How Many Times Can You Take the Subject One Exam?

[OCarmen]

There is no limit to the number of times you can take the Subject One exam. According to the "Regulations on the Application and Use of Motor Vehicle Driver's Licenses," you can take the Subject One exam twice on the same day. If you fail the first attempt, you can take a free second attempt. If you still fail the second attempt, the Subject One exam will be terminated, and you can only schedule another exam after ten days. Subject One, also known as the theoretical exam or driver's theory test, is part of the motor vehicle driver's license assessment. The exam content includes driving theory fundamentals, road safety laws and regulations, local regulations, and related knowledge. The exam is computer-based, with a time limit of 45 minutes. To pass the Subject One exam, you need a score of 90 or above. The exam consists of 100 questions, including single-choice and true/false questions, with each question worth 1 point (total score: 100). If you answer 11 questions incorrectly, the system will automatically submit the exam and end the test. Subject One Exam Content: Driver's license and motor vehicle management regulations; road traffic conditions and rules; 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 One Exam Notes: During the exam, candidates must dress appropriately—no slippers are allowed. Electronic devices and bags are prohibited in the exam room. Bring your ID card and queue to enter the waiting hall. Observe the instructions and procedures on the large screen, and store personal belongings in a locker before entering the exam room. Upon entering the exam room, the identity verification desk will assign a seat. Once seated, begin the exam. Ensure the camera is aligned properly and follow exam rules. If you fail the first attempt, you can retake the exam the same day. If you fail again, you must pay to reschedule. After the exam, queue to collect your score report and sign it—unsigned reports are invalid. There is no limit to the number of times you can schedule the Subject One exam. Each exam allows one retake if you fail. If you skip the retake or fail it, the exam ends, and you must reschedule. In contrast, Subject Two and Subject Three exams allow only five attempts each. If you fail Subject Two or Subject Three, you must wait ten days before rescheduling. If you fail the Subject Three safe driving knowledge test, your previously passed road driving skills test results remain valid. The driving test consists of three subjects: Subject One, Subject Two, and Subject Three. Subject One covers road traffic safety laws, regulations, and related knowledge. Subject Two tests field driving skills. Subject Three includes two components: road driving skills and safe driving knowledge. The safe driving knowledge test is conducted after Subject Three, so it is commonly referred to as Subject Four. However, the official term (as per the Ministry of Public Security's Order No. 123) does not include the term "Subject Four."

[Dominick]

I remember when I was getting my driver's license, I was most afraid of Subject 1. The instructor said there was actually no limit to the number of exam attempts. If you failed the first time on the exam day, you could immediately retake it a second time—just pay a retake fee to reschedule. The key is to complete all subjects within the three-year validity period after enrolling in the driving school. If the validity period expires, you have to start over from scratch. Back then, I took Subject 1 three times before passing—I was too nervous the first time and got over 10 questions wrong, missed two questions on the second attempt, and barely passed with 92 points on the third try. My advice is to practice more with question bank apps and carefully read each question during the exam to avoid accidentally selecting the wrong option due to shaky hands.

[KayleeLynn]

My neighbor just got his driver's license last month. He said the subject one test can be taken repeatedly, but each registration actually gives two attempts. If you fail twice in a row, you have to reschedule and wait for the next available slot, usually about 10 days later. The worst is when the test system randomly picks obscure questions, like those road marking questions that are extremely detailed. It's recommended to focus on penalty questions and hand signal questions before the test, and skip uncertain questions to tackle them last. Usually, scoring above 95 points consecutively five times in mock tests on your phone before taking the actual test is a safer bet.

[Catherine]

Just two days ago, I accompanied my cousin to take the first subject of the driving test. The staff at the test center explained it very clearly: if you fail the first attempt on the day, don't panic, as a second attempt will be arranged immediately on-site. If you fail again, you'll need to reschedule the exam, paying a small fee of a few dozen yuan each time. The test validity period is three years from the date of registration, giving you plenty of chances to retake. The key is to practice the frequently mistaken questions more. My cousin stumbled twice on accident handling questions and only passed after fully understanding the liability determination process.

[OCamilla]

I passed the subject one test on my second attempt. The first time I was foolish enough to mistake the straight-ahead sign for a one-way street. The exam rules are actually quite lenient, allowing two attempts per appointment. But be mindful of the retake interval—after two attempts, I had to wait two weeks to reschedule. The DMV system keeps track of exam records, and you must complete all tests within three years. From personal experience, the penalty questions are the hardest to remember. I printed out common penalties like speeding and drunk driving and stuck them on my fridge, memorizing them even while brushing my teeth. The question bank updates quickly, so it's best to cram the new questions three days before the exam.

[LaCarmen]

The coach always says there's no limit to the number of attempts for Subject 1, but you can only take the test twice per scheduled session. The key is to keep a tight grip on the validity period—the three-year deadline after registration is like a ticking time bomb. My younger brother passed on his fourth try; the first three times he always stumbled on the same pitfall—the rules for switching between high and low beams. It's recommended to categorize your mistake collection with color codes, marking the must-know errors in red and reviewing them daily. During the exam, skip the questions you're unsure about and tackle them last using the elimination method. As long as you don't exceed 10 wrong answers, you'll pass.