Has the C1 Hill Start Been Cancelled?

[VanAshley]

C1 (small-sized vehicles) driving test content for Subject 2 remains unchanged without any reduction, and the hill start for C1 has not been cancelled. However, C2 has eliminated the hill start, reducing the difficulty of the test. C1 Driving License Test: The test subjects include four items: traffic regulations and related knowledge, field driving, road driving, and safe and civilized driving knowledge. Passing Criteria: Traffic Regulations and Related Knowledge (Subject 1) – Written test, full score of 100, passing score is 90 or above. Field Driving (Subject 2) – On-site, actual vehicle. Minimum passing score is 80, below 80 is a fail. Road Driving (Subject 3) – Highway or simulated site, actual vehicle. Full score of 100, must achieve 90 or above to pass. Safe and Civilized Driving Knowledge – Written test, questions mainly in the form of cases, pictures, animations, etc., question types include true/false, single-choice, and multiple-choice, totaling 50 questions, full score of 100, passing score is 90.

[DiBriella]

I have to say, after driving for so many years, I remember the C1 hill start very clearly. Back when I was taking the driving test, the hill parking and starting was a major challenge in Subject 2, and many people failed at this stage. Around October 2019, new regulations came out, and this independent test item was removed. Now, Subject 2 only tests a few basic items, like reverse parking and parallel parking, which is much simpler. But this doesn't mean hill starts are unimportant—in real driving, you need to be careful when starting on slopes, especially with manual transmission cars. Rolling back is common and can easily lead to scratches or accidents. So, I recommend practicing starting techniques during driving lessons to master the coordination of the clutch and brake. Overall, making the test easier after the removal is a good thing, but driving instructors often emphasize that the fundamentals of safe driving should never be neglected.

[EdenRose]

As a novice who just got my driver's license, let me talk about the changes in hill starts. Our batch of trainees took the test under the new regulations, and indeed, the hill parking and starting test was removed. The instructor said that since 2019, after policy adjustments, this content was removed from the second subject, replaced with four more practical training items. The test was much easier for me—no more worrying about stalling on a slope, and the pressure was reduced. However, the instructor emphasized that we still need to focus on hill-start techniques during practice, such as pulling the handbrake before starting and slowly releasing the clutch, otherwise, we might panic when encountering steep slopes on the road. In actual driving, I found this skill quite useful in residential areas or mountainous roads. Removing this item simplified the test process and slightly reduced the cost of learning to drive, but safe driving habits must be cultivated on our own.

[BentleyLee]

From a driving safety perspective, the C1 hill start has been removed as an examination item. After the implementation of the new regulations in 2019, this segment was eliminated from Subject 2, likely to reduce exam complexity. However, it remains crucial in actual traffic situations: mistakes during hill starts can cause vehicle rollback, increasing the risk of rear-end collisions or accidents. As someone who pays attention to driving rules, I recommend not neglecting this skill during self-learning. For daily driving, ensure smooth starts—master clutch control in manual transmissions and coordinate throttle input in automatics. Practice in safe locations to gradually develop the habit, making the skill a natural reflex.

[Tommy]

Last year when my child was preparing for the driver's license test, I specifically researched the changes in the C1 exam. The hill start was a mandatory test item before 2019, but it has now been removed. After the new regulations, Subject 2 only includes basic items, making the learning period shorter and more cost-effective. However, as a parent, I reminded my child to practice hill start techniques more—such as simulating on garage slopes to master smooth starts and avoid rolling back. This scenario is common in real life, and mastering the skill can boost confidence. The driving school instructor said simplifying the test is good, but safety details depend on oneself.

[Shirley]

During my years as an assistant at the driving school, I noticed that the C1 hill start exercise was indeed canceled after the new regulations in 2019. It's no longer tested separately in the Subject 2 exam, with the focus shifting to other skills. However, during instruction, we recommend students practice hill starts additionally: first press the brake and shift into first gear, slowly release the clutch to the biting point, then gently release the brake to start. This prevents rolling back and protects both yourself and other vehicles in real driving situations. After the cancellation, the exam pass rate has improved, but true skill still requires personal practice.