How Many Times Can You Retake the Subject 1 Exam?

[JeffreyLynn]

The "Regulations on the Application and Use of Motor Vehicle Driver's Licenses" clearly stipulates that on the day of the Subject 1 retake exam, you can take the test twice. If you fail the first time, you can retake the second time for free. If you still fail the second time, the Subject 1 exam for this session is terminated, and you can only schedule the exam again after ten days. There is no limit to the number of times you can take the Subject 1 exam. Subject 1, also known as the theoretical exam or driver's theory exam, is part of the assessment for obtaining a motor vehicle driver's license. The exam content includes the theoretical basis of driving, road safety laws and regulations, local regulations, and other related knowledge. The exam is computer-based and has a time limit of 45 minutes. To pass the Subject 1 exam, you need a score of 90 or above. The exam consists of 100 questions, divided into single-choice and true/false questions, with each question worth 1 point, totaling 100 points. If you answer 11 questions incorrectly during the exam, the system will automatically submit the test and end the exam. Subject 1 exam content includes: driver's license and motor vehicle management regulations; road traffic conditions and regulations; road 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 1 exam precautions: During the exam, candidates should pay attention to their attire—no slippers are allowed. Electronic devices and bags are not permitted in the exam room. Bring your ID card and queue to enter the waiting hall. Observe the precautions and procedures on the large screen, and store personal belongings in lockers before entering the exam room. In the exam room, the identity verification desk will assign a seat. Once seated, begin the exam, ensuring the camera is aligned with you and adhering to exam discipline. If you fail the first time, you can retake the exam on the same day. If you fail again, you must pay to reschedule. After the exam, queue to collect your score report and sign it. Failure to sign will render the result invalid. There is no limit to the number of times you can schedule the Subject 1 exam. Each subject exam allows one retake if you fail. If you do not take the retake or fail the retake, the exam for this session is terminated, and the applicant must reschedule. In contrast, Subject 2 and Subject 3 exams only allow five attempts. Subject 2 and Subject 3 exams can be rescheduled after ten days. If you fail the Subject 3 safe driving knowledge test, the previously passed road driving skills test results remain valid. There are three subjects in the driver's license exam: Subject 1, Subject 2, and Subject 3. Subject 1 refers to the road traffic safety laws, regulations, and related knowledge exam. Subject 2 refers to the field driving skills exam. Subject 3 is divided into two parts: road driving skills and safe driving knowledge. The safe driving knowledge test is conducted after Subject 3, so it is commonly referred to as Subject 4. However, the official term (as per the Ministry of Public Security Order No. 123) does not include "Subject 4."

[DeAlexander]

I was so nervous during my first attempt at the written driving test (Subject 1) that I failed initially and felt a bit discouraged. However, I learned that there’s basically no limit to the number of retakes—you just need to pay the fee and reschedule. It took me three tries to pass, mainly because the question bank was extensive and I struggled with memorizing traffic regulations. Later, I put in more effort by using mobile apps to practice questions and repeatedly simulated the test, which helped me pass on my fourth attempt. My advice is not to rush—failure is allowed in the exam, but the key is to review mistakes after each attempt, such as memorizing road signs and traffic rules more thoroughly. After all, safety comes first, and mastering the material ensures confidence on the road. I know some people who succeeded only after five or six tries—patience and persistence are crucial.

[StAlyssa]

When my child was taking the driving test, he failed the written exam (Subject 1) once. I helped him check the policies and learned that you can retake it several times—almost unlimited, actually—but you have to reschedule and pay a fee each time. Back when I took the test in my youth, there weren’t so many rules, and the exams are stricter now. I encouraged him not to get discouraged and to review the question bank more, especially the traffic signal section, which is easy to mess up. Retaking the test isn’t a big deal—the key is to master the knowledge, or else driving problems later could be much worse. I often remind him that the driving test isn’t about speed; it’s about building good habits, so don’t rush just to get it over with.

[MacHope]

I've worked at a driving school for several years and seen plenty of students taking the Theory Test (Subject 1). There's usually no limit on retakes—you can take it as many times as you want—but don’t think you can keep trying endlessly. Each failure means waiting for the next scheduled test, wasting both time and money. My advice is to take a step back, analyze why you failed last time, and practice more with mock tests, especially on road signs and emergency scenarios. Driving isn’t just about memorizing questions; you need to understand why they test these things to truly drive safely. I’ve seen many pass after two or three attempts—just don’t give up.

[VonArthur]

As a test taker, I was quite upset after failing the first attempt at the Subject 1 exam, but knowing that I could retake it unlimited times gave me the motivation to study harder. I bought books and video courses, focusing on tackling the regulations section, and passed after two attempts. My advice is not to just memorize mechanically but to think about real driving scenarios, such as what to do in rainy or foggy conditions. There's no limit to the number of retakes, but you should spend more time practicing the question bank to avoid repeated failures. I also recommend making a study plan early and avoiding last-minute cramming to reduce stress.

[LeCole]

Back when I was learning to drive, the retake policy for Subject One was quite lenient, with almost no limit on the number of attempts—you could take it as many times as needed. The current policy hasn’t changed much. I passed it easily on my first try, but a friend of mine took four attempts to succeed. The key lies in daily accumulation—don’t cram at the last minute. For example, keep up with traffic rule updates and new question types. Retakes can easily delay progress, so I recommend focusing on reviewing core content and memorizing mistakes. Safe driving is the foundation—no matter how many retakes it takes, stay patient and committed to thorough learning.