
Forgetting to turn off the engine in Subject 3 will result in a deduction of 5 points. Below are the precautions for the Subject 3 test: 1. Clutch pedal: It can only be used when starting, shifting up, shifting down, or stopping. Do not press the clutch during normal driving. When encountering a situation that requires slight deceleration, only press the brake to avoid coasting. 2. Accelerator pedal: The traffic light will flash a few times before changing from green to red. At this time, depending on the distance to the intersection and the vehicle speed, press the accelerator if the distance is short and the speed has not decreased. 3. Straighten and stop: Upon hearing the command and assessing the road conditions, if there are no solid lines or if you are too close to the intersection, quickly turn on the right signal, check the rearview mirror, brake to slow down, and merge. When the vehicle is slightly to the right of the road center, turn the steering wheel to the left. When the vehicle can straighten out by inertia, press the clutch, straighten the wheels to the right, and stop.

Last year when I took the Driving Test Part 3, I actually encountered the issue of stalling. After pulling over and stopping properly, I got so nervous that I immediately opened the door and got out without even shifting back to neutral, let alone turning off the engine. The examiner deducted 10 points on the spot! Don't underestimate those 10 points—the total score for Part 3 is 100, with 80 needed to pass. I had already lost 5 points elsewhere, so my final score of 85 was dangerously close to failing. Looking back now, it still gives me chills—if not for a bit of luck, I would've failed. Key reminder for you: Follow these three steps after stopping—first shift to neutral and pull the handbrake, then turn the key to shut off the engine, and finally unbuckle the seatbelt. Skip any step and the examiner will deduct points without hesitation. Build muscle memory during practice to make it second nature.

As a coach who has trained hundreds of students, I must emphasize the detail of turning off the engine. In the roadside parking segment of Subject 3, shutting down the engine after stopping is a mandatory point. According to the latest driving test evaluation standards, failing to turn off the engine directly deducts 10 points. Keep in mind that the test consists of 22 items in total, and every minor mistake can accumulate. Last month, a student failed because they stalled on a hill start (deducting 10 points), forgot to turn off the engine during roadside parking (another 10 points deduction), plus points lost for turn signals, resulting in an outright failure. The solution is extremely simple: Break down the parking action into a three-step mantra on the training ground—neutral gear, handbrake, and engine off—performed in sequence. This creates a conditioned reflex during the test, far more effective than memorizing the rules a hundred times.

It wasn't until my third attempt at Subject 3 that I truly understood the importance of turning off the engine. I failed the first two times because of this pitfall. The first time, I forgot to turn off the engine and lost 10 points, then failed again at another intersection due to speeding. The second time was even more frustrating—I had turned off the engine, but the key wasn't fully turned, so the system deemed it an invalid operation and deducted another 10 points. The lesson learned: the exam system is extremely strict about judging engine shutdown; the engine must completely stop running to pass. Now, every time I park, I silently recite the mantra: press the brake firmly, shift to neutral, pull the handbrake, and then turn the key. Making this action second nature not only avoids point deductions but also prevents the car from rolling.

Not turning off the engine when parking isn't just about losing points in the driving test. Last time I saw a novice driver idling at a red light, and when rear-ended, the hood immediately started smoking. There's a reason why this scoring item is included in Subject Three—turning off the engine while parked reduces accident risks. The driving test scoring rules clearly state: failing to turn off the engine when pulling over deducts 10 points. Even more dangerous is when some examinees forget to shift to neutral after stalling—if they release the brake, the car could roll backward, and the examiner will directly fail them for dangerous driving. My advice? Treat the parking procedure during the test like a bomb-defusing sequence—one wrong step and it's game over.

While studying the driving test rules, I noticed a small detail: for the parking and engine shutdown in Subject 3, you must use the handbrake in coordination. First, pull the handbrake tightly, then turn the key to shut off the engine—getting the sequence wrong will still result in point deductions. This operation clearly accounts for 10 points in the scoring simulation of the driving test app. The safest approach is to execute it immediately after stopping the car: right foot on the brake—shift to neutral—pull the handbrake—release the foot brake—shut off the engine. The entire set of actions should be completed within 5 seconds, which not only complies with the regulations but also prevents panic. Additionally, it's worth noting that some test vehicles have push-button start/stop systems—press the start button once and wait until you hear the engine stop sound to confirm success.


