How to Shift from 1st to 2nd Gear in Driving Test Section 3?
4 Answers
Method for shifting to second gear: 1. You must slow down first, otherwise it will damage the engine. To downshift, first press the brake to decelerate; after deceleration is completed, immediately release the brake and press the clutch, then quickly shift from second gear to first gear. Especially when the car body shakes, quickly press the clutch with your left foot—do it firmly. Remember this: if the car body shakes, it means there's insufficient power, so downshift quickly to avoid stalling; 2. While pressing the clutch with your left foot, use your right hand to shift gears. At this time, be careful not to look down at the gearshift, as your focus should be on the road ahead. With only one hand on the steering wheel, you must firmly grip it to control the direction. The right hand should shift gears swiftly; 3. Lift the left and press the right like a seesaw—the clutch should be released slowly. After reaching the semi-engaged position, gradually press the accelerator with your right foot, but don’t press too hard. At this moment, it’s like stepping on a seesaw—one foot up, the other down.
Actually, shifting from 1st to 2nd gear during the driving test (Subject 3) is quite simple. Here's how my instructor taught me: After starting the car in 1st gear, first gently press the accelerator to bring the speed up to around 15-20 km/h. Then immediately release the accelerator pedal, quickly depress the clutch pedal all the way with your left foot without hesitation, while smoothly pulling the gear lever diagonally down to the left with your right hand to engage 2nd gear. Finally, gradually release the clutch while gently pressing the accelerator. The key points are: the clutch must be fully depressed before shifting, and you should release the clutch slowly after shifting to avoid jerking. Remember not to look down at the gearshift during the test - just glance at the speedometer with your peripheral vision to check if the speed is adequate. Forcing a shift without sufficient speed will result in point deductions.
Shifting gears requires practice to develop muscle memory. Once you start moving in 1st gear, you can prepare to shift to 2nd. During my practice, I found the key lies in coordinating the throttle and clutch: first, lightly press the throttle until the tachometer approaches 2000 rpm, then immediately release the throttle and fully depress the clutch. Move the gear lever to the left and pull it straight down. Once you feel the gear engage, hold the clutch and slowly release it. If the car jerks forward, it means you released the clutch too quickly. If it shudders, the speed isn’t sufficient. My instructor always emphasizes keeping the heel off the floor when releasing the clutch, using the ankle for finer control.
Remember not to stay in 1st gear for too long. You must shift to 2nd gear within three seconds after the car starts moving. Gently tap the throttle to reach 15 km/h and then immediately lift your foot, while pressing the clutch pedal all the way down. Your right hand movement should be decisive: first push the gear lever firmly to the left, then pull it straight down—avoid pulling it diagonally to prevent mis-shifting. You can release the clutch quickly in the first half, but pause for half a second at the biting point before fully releasing it to avoid stalling. If the car shakes excessively during gear shifting in the test, the examiner may directly fail you.
