Is it mandatory to shift to 4th gear in Subject 3?
2 Answers
During the gear shifting exercise in Subject 3, it is required to shift up to 4th gear. The speed requirement is between 25-57 km/h. The gear requirement specifies that when driving in 4th gear, the vehicle speed must not be lower than 35 km/h for more than 3 seconds. In other words, during the Subject 3 test, once the gear is in 4th, the vehicle speed must not drop below 35 km/h and must be maintained for over 3 seconds. The gear-speed matching standards are as follows: 1st gear corresponds to 0-27 km/h, 2nd gear to 5-37 km/h, 3rd gear to 15-47 km/h, 4th gear to 25-57 km/h, and 5th gear to 35-61 km/h.
It depends on where you take the test! Driving instructors in our area all emphasize shifting up to 4th gear because the exam grading criteria include gear shifting operations, with 4th gear being the highest required. I remember on my driving test day, my instructor specifically reminded me to engage 4th gear for about 5 seconds during the straight-line driving section, maintaining a speed between 30 to 40 km/h for safety. However, friends who took the test in northern regions mentioned some test routes are shorter, allowing them to pass using only 3rd gear throughout. The most reliable approach is to thoroughly understand your local test center's requirements in advance. Sometimes exam vehicles have different gear configurations - if you encounter an old manual-transmission Santana, you might pass by using only 2nd and 3rd gears, but practicing gear shifts more is always safer.
