quick questions
- How to pass the traffic sign test
- Common mistakes learners make
- Traffic sign test in Pakistan: province by province
- Practising online with Signtest.pk
- Frequently asked questions
- Official sources
What Is a Traffic Sign Test?
A traffic sign test (also called a road sign test, sign test or driving sign test) is the part of the driving licence process that checks your knowledge of road signs. Each question normally shows one sign and asks what it means or what you should do when you see it.
In many places the sign test is one section of a wider theory test that also asks about traffic rules. For example, the official self-assessment test from the National Highways & Motorway Police (NHMP) licensing authority has a road-signs section and a separate traffic-rules section. In Punjab the computer-based test is commonly called the e-sign test. The name changes, but the skill being tested is the same: can you read the road correctly?
Why Is the Traffic Sign Test Important?
Road signs are how the road "talks" to you. A driver who misreads them can enter a one-way road, miss a school zone or overtake where it is not allowed. The test makes sure every new driver can:
- Follow orders such as Stop, No Entry and speed limits.
- Spot hazards early: sharp bends, pedestrian crossings, falling rocks, road works.
- Protect other people, especially pedestrians, children and motorcyclists.
- Find services such as hospitals, parking and fuel stations.
It is also usually the first test you take, so passing it is the step that lets you move on to the practical driving (road) test.
Traffic Sign Types: Shapes and Colours
Most traffic signs used in Pakistan fall into three groups. Learning the shape and colour first helps you guess the type of a sign even before you read its symbol.
| Category | What it does | Usual look | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regulatory – prohibitory | Tells you what you must not do | Circle with a red border | No U-Turn, No Parking, No Overtaking, speed limit |
| Regulatory – mandatory (compulsory) | Tells you what you must do | Blue circle with a white symbol | Keep Left, Turn Left, Compulsory Roundabout |
| Warning (cautionary) | Warns of a hazard ahead | Triangle with a red border | Pedestrian Crossing, Roundabout Ahead, Falling Rocks, Slippery Road, Road Works, School Ahead |
| Informational (informative / guide) | Gives directions and services | Rectangle, usually blue or green | Hospital, Parking, Fuel Station, direction boards |
| Special shapes | Signs so important they have their own shape | Red octagon (Stop); upside-down triangle (Give Way) | Stop, Give Way |
Tip: circles give orders, triangles give warnings, rectangles give information. Road markings (lines, arrows and zebra crossings painted on the road) and traffic signals can also appear in a theory test. See the full list in our Pakistan road signs and road markings guide.
What are regulatory traffic signs?
Regulatory signs are legal instructions. Prohibitory signs (red-bordered circles) ban an action, such as parking or making a U-turn. Mandatory signs (blue circles) require an action, such as keeping left or going around a roundabout. Ignoring them is a traffic offence.
What are warning traffic signs?
Warning signs tell you about a danger ahead so you can slow down and get ready. They are usually red-bordered triangles and show things like bends, crossings, narrow roads, animals or road works.
What are informational traffic signs?
Informational signs help you find your way and locate services. They are usually rectangular and show places such as a hospital, parking, a fuel station or a rest area, or give direction and distance.
Traffic Signs You Are Likely to See in the Test
These are common signs used in Pakistan. Learn the meaning and the action you should take.
Regulatory signs
StopCome to a full stop, check, then go when safe. 
Give WaySlow down and let traffic on the main road go first. 
No U-TurnYou must not turn back here. 
No OvertakingDo not pass the vehicle in front. 
Speed Limit 50Do not go faster than 50 km/h. More 
Keep LeftPass on the left side of the island or obstacle.
Warning signs
Pedestrian Crossing AheadSlow down; be ready to stop for people. More 
Roundabout AheadA roundabout is coming; reduce speed. More 
Falling RocksLandslide risk; watch the road and do not stop. 
Hump-Backed BridgeView ahead is limited; slow down.
Informational signs
HospitalHospital nearby; drive quietly and give way to ambulances.
Other signs worth learning include No Entry, Railway Crossing, School Ahead, Road Works, Slippery Road, Parking and Fuel Station. Our road signs guide shows them all with pictures, and you can also read traffic sign meanings in Urdu.
Commonly Confused Traffic Signs
Many wrong answers come from signs that look alike. Compare these pairs carefully.
