
There are three deduction standards in the Subject 3 exam, deducting 5 points, 10 points, or 100 points. Violations resulting in a 100-point deduction: Before stopping, failing to observe the traffic conditions behind and to the right through the interior and exterior rearview mirrors; after the examiner issues the command to pull over, failing to stop within the specified distance; after stopping, the vehicle body exceeds the right edge of the road or the sidewalk edge; after stopping, failing to turn the head to observe the side and rear traffic conditions before opening the door; not closing the door after exiting the vehicle. Violations resulting in a 5-point deduction: Failing to turn off the engine before exiting the vehicle. Violations resulting in a 10-point deduction: After stopping, the vehicle body is more than 30cm from the right edge of the road or the sidewalk edge; after stopping, failing to engage the parking brake; releasing the foot brake pedal before engaging the parking brake.

I know exactly where most people fail in the driving test (Subject 3)! There are many pitfalls right from the start: skipping the vehicle inspection round means immediate failure, and making mistakes in the light simulation is an instant 100-point deduction. During the drive, you need to be extra careful – things like unstable steering during straight-line driving or incorrect speed will result in failure. Turn signal issues are the most frustrating: forgetting to signal, signaling incorrectly, or signaling for less than 3 seconds all cost 100 points. For roadside parking, crossing the line or exceeding 30cm means a 10-point deduction, while exceeding 50cm ends the test immediately. I've even seen people fail by not slowing down at crosswalks, costing them 100 points. These details really require extra attention during practice.

Points deduction in Subject 3 mainly falls into three categories: The most severe are the 100-point violations that result in immediate failure. These include not fastening the seatbelt properly, running a red light, or stalling due to improper operation. The 10-point deductions focus on minor details, such as not fully releasing the handbrake when starting or mismatching gear with speed. The lightest are 5-point deductions, mostly for inadequate observation. I once got 5 points deducted for not checking the rearview mirror when changing lanes, and 10 points for not assessing the distance properly when overtaking. Special caution is needed near bus stops and school zones—failing to tap the brake means an instant 100-point deduction. Memorizing the test route can actually help avoid many pitfalls.

Here are some common mistakes that often cost students points: Forgetting to use the turn signal deducts 100 points, which is the most regrettable; Deviating from a straight line results in an immediate failure; Parking too close to the curb and touching the line deducts 100 points, while parking 30-50cm away from the curb deducts 10 points. During the vehicle preparation stage, failing to around the car for inspection starts with a 100-point deduction. Nighttime tests are even stricter, and incorrect use of lights leads to immediate disqualification. Not slowing down at intersections or failing to yield to pedestrians also deducts 100 points. In fact, most mistakes are caused by nervousness, and breaking down the steps for practice can help a lot.

I've summarized the penalty rules for Subject 3: The most severe are the 100-point deductions, which include dangerous driving behaviors and safety violations, such as crossing solid lines to change lanes or running a red light. Operational errors mainly fall under the 10-point category, like rolling back less than 30cm after starting or not shifting to neutral after stalling. The 5-point penalties are mostly for insufficient observation, such as not checking traffic conditions when turning. Be cautious in special zones—failing to slow down 30 meters before a crosswalk results in immediate failure, and not tapping the brake within 10 meters of a bus stop also costs 100 points. During the test, maintaining a steady pace is more important than striving for perfection.

These penalty points in the driving test always catch people off guard: Failing to fully release the handbrake or not checking the dashboard during the starting phase deducts 10 points. Not tapping the brakes when passing a school zone during driving results in a harsh 100-point deduction, which feels unjust. Changing lanes at the wrong time costs 10 points, but signaling for less than 3 seconds deducts a full 100 points. Parking too far from the curb during the roadside stop deducts 10 points, while exceeding 50cm means an automatic fail. The toughest part is the straight-line driving—a steering wheel deviation of over 5 degrees leads to disqualification. It's recommended to focus on practicing lighting and turning maneuvers, as these two have the highest penalty rates.


