Can the Subject 3 Gear Shifting Exercise Shift from Fourth Gear to Second Gear?
3 Answers
Subject 3 Gear Shifting Exercise can shift from fourth gear to second gear, as long as the vehicle speed and gear position are properly matched to avoid vehicle shaking or stalling. Key points of the Subject 3 Gear Shifting Exercise: When changing gears, you must look straight ahead and not at the gear lever. Gear shifting should be done quickly. Looking down at the gear lever will result in disqualification. When changing gears, once the vehicle reaches a certain speed, the left foot must fully depress the clutch before shifting. If the clutch is not fully depressed before shifting, the gear may end up in neutral, causing the vehicle to coast in neutral, which will result in immediate disqualification. When prompted to change lanes or overtake, the left turn signal must be engaged for more than 3 seconds; otherwise, it will result in immediate disqualification. The throttle and clutch should be coordinated properly. Only after releasing the clutch can you accelerate, and only after releasing the throttle can you depress the clutch. Otherwise, it may cause the engine to rev without load, exceeding 2500 RPM, which will result in immediate disqualification. Speed matching for Subject 3 Gear Shifting Exercise: The speed matching for Subject 3 Gear Shifting Exercise is as follows: start in first gear, shift to second gear when the speed exceeds 10 km/h; shift to third gear when the speed exceeds 20 km/h in second gear; shift to fourth gear when the speed exceeds 40 km/h in third gear; and shift to fifth gear when the speed exceeds 60 km/h. If you shift into the wrong gear, do not panic. Simply move the gear lever back to the neutral position and immediately shift into the correct gear.
In the driving test (Subject 3), gear reduction operations generally require sequential downshifting, and you cannot directly shift from 4th gear to 2nd gear. This can disrupt vehicle stability, and the examiner may consider it an error and deduct points. The correct approach is to downshift from 4th to 3rd gear, stabilize the speed, and then finally reduce to 2nd gear. I've seen many students rush the test and skip gears, resulting in jerky vehicle movements, potential stalling, or high engine revving, which affects the safety score. During practice, it's best to find an open road and repeatedly practice to develop muscle memory; during the test, it's okay to go slower—the key is to maintain control and stay calm. In actual driving, engine braking on downhill slopes sometimes allows for skipping gears, but Subject 3 tests basic safety norms, so don't take risks.
I just passed the Subject 3 test, and the gear shifting exercise was quite challenging. Going directly from fourth gear to second gear is basically impossible—the instructor repeatedly emphasized that you must downshift one gear at a time. During my practice, I tried skipping gears, and the car immediately shook violently. The examiner said it was a dangerous move that could result in an instant fail. Remember, the key to Subject 3 is practicing smooth transitions. When slowing down, brake first to reduce speed before shifting gears—don’t cut corners. While you might occasionally get away with it in daily driving, the test rules are strict. I recommend running through the simulated route multiple times to get used to the shifting sequence. On exam day, don’t rush—take deep breaths and shift one gear at a time. Safety comes first.