Roundabout Ahead vs Compulsory Roundabout
No Parking vs No Stopping
Pedestrian Crossing Ahead vs Pedestrians Prohibited
Stop vs Give Way
Stop means your wheels must stop completely, even if the road looks clear. Give Way means you only need to stop if traffic is coming. In the test, the answer "slow down and continue" is correct for Give Way but wrong for Stop.
Test Yourself: 5 Quick Questions
Say the answer out loud first, then tap to check.
1. What does this sign mean?
No U-Turn. You must not turn back on this road.
2. What should you do at this sign?
Give Way. Slow down and let traffic on the main road pass first; stop only if needed.
3. Can you drop off a passenger here?
No. This is No Stopping (Clearway). Stopping for any reason is not allowed.
4. What kind of sign is this and what does it warn?
A warning sign: falling rocks or landslide risk ahead, common on hilly roads.
5. Is this sign a warning or an order?
An order (mandatory sign): Keep Left. Blue circles tell you what you must do.
How to Pass the Traffic Sign Test
- Learn shapes and colours first. Once you know that circles are orders, triangles are warnings and rectangles are information, many questions become easier.
- Learn the meaning and the action. Do not just memorise "Give Way"; know what you must do when you see it.
- Study in small groups. Take one category a day (regulatory, then warning, then informational) instead of 150 signs at once.
- Practise with pictures, not lists. The real test shows images. Use the online test above until you answer quickly.
- Keep a mistakes list. Write down every sign you get wrong and practise those again the next day.
- Practise in the language you will take the test in. Use the English test or the Urdu test.
- Revise traffic rules too. Many theory tests also ask about rules. Our driving test MCQs PDF and downloads page help with offline study.
- Aim for full marks in practice. Pass marks are strict at some authorities, so do not stop at "good enough".
For the full process, read how to pass the driving licence test in Pakistan and more tips to ace your traffic sign test.
Common Mistakes Learners Make in Traffic Sign Tests
- Mixing up look-alike signs, such as No Parking and No Stopping, or Roundabout Ahead and Compulsory Roundabout.
- Ignoring the shape. The same symbol in a triangle and in a circle means different things.
- Reading the answer choices too fast. Options like "slow down" and "stop" are both close; only one is correct.
- Only learning the easy signs. Questions often include less common warnings, such as a hump-backed bridge or falling rocks.
- Practising from text lists only, then freezing when shown a picture.
- Overconfidence. Many learners know the signs from daily driving but have never studied them properly.
- Exam nerves. Timed practice at home makes the real computer test feel familiar.
Traffic Sign Test in Pakistan: How It Works by Province
There is no single national traffic sign test in Pakistan. Driving licences are issued by different authorities (provincial traffic police, the Islamabad Traffic Police and the NHMP licensing authority), and each sets its own test format, number of questions, pass mark and fees. The table below lists only what we could confirm from official pages or recent reports. Always check with your own licensing office before your test.
| Authority | What we could confirm | Where to check |
|---|---|---|
| Punjab (Punjab Traffic Police / DLIMS) | You start with a learner permit, which Punjab Traffic Police says is valid for 6 months. The licence test has a computerised e-sign test followed by a road test. Under directions reported on 17 September 2026, you must take the road test within 24 hours of passing the e-sign test, generate the PSID (payment slip) within 24 hours of passing both tests, and pay the fee within 7 days. Otherwise the result lapses and you must start again. | Punjab Traffic Police: Learner Permit; DLIMS Punjab; PakWheels report (Sept 2026) |
| Sindh (Driving Licence Branch, Sindh Police) | The official process for a computerised licence lists: online registration, front desk, screening and photo, medical examination, fee payment, a computer-based written and oral test, then a road test. The DLS site also publishes a traffic-sign reference page. | DLS Sindh: computerised licence process; DLS Sindh: traffic signs |
| National Highways & Motorway Police (NHMP DLA) | NHMP publishes its theory test questions in English and Urdu. Its official online self-assessment (general category) has 10 road-sign questions and 10 traffic-rule questions and asks for 9 correct answers in each section. | NHMP self-assessment test; NHMP Drivers Licensing Authority |
| Islamabad (Islamabad Traffic Police) | Learner permits can be applied for online through DLIMS Islamabad. Check ITP for the current test format. | DLIMS Islamabad; Islamabad Traffic Police |
| Khyber Pakhtunkhwa | Procedures are published by the traffic police. Confirm the test format with your district licensing office. | Peshawar Traffic Police: licence procedure |
| Balochistan | We could not find an official online description of the test format. Ask your district licensing office. | Local licensing office |
Typical licensing stages
The exact order is different between authorities, but most applicants go through these stages:
- Learner permit: apply with your CNIC; some authorities also ask for a medical certificate. See our medical certificate guide.
