Is simulator training mandatory for Subject 2?
2 Answers
Subject 2 requires simulator training. According to the "Road Traffic Law of the People's Republic of China," learners must complete the designated hours of simulator training before taking the Subject 2 exam. The "Regulations on the Application and Use of Motor Vehicle Driving Licenses" clearly states that no more than 4 hours of training can be completed per day, and a total of 16 practical training hours plus 4 theoretical hours must be fulfilled before scheduling the exam. The term "simulator training hours for Subject 2" refers to the minimum number of training hours required before taking the exam. For C1 licenses, Subject 2 requires 16 hours, while for C2 licenses, it requires 14 hours. Certain topics within Subject 2, such as "standard operation of controls," "vehicle inspection and adjustment before starting," "driving under adverse conditions," "mountain road driving," and "highway driving," can be taught using driving simulators, totaling 4 hours. Taking the most common C1 and C2 training models in driving schools as examples, Subject 1 requires 12 hours of training, while Subject 2 requires 16 hours for manual transmission (C1) and 14 hours for automatic transmission (C2). This means learners must complete 16 hours of training for Subject 2 before they can schedule the exam. Subject 2, also known as the "small road test," is part of the motor vehicle driving license assessment and refers to the field driving skills test. For C1 and C2 licenses, the test includes five mandatory items: reverse parking, parallel parking, stopping and starting on a slope, right-angle turns, and curve driving (commonly known as the S-curve). Some regions may also include a sixth item: highway toll card collection.
When I was learning to drive, I also struggled with this issue. Actually, it mainly depends on the driving school's requirements. In our area, the vehicle management office doesn't strictly require simulator training, but most driving schools recommend students to practice for at least a few hours. My instructor said that for complete beginners who have never touched a car, practicing steering wheel control and finding the clutch's half-engagement point on the simulator is particularly useful, especially when it's inconvenient to practice with a real car in rainy weather. Another advantage of simulators is that they don't consume fuel and there's no risk of scratches, allowing repeated practice of test items like reverse parking. However, real car practice is definitely indispensable, as the steering wheel feel and clutch pressure are completely different. I suggest you directly ask your instructor about local regulations. If it's not mandatory, practicing for about three hours to familiarize yourself with basic operations based on your situation should be sufficient.
