How Long is the Driving License Subject One Exam?
3 Answers
The exam has a time limit of 45 minutes. According to the "Regulations on the Application and Use of Motor Vehicle Driving Licenses," candidates can take the Subject One exam twice on the same day. If they fail the first attempt, they can retake it for free. If they fail the second attempt, the Subject One exam is terminated, and they must wait ten days before rescheduling. Subject One, also known as the theoretical driving test or driver's theory exam, is part of the motor vehicle driving license assessment. The exam covers driving theory basics, road safety laws and regulations, local regulations, and related knowledge. The test is conducted on a computer. The Subject One exam consists of 100 questions, including single-choice and true/false questions, with each question worth 1 point, totaling 100 points. If a candidate answers 11 questions incorrectly during the exam, the system will automatically submit the test and end the session. Subject One exam content: Driving license and motor vehicle management regulations; road traffic conditions and rules; traffic safety violations and penalties; road traffic accident handling regulations; 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. Subject One exam precautions: Candidates should dress appropriately—no slippers allowed. Electronic devices and bags are prohibited in the exam room. Bring your ID card and queue to enter the waiting hall. Observe the instructions and procedures on the screen, and store personal belongings in lockers before entering the exam room. At the identity verification station, you will be assigned a seat. Once seated, begin the exam. Ensure the camera is aligned with you and follow exam discipline. If you fail the first attempt, a retake is available the same day. If you fail again, you must pay to reschedule. After the exam, queue to collect your score report and sign it—unsigned reports are invalid. There is no limit to the number of times you can reschedule the Subject One exam. Each subject can be taken once, with one retake allowed if you fail. If you skip the retake or fail it, the exam is terminated, and you must reschedule. In contrast, Subjects Two and Three allow only five attempts. Subjects Two and Three can be rescheduled after ten days. If you fail the Subject Three safe driving knowledge test, your previously passed road driving skills test results remain valid. The driving test consists of three subjects: Subject One, Subject Two, and Subject Three. Subject One covers traffic safety laws, regulations, and related knowledge. Subject Two tests field driving skills. Subject Three includes two parts: road driving skills and safe driving knowledge. The safe driving knowledge test is conducted after Subject Three, so it is commonly referred to as Subject Four, though this term is not officially recognized in the regulations (i.e., the Ministry of Public Security's Order No. 123).
I just passed the subject one test, which lasts 45 minutes. You have to answer 100 questions within this time, and a score of 90 is required to pass. When I took the test, I arrived 15 minutes early, queued to swipe my ID card for verification, and then entered the computer room to answer questions on a PC. The screen displays a countdown, and the test is automatically submitted when time's up. The questions were quite simple—the key is to stay calm and practice with mock tests to get familiar with the interface. Remember to bring your ID card and queue up to enter; mobile phones must be turned off and stored. There's plenty of time—I finished in 30 minutes and checked twice before submitting.
For the subject one test, the system stipulates completing 100 questions in 45 minutes. When I took the test, I specifically observed that the actual answering time was sufficient, but you need to arrive at the test center half an hour early for identity verification. You cannot leave early once the test starts; you must wait until the time is up. It is recommended to allocate your time wisely: spend the first 20 minutes steadily answering the easy questions and the next 25 minutes focusing on the difficult ones. There is a countdown timer in the test center, so don’t get too caught up in answering and neglect the time. Lastly, a reminder: during practice tests, aim to complete them within 30 minutes to leave some buffer for the actual test. Subject one is not difficult; the key is not to exceed the time limit.
