How Long After Passing Subject Two Can You Schedule Subject Four?
4 Answers
You cannot directly schedule Subject Four after passing Subject Two; you must wait until Subject Three is completed and passed. Subject Two can be scheduled 10 days after passing Subject One, and Subject Three can be scheduled 30 days after passing Subject One. Subject Four can be scheduled the day after passing Subject Three. The same applies to reverse testing for Subjects Two and Three—Subject Four can be scheduled the day after passing either Subject Two or Subject Three. You can schedule Subject Four the day after passing Subject Two. However, passing Subject Two does not automatically qualify you to schedule Subject Four, as the prerequisite for taking the safety and civics knowledge test (Subject Four) is passing all three subjects: Subject One, Subject Two, and Subject Three. Only after the final exam is passed and the results are entered into the system can you schedule Subject Four. Theoretically, Subject Four can be scheduled as soon as the results are recorded in the system. Subject Four, also known as the theoretical driving test or driver's theory exam, is part of the motor vehicle driver's license assessment. After the implementation of the "Ministry of Public Security Order No. 139 of the People's Republic of China," Subject Three was divided into two parts: the road test and the safety and civics knowledge test, commonly referred to as "Subject Four." The Subject Four exam consists of 50 questions, primarily in the form of case studies, images, and animations, with a perfect score of 100 and a passing grade of 90.
When I was getting my driver's license, I also paid special attention to this matter. The instructor made it clear to me that the key wasn’t how long after passing Subject 2, but whether you passed Subject 3. According to the exam rules, you must pass Subject 3 before you can schedule Subject 4. In practice, it’s recommended to start preparing for Subject 3 training immediately after finishing Subject 2, because there’s often a waiting list for the Subject 3 road test, which varies significantly between cities. In some areas with sufficient test slots, as soon as your Subject 3 results are entered into the system, you can schedule the Subject 4 theory exam as early as the next day. But in some big cities with a high concentration of students, you might have to wait a week or two to get a slot. I remember I managed to book a slot on the Driving Test 12123 App just three days after passing Subject 3—the whole process was actually quite efficient.
Last year, I specifically researched this issue while accompanying my cousin to get his driver's license. What really limits the scheduling time for Subject Four is the progress of the Subject Three exam, and it has little to do with how long the interval is after Subject Two. For example, in cities like Hangzhou where there are many Subject Three test sites, you can schedule Subject Four the day after passing Subject Three once the system syncs the data. However, if you happen to be in the peak summer driving school season, you might have to wait ten days or even half a month after passing Subject Three to secure a test slot. Note that some driving schools batch-schedule exams for their students, so it's best to ask about the arrangements in advance. Additionally, Subject Four has session limits. My cousin passed Subject Three on a Friday and could only schedule the exam for the following Wednesday, resulting in an actual wait of five days.
When accompanying a driving school newcomer to complete procedures, I learned about the policy. According to regulations, there is no waiting period for scheduling the Subject 4 test, but the prerequisite is that Subject 3 must have been passed. The scheduling time mainly depends on two factors: first, the data processing speed of the examination center—some county-level examination systems update slowly, requiring half a day after the Subject 3 results are uploaded before scheduling is possible; second, the local examination capacity—in provincial capitals, you might be able to schedule a Subject 4 test three days after passing Subject 3, but in smaller areas, Subject 4 tests are only arranged twice a week, with waits potentially extending over ten days. It is recommended to log into the traffic management app the night you pass Subject 3 to secure a test slot, and frequently refresh the page to grab cancellations from others.
