
In Subject 2, stalling during hill start generally deducts 20 points. In the Subject 3 test, stalling deducts 10 points. Additional information is as follows: 1. Reasons for stalling: Due to improper coordination between the clutch and throttle, or lifting the clutch too quickly during startup, the power output of the engine and the input shaft of the transmission are not proportional, causing a sudden increase in friction, which results in stalling. 2. Starting after stalling: Press the brake, slowly release the clutch until you feel the car body shaking, then gradually release the brake while keeping the left foot steady on the clutch. When releasing the brake, the car should move forward rather than roll backward. The intensity of the car body shaking needs to be felt during practice. Releasing the brake too early may lead to insufficient force causing the car to roll, while not releasing the brake when the shaking is very intense may easily cause the car to stall.

Back when I took the driving test (Subject 3), stalling was indeed quite common. The instructor always said each stall would deduct 10 points. The passing score is 90 points in total, right? The key after stalling is not to panic—remember to shift to neutral before restarting the engine. However, be careful: if you handle stalling improperly while the vehicle is moving, you might lose additional points. I heard someone got another 10-point deduction for restarting directly without shifting to neutral after stalling. And if you stall during hill starts, quickly press the brake and pull the handbrake, otherwise rolling back more than 30 cm will result in an immediate fail, which is even worse. In short, stalling isn’t the scariest part; the key is handling the aftermath properly to avoid a chain reaction.

The other day, I accompanied a friend practicing for the third driving test, and the instructor emphasized the issue of stalling again. Stalling once deducts 10 points, which isn't actually a lot, because in the third test, mistakes like not using the turn signal when starting or forgetting to check the rearview mirror directly deduct 100 points, which is more critical. The main thing is to consider where the stall happens. For example, if you stall during the hill start, even if you recover afterward, you might still lose another 10 points for incorrect parking position. My friend stalled before a crosswalk last time, not only losing points but also forgetting to observe the intersection when restarting, resulting in two mistakes leading directly to failure. Stalling itself isn't something to overly worry about, but you need to be wary of chain reactions of mistakes.

Experienced driving test candidates know that stalling the engine is a minor point deduction, but the real fear lies in the subsequent chain of penalties. The scoring criteria for Subject 3 clearly state: Improper operation causing the engine to stall once deducts 10 points. However, it's crucial to note that if the engine isn't successfully restarted within 5 seconds after stalling, the system will automatically penalize an additional 5 points for exceeding the starting time limit. This is especially critical at traffic lights, where some candidates panic after stalling and remain stationary even when the light turns green, leading to further point deductions if they fail to start within 10 seconds. Statistics show that among candidates who fail the test, 30% are due to multiple penalties triggered by stalling—a higher rate than those who simply stall without additional consequences.


