How soon can I take the Subject Four test after passing Subject Three?
3 Answers
According to the "Regulations on the Application and Use of Motor Vehicle Driver's Licenses", the time varies depending on the type of license. Taking a Class C license as an example: After passing the Subject Three test, you can take Subject Four on the same afternoon, within 9 days without an appointment, or after 10 days with an appointment. Same afternoon direct test: Since Subject Four is the theoretical part of Subject Three, most cities schedule Subject Four together with Subject Three when making the appointment. Therefore, on the same afternoon after passing Subject Three, you can directly go to the Subject Four test center to take the exam. No appointment within 9 days: With the upgrade of driving test services, some cities have introduced a new model where candidates can take Subject Four within 9 days after passing Subject Three without an appointment. Candidates can go to the Subject Four test center with their ID card, and the test staff will group the candidates for waiting—those without appointments in one group and those with appointments in another—to facilitate test center management. Appointment after 10 days: The success of scheduling Subject Four depends on the current number of test-takers, the priority of the candidate, and temporary arrangements at the test center. Candidates closer to the 3-year validity period have higher priority and are more likely to secure an appointment. Additionally, unexpected events (such as a pandemic) that lead to test suspensions can also affect the success rate of appointments. Subject Four, also known as the Subject Four theoretical test or driver's theoretical test, is part of the motor vehicle driver's license assessment. It includes requirements for safe and civilized driving operations, knowledge of safe driving under adverse weather and complex road conditions, emergency handling methods for situations like tire blowouts, and post-accident handling knowledge. Subject Four Test Notes: Test duration: The test lasts 45 minutes. Number of questions: Depending on the type of license, 50 questions are randomly selected from the Subject Four question bank, with each question worth 2 points. Question types: The test includes single-choice questions (including true/false questions), multiple-choice questions, and may feature animation-based questions, picture-based questions, scenario recognition questions, and text-based questions. Retake notes: If you fail Subject Four, you only need to retake Subject Four. The driving school will schedule the retake, and there is no limit to the number of retakes. You can retake it until you pass, and no retake fees are required for Subject Four. Subject Four Test Tips: Strengthen weak areas and identify the reasons for mistakes. For marked questions, don’t just memorize the correct answer. Refer to regulations, textbooks, or reference materials to understand the reasons behind the mistakes and internalize them. Categorize and summarize questions. Refer to the question bank analysis for classification and identify similar questions. Many questions in the bank are similar and can be confusing, so it’s helpful to group them for analysis. For example, traffic signs for walking, hiking, pedestrian crossing, and pedestrian zones are very similar and easily confused. Grouping them during study can help avoid mistakes. Find memory techniques: Many questions in the bank involve numbers. Summarizing these numbers can make them easier to remember. The driving test consists of three subjects: Subject One, Subject Two, and Subject Three, with Subject Three divided into two parts. Subject Four is the colloquial term for the Subject Three Safe and Civilized Driving Knowledge Test and is not a separate subject. Subject One refers to the road traffic safety laws, regulations, and related knowledge test. Subject Two refers to the field driving skills test. Subject Three refers to the road driving skills and safe and civilized driving knowledge test. The safe and civilized driving knowledge test is conducted after Subject Three.
When I took my driver's license test last year, the driving school instructor urged me to sign up for the subject four test right after I barely passed subject three. Although the policy allows taking both tests on the same day, in practice, it depends on the exam schedule. In our small city, you can usually book an appointment within two or three days, but in big cities during peak exam periods, you might have to wait up to a week. Remember to practice questions in advance on the Traffic Management 12123 app—focus on the 1,700 questions in the database, especially those about violation cases and first aid knowledge. My cousin in Shenzhen had to grab a spot as soon as the system released slots and ended up trying four times before succeeding. My advice is not to slack off after passing subject three—use spare time daily to take mock tests to keep your skills sharp.
As a veteran driving instructor, I recommend that students take the subject four test within 10 days after passing subject three. Most test centers nationwide are now networked, making exam scheduling more flexible than before. Last week, the fastest student I coached took the test the next day, while the slowest took only three to five days. Don't idle during this gap—repeatedly watch the safe driving videos on the Driving Test Guide, especially those about nighttime lighting and bad weather questions. If you've failed subject two or three once, the system will prioritize your scheduling. Remember to confirm the test center location in advance and bring your ID card and appointment voucher.
