How Many Times Can You Take the Subject One Test?
4 Answers
There is no limit to the number of times you can take the Subject One test, and it does not count within the three-year time limit. According to the "Regulations on the Application and Use of Motor Vehicle Driving Licenses," you can take the Subject One test twice on the same day. If you fail the first attempt, you can take a free second attempt. If you fail the second attempt, the Subject One test for that day will be terminated, and you can only schedule another test after ten days. Subject One, also known as the theoretical test or driver theory test, is part of the motor vehicle driving license assessment. The test content includes driving theory basics, road safety laws and regulations, local regulations, and other related knowledge. The test is conducted on a computer and has a time limit of 45 minutes. To pass the Subject One test, you need a score of 90 out of 100. The test consists of 100 questions, including single-choice and true/false questions, with each question worth 1 point. If you answer 11 questions incorrectly during the test, the system will automatically submit the test and end the session. Subject One test content: Driving 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; Special knowledge for wheeled self-propelled machinery, trams, and trolleybuses. Subject One test precautions: Candidates should pay attention to their attire during the test—no slippers are allowed. Electronic devices and bags are prohibited in the examination 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 a locker before entering the examination room. Upon entering, verify your identity at the assigned station, find your seat, and begin the test. Ensure the camera is aligned with you and follow test discipline. If you fail the first attempt, you can retake the test the same day. If you fail again, you must pay to reschedule. After the test, queue to collect your score report and sign it—unsigned reports are invalid. Precautions: There is no limit to the number of times you can take Subject One, but Subject Two and Subject Three are limited to five attempts each. If you fail all five attempts, the previously passed road driving skill test scores remain valid. There are three subjects in the driving test: Subject One, Subject Two, and Subject Three. Subject One refers to the test on road traffic safety laws, regulations, and related knowledge; Subject Two refers to the field driving skill test; Subject Three consists of two parts: road driving skills and safe and civilized driving knowledge. The safe and civilized 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 Order No. 123) does not include "Subject Four."
There is actually no limit to the number of attempts for the Subject 1 exam, but it's important to note that the exam validity period is only three years, starting from the day you first register. Within these three years, you can keep scheduling the exam until you pass, but each appointment must wait for the driving school to arrange the time. I've seen people who were too eager and signed up repeatedly without fully grasping the knowledge points, resulting in failing five times. It's recommended to wait three to five days after each exam, thoroughly categorize and review the wrong questions before trying again, which is more efficient than blindly retaking the exam. If you do fail, don't panic—you can schedule the next exam as early as the next day. The key is to thoroughly understand the more than 1,700 questions in the question bank, as the exam questions are becoming increasingly flexible nowadays.
When I took the Subject 1 test before, I was also worried about the number of attempts. The instructor said you can take it as many times as you want within the three-year validity period. However, you have to pay for the retake fee yourself, which is about 50 yuan each time. It's best to do more mock tests before the exam, as there are real question banks available on mobile apps. I remember someone at our test center passed on their fourth attempt, and the types of mistakes they made were similar each time—they just didn't pay enough attention to their error notebook. Actually, each appointment requires about a 7-day wait, and during this time, focusing on frequently missed questions is particularly effective. During the exam, you have two chances—you can answer the same test paper twice.
The theoretical exam (Subject 1) has no limit on the number of attempts, but must be completed within three years. The booking system schedules only one exam per subject at a time, with a 10-day waiting period for retakes after failing. The retake fee varies by region, ranging from 30 to 80 RMB, and in my case, it was paid via QR code. Key point: On exam day, you get two attempts—if you fail the first time, you can immediately retake the same set of questions. It's recommended to separately review sign recognition and traffic police gesture questions, as these are common pitfalls. Consistently scoring above 95 in mock exams is a good indicator of readiness.
