TX DMV written test - passed first try at 96%, here's what I actually studied
Just got back from the DMV and passed the Texas written test with a 96% on my first attempt. I know a lot of people stress about this more than necessary so I wanted to share what actually worked. I spent about 4 days studying, maybe 2 hours total, using the official Texas Driver Handbook alongside a Texas DMV practice test site that had questions organized by topic section.
The practice tests were honestly the most useful part. Reading the handbook gives you the rules but the questions test whether you can apply them in specific situations, which is different. I went through about 120 practice questions and missed probably 15 the first time. By the second pass I was getting 94-95% consistently, which matched pretty well with my actual exam score.
Topics that showed up more than I expected: right-of-way at four-way stops, speed limits in school zones and construction zones, and what to do when an emergency vehicle approaches from behind. Road sign recognition was lighter than I anticipated - maybe 4-5 questions total.
The construction zone section is worth extra time. Fines are doubled, speed limits drop, and there are specific rules about passing that catch people off guard. Two questions on mine came directly from that section.
I failed my first attempt because I guessed on the school zone speed rules and got two of them wrong. It's 20 mph when children are present or when the flasher is active, not just during school hours. That distinction matters on the exam.
The four-way stop scenarios are definitely tested more than people expect. The tie-breaker rules - right side has right of way, then the person turning yields to the person going straight - show up in multiple question variations. Know those cold.
Good point about the practice tests. Reading the handbook felt like enough but I only scored 82% on my first practice run because application questions are harder than recognition. Two days of drilling questions brought me to consistent 90s.