Is Subject 4 Unlimited in Retakes?
2 Answers
Subject 4 exam has no limit on the number of retakes. The five-attempt rule only applies to the road driving skills tests for Subject 2 and Subject 3. Once the limit is reached, no further attempts are allowed, and previous scores become invalid. However, the safety and civilized driving knowledge test, known as Subject 4, has no restriction on the number of retakes. As long as the test is passed within the three-year validity period of the driving skill permit, it is acceptable. Subject 4, also referred to as the Subject 4 theory test or driver theory test, is part of the motor vehicle driver's license assessment. After the implementation of the Ministry of Public Security's Order No. 123, Subject 3 was divided into two parts: the road test and an additional safety and civilized driving knowledge test, commonly known as "Subject 4," which evaluates "driving ethics." Since this test is conducted after Subject 3, it is colloquially called Subject 4, although officially, there is no such designation. The main content of the Subject 4 exam includes: safety and civilized driving operation requirements, safe driving knowledge under adverse weather and complex road conditions, emergency handling methods for situations like tire blowouts, and post-accident handling knowledge. Depending on the type of driver's license being tested, 50 questions are randomly selected from the corresponding Subject 4 question bank in proportion. For car licenses, questions are drawn from a pool of 800, while for large vehicle licenses, they come from a pool of 1,023. Each question is worth 2 points, with a perfect score of 100 and a passing score of 90. If 6 mistakes are made during the test, the exam will automatically terminate. The Subject 4 questions are presented in text, images, or video scenarios, with question types including true/false (40%), single-choice (40%), and multiple-choice (20%). When answering, it is important to read slowly and carefully understand the question, as there is ample time. Some questions are particularly tricky; for example, a single word difference like "can" or "cannot" in the question can lead to errors. Therefore, read each question word by word to avoid unnecessary mistakes.
I just got my driver's license not long ago, so I'm very clear about this. The subject four test is not unlimited; each candidate only has a limited number of attempts. Generally speaking, if you fail the test, you can retake it a few times, but the exact number varies by region, usually between 3 to 5 times. If you fail all of them, you'll have to start over from subject one or subject three, which is quite troublesome. When I was learning to drive, my instructor always reminded us to review the theoretical part in time because the learning validity period is usually within 2 to 3 years. If you don't pass within that time, your entire driver's license application will be void. This isn't meant to make things difficult for everyone, but to ensure that every driver truly masters the safety knowledge. Looking back at my own experience, I passed the subject four test on the first try, but I have a friend who took it twice and had to spend extra time on remedial lessons. The key is to prepare thoroughly and not assume you can take the test indefinitely. Regularly practicing with the question bank and mock tests can help you avoid wasting your chances. Driving schools usually offer mock tests to help identify and fill gaps in your knowledge, which is very practical. In short, safety comes first when driving, and the test settings are designed for everyone's benefit. Don't take chances.
