Can Subject 4 be Taken in Advance?
2 Answers
Subject 4 cannot be taken in advance. In principle, you must take the exam at the same location where you registered. The Subject 3 Safety and Civilized Driving Knowledge Test (Subject 4) can only be taken after passing the Subject 3 Road Driving Skills Test. Candidates who fail the exam can directly apply for a retake, and their previously passed road driving skills test scores remain valid. There is no limit on the number of times you can schedule the Subject 1 and Subject 3 Safety and Civilized Driving Knowledge Test (Subject 4). If you fail Subject 4, you do not need to retake the previously passed subjects (Subject 1, Subject 2, Subject 3). You can schedule a retake on your own, and no additional fees are required for the retake. Currently, there is no scheduling limit for the Safety and Civilized Driving Theory Test. However, the driving skills test permit is valid for three years. If an applicant fails to complete the test within the validity period, their previously passed subject scores will become invalid. Notes for the Subject 4 Exam: Sit upright to ensure your face can be captured by the camera; you do not have to answer questions in order, but each question allows only one selection—once an answer is clicked and confirmed, it cannot be changed; if you answer 5 questions incorrectly before completing the exam, the system will automatically terminate the session and notify you of the failure, requiring you to reschedule a retake; after the new driving test regulations, the exam format has changed—multiple-choice questions increased from 5 to 10, so be careful not to miss or over-select options.
I heard many friends are concerned about whether they can take the Subject 4 test in advance. Based on my understanding, generally, it's not possible. China's driver's license test has a strict procedure. Subject 4 is a theoretical test on safe and civilized driving, and you can only register for it after passing the actual road test of Subject 3. Driving school instructors emphasize this sequence because the content of Subject 4 is directly related to the practical experience gained earlier. For example, specific traffic situations encountered in Subject 3 need to be summarized theoretically in Subject 4. If you take the test in advance, you might forget many details and fail to grasp the essence of the rules. I suggest following the steps properly—complete the practical test of Subject 3 first, then focus on preparing for Subject 4. You can review the knowledge points of Subject 4 in advance, but you must wait until Subject 3 is passed to register for the exam. There might be slight differences in regulations across different regions, but most cities follow this procedure. In short, taking the test in advance is unnecessary and increases the risk of failure. It's better to proceed step by step steadily.
