How many years after passing Subject 1 must Subject 4 be completed?
4 Answers
Subject 4 must be completed within three years after passing Subject 1. According to the "Regulations on the Application and Use of Motor Vehicle Driving Licenses," the validity period of the study driving certificate is three years, but the expiration date must not exceed the upper age limit for application. Applicants must complete Subject 2 and Subject 3 exams within the validity period. If the exams are not completed within the validity period, the passing scores of the already completed subjects will be invalidated. Subject 1, also known as the theoretical exam or driver theory exam, is part of the motor vehicle driving license assessment. The exam content includes driving theory basics, road safety laws and regulations, local regulations, and related knowledge. The exam format is computer-based, with a time limit of 45 minutes. Subject 1 consists of 100 single-choice and true/false questions, each worth 1 point. If 11 questions are answered incorrectly during the exam, the system will automatically submit the exam and end the test. Subject 1 exam 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; Specialized knowledge for wheeled self-propelled machinery, trams, and trolleybuses. Subject 1 exam precautions: During the exam, students should pay attention to their attire—no sandals are allowed, and electronic devices and bags are prohibited 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 items in lockers before entering the exam room. Upon entering, verify your identity at the assigned seat and begin the exam. Ensure the camera is aligned with you and follow exam discipline. If you fail the first attempt, there is a retake opportunity on the same day. If you fail again, you must pay to reschedule. After completion, queue to collect your score sheet and sign it; unsigned sheets are considered invalid. There is no limit to the number of times you can schedule Subject 1. Each subject exam allows one retake if you fail. If you do not attend the retake or fail it, the exam session ends, and you must reschedule. However, Subject 2 and Subject 3 only allow five exam attempts each, and rescheduling must be done at least ten days later. If you fail the Subject 3 safety and civilized driving knowledge test, the passing score for the road driving skills test remains valid. The driving test consists of three subjects: 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 safety and civilized driving knowledge. The safety and civilized 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."
After passing Subject 1 last year, my driving school instructor emphasized that all subsequent subjects, including Subject 4, must be completed within three years. These three years are counted from the day you pass Subject 1, and you absolutely cannot delay too long. At that time, I was young and carefree, thinking I had plenty of time. However, Subjects 2 and 3 turned out to be extremely challenging, taking me nearly two years to complete. Subject 4 was the final step, and I only got my driver's license after passing it. A friend of mine waited until the end of the third year to take the test, facing enormous pressure and worrying about expiration. If you exceed the three-year limit, you'll have to retake Subject 1, wasting all the exam and training fees, and start learning traffic rules from scratch. My advice is to plan your schedule immediately after passing Subject 1—don’t wait until the deadline. Strike while the iron is hot to save yourself the hassle. Remember, a driver's license is your life pass—complete it early and enjoy the freedom sooner.
As a parent, my daughter told me the rules right after she got her driver's license: you must complete Subject 4 within three years of passing Subject 1. These three years are the validity period. Once it expires, you have to retake Subject 1, which not only costs thousands more but may also face policy changes. She was busy with work, but my reminders helped her finish on time. Life moves fast—three years may sound long, but the actual time spent on practice and waiting in line for tests can be draining. Don’t make the same mistake as my neighbor’s child who neglected it. Arrange Subjects 2 and 3 training early, and Subject 4 will be a breeze. A driver’s license is an essential skill—relearning after expiration is tougher. As someone who’s been through it, I always advise young people to act early and avoid losing big for small gains. Safe driving starts with completing all subjects.
As a busy office worker, I checked the policy right after passing Subject 1: I must complete all subjects within three years. This rule ensures knowledge stays updated, but the timeframe isn't long – it's easy to forget when work gets hectic. I've planned a tight schedule, squeezing in one day per week for driving practice to finish in six months. If delayed too long and Subject 1 expires, I'd have to retake it, wasting both money and energy. My advice for office workers: schedule intensive weekend sessions for Subjects 2 and 3, and take Subject 4 early to avoid delays.