- Sign / theory test: a computer-based test of road signs and, often, traffic rules. Read about the written test for a driving licence in Pakistan.
- Practical road test: for cars this often includes manoeuvres such as the L-shape driving test.
- Fee payment and licence issue: estimate your cost with the driving licence fee calculator.
Step-by-step application help: how to apply for a driving licence in Pakistan (DLIMS guide) and driving licence in Pakistan: complete guide. City guides: Lahore, Islamabad, Rawalpindi.
Practising the Traffic Sign Test Online with Signtest.pk
Signtest.pk is a free, independent practice website. It is not an official government test and is not connected to any traffic police or licensing authority. Here is what you can use:
- Free practice, no sign-up: the quiz on this page and the online practice guide.
- English and Urdu: the English sign test with voice and the Urdu sign test.
- Tests by vehicle: motorcycle, car and commercial LTV/HTV/PSV.
- Sign reference: the Pakistan road signs guide with pictures and meanings.
- Works on mobile: practise on your phone while waiting or travelling.
Practice helps, but it cannot guarantee a pass. Official tests may use different questions, images and pass marks. Use practice to learn the signs, not to memorise answers.
Traffic Sign Test FAQs
What is the traffic sign test in Pakistan?
It is the part of the driving licence process where you identify road signs, usually on a computer. Depending on the authority, it may be a separate sign test (such as Punjab's e-sign test) or part of a written/theory test that also covers traffic rules. You normally need to pass it before the practical road test.
How many questions are in the traffic sign test?
There is no single number for all of Pakistan; each licensing authority sets its own. As one official example, the NHMP self-assessment test (general category) has 10 road-sign questions and 10 traffic-rule questions. Check with your licensing office for your test.
What is the passing score for the sign test?
It depends on the authority. NHMP's official self-assessment asks for 9 correct answers out of 10 in each section, which shows how strict some tests can be. Practise until you can score full marks.
Is the traffic sign test available in Urdu?
NHMP publishes its theory questions in both English and Urdu. Ask your local testing centre which languages it offers. You can practise in both languages on Signtest.pk: English and Urdu.
What is the e-sign test in Punjab?
It is the computerised sign test used in the Punjab licensing process. According to directions reported on 17 September 2026, candidates who pass it must take the road test within 24 hours, or the e-sign result lapses.
Is online traffic sign test practice free?
Yes. All practice tests on Signtest.pk are free and you do not need an account. The official test and licence have fees set by your licensing authority.
Is Signtest.pk the official test?
No. Signtest.pk is an independent practice website. Your real test is taken at a licensing centre run by your traffic police or licensing authority.
Which signs are most often confused?
No Parking vs No Stopping, Roundabout Ahead vs Compulsory Roundabout, Stop vs Give Way, and warning triangles vs prohibitory circles showing the same symbol. See the confused signs section.
What happens if I fail the sign test?
Retest rules and waiting periods are set by each authority, so ask at your testing centre. Use the time to practise the signs you got wrong.
Can I practise the traffic sign test on my phone?
Yes. Signtest.pk works in your mobile browser, so you can take the test on any phone.
Official Sources
Licensing rules change. We checked these official sources in September 2026:
- Punjab Traffic Police: Learner Permit
- DLIMS Punjab (Driving Licence Information Management System)
- Driving Licence Sindh: Processes of computerised licence
- NHMP Drivers Licensing Authority and its self-assessment test
- DLIMS Islamabad (Islamabad Police)
- Peshawar Traffic Police: Driving licence procedure
Found something out of date? Contact us and we will check it. Learn more about Signtest.pk.
Ready? Take the Traffic Sign Test
Start with the quiz on this page, then move to a full-length test in your language. When you can answer every sign quickly and correctly, you are ready for the real test.