Class 7 Exam Preparation

Using the Class 5 classroom as preparation for the Class 7 Exam

Have you tried to pass the Class 7 learner’s multiple choice exam and just don’t seem to be able to get it?

The 30 item multiple choice exam given to candidates who are going for their Alberta Class 7 Learner’s Licence is administered in any government registry office, either by computer or by paper and pencil. The Class 7 learner’s exam is written only, and does not involve any driving.

All questions on the exam are taken from the Basic Licence Driver’s Handbook, which is available free from Freedom to Drive or from any registry office.

Many people find that by carefully studying the Handbook they are able to pass the Class 7 multiple choice exam. However some people prefer to learn the material in a group setting.

If you prefer a class setting you can take the Class 5 classroom instruction as basic preparation for your Class 7 learner’s. However you still must pass the learner’s exam before you can start your in-car lessons, or before you can take the Class 5 written exam.

NOTE: If you take longer than 2 years to complete your Class 5, provincial regulations state that you will have to take the classroom over again in order to qualify for the insurance reduction certificate.

Class 5 Road Exam

After you have completed your simulator, classroom, in–car lessons and practicing, your instructor will probably recommend that you sign up to take your road exam.

Recent changes in provincial regulations now prevent driving schools from facilitating Class 5 road exams at their premises. All road exams must now be booked and paid for in person through a registry agent by the person taking the exam.

Freedom to Drive has a vehicle parked at All Licenses Registry, located in the Ermineskin Strip mall, 3012 – 106 Street (780-463-4006).  This vehicle is reserved for Class 5 for road exams every Thursday and some Saturdays.  The cost of rental for a GDL Class 5 exam is $50.00 plus GST. Payment and reservation of for the vehicle must be made ahead of time through the Freedom to Drive office, and not through the registry.

**Some Freedom to Drive packages include the cost of road test vehicle rental, however clients are responsible for making sure that the road test vehicle is available and booked for their road test.

Because registries DO NOT provide a refund once an exam has been booked, you are responsible for making sure that an appropriate vehicle is available on the registry premises.  This is the STUDENT’S RESPONSIBILITY.  Freedom to Drive will guarantee availability of the rental vehicle only after rental payment and/or booking confirmation has been made.

Alternatively the registry may allow a student may take an exam in his or her own vehicle.

Remember – it is cheaper to take additional lessons than it is to take and fail a road exam!!

Graduated Driver's Licence

Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation awards new driver’s licences through the GDL (Graduated Driver's Licence) Program, which awards licences in incremental stages as the driver gains more skill and experience.

Class 7 Learner’s Licence and Probationary Class 5 Licence

Before we can start your driving lessons, you must go to any Registry and obtain a Class 7 Learner’s Licence. To do this you must pass a multiple choice test based on information found in the Basic Licence Driver’s Handbook, which is available by downloading from the government web site, saferoads.com. If you need help in passing this test, click on Class 7 Preparation under Driving Instruction Packages.

Once you have your class 7, you must wait 1 full year before you are eligible to take the provincial road test for a Probationary Class 5 Licence.  During this year the class 7 learner must get lots of practice in a car with a driving coach in the passenger seat beside them. New drivers need about 50-60 hours of driving experience before being awarded a Class 5 Licence.  During this time the learner should take Freedom to Drive’s Simulator, Classroom and In-car instruction to prepare for the Class 5 road test. The probationary class 5 includes some restrictions such as a zero alcohol tolerance, a maximum of 7 demerits instead of 14, and restrictions on acting as a driving coach for other class 7 drivers.

When are you ready to take the Probationary Class 5 Road Exam?

We will not recommend that you take the road exam until your instructor feels that you have a good chance of passing. There is never any absolute guarantee that you will pass your road test, as some good drivers freeze up in an exam situation. You and your instructor will jointly decide if you need to purchase more lessons to build up your confidence.

Passing the road exam is not a pre-requisite for earning your insurance reduction certificate. But you must be driving at a 75% level or better and you must have completed a minimum of 10 hours of in-car lessons with an instructor. Additional in-car lessons are cheaper than taking and failing a road test.

Once you pass the road exam – CONGRATULATIONS!  You are now the proud owner of a probationary Alberta Class 5 Driver’s Licence!

Non-Probationary or Full Class 5 Licence

After you pass the driving test for your probationary Class 5 Licence, you must complete 2 more years of suspension free driving before you are finally eligible to take the advanced road test and proceed to a non-probationary or full Class 5 Licence.  With a full Class 5 you may have a blood alcohol level of .08, your licence is not suspended until you loose 15 demerits, and you may now act as a driving coach for class 7 drivers.

Age Restrictions for GDL

A young person may earn a class 7 learner’s GDL at age 14, but cannot take the exam for a probationary class 5 licence until his or her 16th birthday, and subsequently cannot take the advanced road test for a non-probationary class 5 until his or her 18th birthday.

Exemptions from GDL

If you previously held a class 5 license and lost it for some reason, you may not be required to go through the GDL process, and you may be able to proceed directly to a fully licensed class 5 from a class 7. Some individuals who previously drove in a different country may also not have to wait the year with a class 7 before they can proceed to a full class 5. See your registry office for details.