
In the Subject 2 driving test, stalling once deducts 10 points. The total score is 100 points, with a passing score of 80. Therefore, during the entire Subject 2 test, you can only stall a maximum of two times. Stalling in the Subject 2 test mainly occurs during the hill start. Therefore, when starting on a slope, slowly release the clutch until you feel the car noticeably vibrate. Ensure the vehicle does not stall before slightly releasing the clutch further. Then, keep your left foot steady on the clutch without moving, gently press the accelerator, and release the handbrake. Throughout this process, release the clutch slowly and avoid rushing to prevent prolonged acceleration while the clutch is partially engaged. Deduction items in the Subject 2 test include: not wearing a seatbelt, deduct 100 points; failing to use turn signals (including starting, changing lanes, overtaking, turning, or parking) or using them incorrectly, deduct 10 points; stalling once, deduct 10 points; not following the prescribed route sequence, deduct 100 points; vehicle body crossing the line, deduct 100 points; failing to complete reverse parking, deduct 100 points; wheels running over the road edge line while driving, deduct 100 points; stopping for more than 2 seconds mid-drive, deduct 5 points per occurrence; vehicle body touching the parking space boundary line while driving, deduct 10 points per occurrence; if the vehicle takes more than 30 seconds to start after stopping, deduct 100 points.

I remember being extremely nervous during my Subject 2 driving test. The instructor said stalling the car once would deduct 10 points, and luckily the passing score was 80. During the reverse parking test, I didn't press the clutch firmly enough and the car suddenly stalled, leaving me stunned. The examiner immediately recorded the penalty on the tablet and reminded me not to panic, emphasizing that I must shift to neutral before restarting the engine. This kind of mistake is most likely to happen during hill starts, so it's recommended to practice the half-clutch technique more. By the way, if you try to restart the engine without shifting to neutral after stalling, it would result in an immediate failure. For the rest of the test, I kept my foot on the brake to control the speed and thankfully didn't stall again.

A couple of days ago, I was accompanying my cousin during his driving practice and we talked about this. In Subject 2 (Parking and Slope Driving), stalling once deducts 10 points, and if you stall twice during slope starting, you fail directly. That time I was nervously navigating the S-curve when the car suddenly stalled, and seeing the tachometer drop to 0 on the dashboard, I knew it was bad. When the examiner came to deduct points, my palms were sweaty. The key is not to rush to restart the engine after stalling; first check the gear position, or you might get more points deducted. During practice, try to get a feel for the clutch's half-engagement point, especially since exam cars feel different from practice cars. It's recommended to wear thin-soled shoes for better pedal feedback.

I have a say in stalling during Subject 2 of the driving test, as I just retook it last month. Stalling once deducts 10 points, but the key lies in the follow-up handling. During my first stall, I panicked and started the engine without shifting to neutral, resulting in an immediate zero score. The instructor advised that during retakes, when you see the tachometer drop, don't panic—first press the brake, engage the handbrake, confirm neutral gear, and then restart. Each test item allows a maximum of two stalls, but you must ensure the passing score when calculating points. Nowadays, many new test centers use electronic scoring systems that automatically record and deduct points for stalling.

All trainees know that stalling in Subject 2 deducts 10 points, but many are unaware of the details. For instance, if the car is still moving after stalling, the system will deduct additional points. My instructor always emphasizes that if you stall on a slope, you must immediately step on the brake to prevent rolling. During my retake, I spent a whole week practicing clutch control, especially the slow release technique for hill starts. Here's a little tip: after rainy days, you can lightly press the accelerator to prevent stalling during the test, but be careful not to exceed the speed limit. Stalling deductions are common, so staying calm is key to passing.

Last year during my driving test for Subject 2, I witnessed a female candidate in the same car fail due to repeated stalling. Stalling once deducts 10 points, which may seem minor, but combined with deductions for turn signals or crossing lines, it can easily lead to failure. The examiner explained that 90% of stalling cases are caused by unstable clutch control, especially during sharp turns where nervousness often leads to abruptly releasing the clutch. He suggested gently pressing the accelerator to raise the RPM to 1000 before releasing the clutch during the test. During my test, I silently recited the instructor's mantra 'press fast, release slow' while keeping my eyes on the dashboard. Additionally, adjusting the seat higher in the test car allows for straighter legs, which facilitates better clutch control.


