Are There Any New Changes to Subject 3?

[StAlexandra]

There are no new changes in the addition of items for Subject 3. However, due to pandemic regulations in 2021, there are two new changes. To strictly control the number of examinees, both Subject 2 and Subject 3 will follow a one-person-one-car model this year. After each examinee finishes, the test vehicle must return to the examination site for disinfection and other measures. Fee regulations: Public traffic management departments nationwide must strictly adhere to the examination fee items and standards approved by financial and pricing authorities. They are prohibited from collecting any additional fees and must not act as gatekeepers for other departments or units to collect training or service fees. No individual or unit may force examinees to undergo training inside the examination site and charge training or service fees. Driver's license Subject 3 requires 24 study hours. The study hours for the driver's license from Subject 1 to Subject 4 are as follows: Subject 1 is 12 hours; Subject 2 is 16 hours; Subject 3 is 24 hours; Subject 4 is 10 hours. Each study hour is defined as 1 hour, with teaching time not less than 45 minutes. Subject 3 alone requires 24 study hours, and the total for Subjects 1 to 3 is 62 study hours. The examination content includes: vehicle preparation; straight-line driving; passing intersections; meeting vehicles; pulling over; nighttime driving; starting off; changing lanes; crossing pedestrian crossings, school zones, and bus stops; overtaking; making U-turns, etc. Below is an introduction to the precautions for the Subject 3 examination: Excessively long route for pulling over: After completing the subject, when the examiner gives the "pull over" command, unless it's at an intersection or solid line, the examinee should stop decisively. Upon hearing the command, assess the road conditions. If there are no solid lines or if it's too close to an intersection, quickly turn on the right signal, check the rearview mirror, brake to reduce speed, and merge. Place the right foot where it should be: When not pressing the accelerator, the foot must be on the brake. Vehicle body too far to the right during driving: If the vehicle body is too far to the right, completing the subject (e.g., driving over uneven roads and performing a 100-meter acceleration/deceleration gear shift) may not be a major issue. However, during the examination, the vehicle body must remain steady and not noticeably lean to the right.

[DelSophie]

I've noticed some recent changes indeed. The main updates involve more detailed requirements for overtaking maneuvers. Previously, just signaling before changing lanes might have been enough to pass, but now failing to complete the entire action within 150 meters will result in immediate point deduction. Additionally, the precision requirement for pulling over has increased - wheels must now be within 30cm of the roadside curb, which is significantly stricter than before. During straight-line driving, the steering wheel swing must not exceed 5 degrees, and this is monitored with particular accuracy by electronic examiners. I recommend paying extra attention to these details during training. Many driving schools have updated their instructional videos, and it's advisable to have your instructor take you through the actual test route several times before the exam. Also, note that the proportion of night tests has increased, so remember to practice your lighting operations.

[MacJulia]

The adjustments in Subject 3 mainly focus on three major aspects: First, the overtaking maneuver now requires the system to automatically detect whether you turn on the indicator light 200 meters in advance, and you must complete the return to the original lane within the specified distance. Second, the judgment of the parking position by the roadside has been changed from manual assessment to electronic measurement, and the 30 cm margin of error is actually quite challenging to manage. Third, the standards for stopping midway have been relaxed. For example, stalling at a red light no longer results in an immediate failure but instead incurs a 10-point deduction. During my practice, I noticed many new ground markers have been added, such as the diamond-shaped sign before bus stops where a light brake is mandatory. For those preparing for the test, it is advisable to focus on practicing U-turns on narrow roads, as the pass rate has significantly decreased.

[Edith]

Just finished the exam, let me share: The overtaking segment has the biggest changes. You must signal within 5 seconds after the system announcement, and the head-turning action to check the rearview mirror must be very obvious. Parking by the roadside and touching the virtual edge line will directly deduct 100 points—it's much harder than before. During straight-line driving, you must shift to 4th gear, and the examiner will focus on the smoothness of gear shifting. One tricky part is that failing to slow down to 30 km/h when passing a school zone will result in an automatic fail, and there’s no sign—you have to judge it yourself. Our test center also added a simulated tunnel section, where you must turn on the headlights before entering.

[DeclanLee]

Please note these new requirements: Although the national standard is unified, local implementations vary. For example, Shanghai has increased the speed of the simulated highway project to 60 km/h, while Guangzhou has added the use of lights in rainy and foggy weather. The most crucial parallel parking now uses electronic fences for distance measurement, with human examiners only checking safety maneuvers. It is recommended to check the official account of the local vehicle management office, as they update the exam route changes monthly. Last week, while training students, I noticed the test site had added speed bumps and yield signs, with failure to yield to pedestrians resulting in immediate disqualification. During training, use your phone to record videos frequently to check if the steering wheel wobbles too much.