How long after enrolling in a driving school can you take the Theory Test (Subject 1)?

[WestonLynn]

After successfully enrolling in a driving school, the application form and proof of physical condition must be submitted to the Vehicle Management Office for review. Once the review is completed, you can schedule the Theory Test (Subject 1). In some areas, no training hours are required, so you can book the test immediately after the review is completed. If training hours are required, you can schedule the Theory Test about 10 days after the review is completed. Before scheduling the test, you should study the Theory Test materials and practice with sample questions. Enrolling in a driving school is only a preliminary registration. After enrollment, the driving school submits the documents to the Vehicle Management Office. Upon successful submission, the Vehicle Management Office will issue a serial number, which confirms successful registration. Once registered, you can schedule the Theory Test. According to the "Regulations on the Application and Use of Motor Vehicle Driving Licenses," the Theory Test consists of 100 questions, including single-choice and true/false questions, with each question worth 1 point. If you answer 11 questions incorrectly during the test, the system will automatically submit the test and end the exam. The content of the Theory Test includes: regulations on driving licenses and motor vehicle management; road traffic conditions and rules; traffic safety violations and penalties; regulations on road traffic accident handling; basic knowledge of motor vehicles; local regulations; knowledge of braking systems and safety devices for large and medium-sized passenger and freight vehicles; specialized knowledge for wheeled self-propelled machinery, trams, and trolleybuses. Notes for the Theory Test: During the exam, students should dress appropriately (no slippers allowed) and are prohibited from bringing electronic devices or bags into the exam hall. Bring your ID card and queue to enter the waiting area. Observe the instructions and procedures displayed on the screen, and store personal belongings in lockers before entering the exam hall. Inside the exam hall, the identity verification desk will assign you a seat. Once seated, begin the exam. Ensure the camera is aligned with you and follow exam rules. If you fail the first attempt, a retake is available on the same day. If you fail again, you must pay to reschedule. After the exam, queue to collect your score report and sign it. A score report without a signature is considered invalid. There is no limit to the number of times you can schedule the Theory Test. Each subject can be taken once, and if you fail, you can retake it once. If you do not attend the retake or fail the retake, the exam process ends, and you must reschedule. For Subject 2 (Field Driving Test) and Subject 3 (Road Driving Test), there are only 5 attempts allowed. Subject 2 and Subject 3 tests can be scheduled 10 days later. If you fail the Safety and Civilization Driving Knowledge Test (part of Subject 3), the previously passed road driving skills test results remain valid. There are three subjects in the driving test: Subject 1 (Theory Test), Subject 2 (Field Driving Test), and Subject 3 (Road Driving Test). Subject 1 covers traffic safety laws, regulations, and related knowledge. Subject 2 focuses on field driving skills. Subject 3 is divided into two parts: road driving skills and safety and civilization driving knowledge. The Safety and Civilization Driving Knowledge Test is conducted after Subject 3, so it is commonly referred to as Subject 4. However, the official term (as per the Ministry of Public Security Order No. 123) does not include "Subject 4."

[BrookeFitz]

When I first signed up, I was also anxious about the date for the Subject 1 test. Honestly, there's no fixed timeline for this. From registration to the actual exam, there are several steps: the driving school first collects your documents, then schedules a medical check-up. After the medical report is uploaded, the vehicle management office reviews the materials. Only when everything is in order will they enter your information into the booking system—this review can take as little as three days or as long as ten. I recommend that after signing up, you regularly check the Traffic Management 12123 app to monitor when the system opens for bookings. Once you can schedule the test, grab a slot quickly because popular test centers get booked up fast. If you happen to sign up during peak periods like graduation season or school holidays, just waiting in line could take you two to three weeks. In my case, it took about half a month from submitting my documents to sitting in the exam chair, during which I passed the time by practicing questions on the Driving Test Guide app. Don’t just wait idly—finishing the theory videos early can save you time later.

[KiaraLee]

The written test (Subject 1) usually takes about one to two weeks to schedule. The main bottleneck lies in the efficiency of the driving school's administrative process. Last week when I helped my cousin enroll, he received a text message the next day instructing him to get a medical checkup at a designated hospital. However, it took three to four days for the hospital to transmit the results back to the DMV. During this period, the driving school needs to organize and submit your ID copy, medical examination form, and other documents into the system for approval. Only after approval can you unlock the test scheduling eligibility. I recommend checking the 12123 app several times daily—book your test slot immediately when availability appears. System maintenance or holidays may cause additional delays. The fastest case I've seen was someone testing on the 10th day after enrollment, while others waited a month for an opening. Never rely solely on the driving school's notification; monitoring the app yourself is the most reliable approach.

[Victoria]

You can start preparing for Subject 1 right after enrollment, don't just wait passively for the driving school's notification. Back when I enrolled, I spent 480 minutes on the third day completing all the online theoretical courses required by the driving school. On the fourth day, after the medical checkup, I immediately began practicing questions using the 'Driving Test Treasure' app. The vehicle management office only takes two or three days to approve the materials. Once approved, you can directly book the nearest available test slot on the 12123 APP. At that time, the system showed available slots three days later, and I quickly secured one. From submitting the materials to taking the test, it took exactly one week. It mainly depends on how fast you act. The Subject 1 question bank has a total of 1,600 questions, and thorough preparation can save you a lot of queuing time.