Can I pass the Subject 4 exam by studying for just one day?
3 Answers
Yes, you can pass. Here is the relevant introduction: Subject 4: Subject 4 is part of the assessment for obtaining a motor vehicle driver's license. After the implementation of "Order No. 139 of the Ministry of Public Security of the People's Republic of China," the Subject 3 examination was divided into two parts: besides the road test, a safety and civilization knowledge test was added, commonly known as "Subject 4," which assesses "driving ethics." Since this test is conducted after Subject 3, it is commonly referred to as the Subject 4 exam, although officially, there is no such term as Subject 4. The content of the Subject 4 exam includes: safe and civilized driving operation requirements, safe driving knowledge under adverse weather and complex road conditions, emergency handling methods for situations like tire blowouts, and knowledge on handling traffic accidents.
Last year when I took the Subject 4 test, I tried studying the question bank for just one day and barely passed, but the whole process was quite nerve-wracking. The content of Subject 4 is actually quite extensive, covering traffic rules, accident handling, safe driving, and other sections, with a huge volume of questions—over a thousand in total. Memorizing all of them is really not easy. That day, I spent the entire day from morning till night practicing questions, even forgetting to eat breakfast. Staring at my phone screen answering questions, I felt like my brain was about to explode. During the test, I stumbled through some scenario-based questions, relying on last-minute memorization to scrape by. I was lucky to pass the threshold, but my score wasn’t high—just over 80. Honestly, this approach is too risky—if I hadn’t had time that day, felt unwell, or if the test questions had been slightly off-topic, I definitely would have failed. I recommend setting aside a few days to review, practicing more mock tests to familiarize yourself with the question logic. This way, you’ll be more composed during the test and gain a safer grasp of driving knowledge, rather than rushing like I did.
The Subject 4 exam covers traffic regulations, emergency situation judgment, and road safety, with a wide range of knowledge points and numerous details. The question bank alone contains over a thousand questions, making one day of review insufficient. I've personally experienced a similar situation—only spending one day cramming questions—and ended up being unfamiliar with complex accident handling during the exam, which led to lost points. The pass rate is typically around 70%, but last-minute preparation may not yield ideal results and could hinder the absorption of safety knowledge. An efficient method is to review in batches, such as first going through key question types like traffic signal rules, then reinforcing memory by practicing several sets of questions with simulation software. If you truly only have one night, prioritize high-frequency questions, but this is not a long-term solution. In the long run, systematic learning is essential to avoid potential safety hazards in future driving.
