How Long After Passing Driving Test Subject 3 Can You Take Subject 4?
3 Answers
There are three scenarios for the timing of Subject 4 after passing Subject 3: Taking the test directly in the afternoon of the same day; No appointment needed within 9 days—you can take Subject 4 within 9 days after passing Subject 3 by presenting your ID at the test center; Appointment required after 10 days, with success depending on the current number of examinees, student priority, and temporary arrangements at the test center. Subject 4, also known as the theoretical test or driver's theory test, is part of the motor vehicle driver's license assessment. It includes requirements for safe and civilized driving operations, knowledge of safe driving under adverse weather and complex road conditions, handling emergencies such as tire blowouts, and procedures after traffic accidents. Subject 4 Exam Notes: Test Duration: The exam lasts 45 minutes, and the test is terminated if you make 12 points (6 questions) of mistakes during the process. Number of Questions: 50 questions are randomly selected from the Subject 4 question bank based on the type of license being tested, with each question worth 2 points. Question Types: The test includes single-choice questions (including true/false questions) and multiple-choice questions. The first 45 questions are single-choice, and the last 5 are multiple-choice. The questions include animation-based, image-based, scenario-recognition, and text-based questions. Retake Notes: If you fail Subject 4, you only need to retake Subject 4. The driving school will schedule the retake, with no limit on the number of retakes. You can retake until you pass, and no additional fees are required for retaking Subject 4. Subject 4 Exam Tips: Strengthen weak areas by identifying the reasons for mistakes. For marked questions, don’t just memorize the correct answer—consult regulations, textbooks, or reference materials to understand and internalize the reasons for errors. Categorize and summarize questions. Refer to the question bank analysis for classification and identify similar questions: Many questions in the bank are similar and easily confused, so they should be analyzed and grouped. For example, traffic signs for walking, pedestrian crossings, and pedestrian warnings are visually similar and should be studied together to avoid mistakes. Use memorization techniques: Many questions involve numbers, which can be summarized for easier recall. The driving test consists of three subjects: Subject 1, Subject 2, and Subject 3, with Subject 3 divided into two parts. Subject 4 is the colloquial term for the safety and civilized driving knowledge test under Subject 3 and is not a separate subject. Subject 1 refers to the examination on road traffic safety laws, regulations, and related knowledge; Subject 2 refers to the field driving skills test; Subject 3 refers to the road driving skills and safety and civilized driving knowledge test. The safety and civilized driving knowledge test is conducted after Subject 3.
As someone who just got my driver's license, I find this quite convenient. On the day I passed Subject 3, the staff immediately asked if I wanted to take Subject 4 right away—later I learned this is called a combined exam. But it doesn't have to be on the same day; one of my classmates took it two days later. The key factors are whether your local testing center allows this and the availability of slots in the booking system. For example, our DMV usually has exam slots available 3-4 days later, though during peak periods you might wait a bit longer. The Traffic Management 12123 app makes it easy—you can log in right after Subject 3 to check the earliest available date. However, I'd advise not cutting it too close to the expiration date—my cousin waited until his three-year validity period was almost up before taking it. After recent reforms, Subject 4 now has unlimited attempts, though you'll need to pay and rebook if you fail.
I took my driver's license test in Wuhan last year and encountered this exact situation. After signing the confirmation for the third subject test, the instructor directly asked if I wanted to try the fourth subject test right away, as the policy allows same-day consecutive tests. However, my friend in Guangzhou had to wait five days to schedule it. It entirely depends on the local DMV's resources and your driving school's arrangements. If same-day consecutive tests aren't scheduled, you can usually book the nearest available slot in about three days. But don't wait too long—I remember the driving skill test permit is only valid for three years, and this period starts counting from the first subject test. When using the traffic management app to book, pay attention to the test center locations. Last time, my friend chose a suburban test center and could take the test the next day, while the urban centers had a five-day wait.
