Is there an examiner in the passenger seat during the Subject 2 driving test?
4 Answers
No. During the Subject 2 driving test, you are alone in the car; for the Subject 3 test, there is a safety officer in the passenger seat. The entire Subject 2 test is monitored by a computer, with only you in the car—no examiner—and a surveillance camera positioned at the front right. Introduction: Subject 2, also known as the small road test, is part of the motor vehicle driver's license assessment and is the abbreviation for the field driving skill test. Test Content: The C1 car test items include five mandatory tests: reverse parking, parallel parking, stopping and starting on a slope, right-angle turns, and curve driving (commonly known as S-turns). Some regions also include a sixth item: high-speed card collection. The C2 test items include four mandatory tests: reverse parking, parallel parking, right-angle turns, and curve driving (commonly known as S-turns).
Last time I took the driving test for Subject 2, the examiner indeed sat in the passenger seat and monitored my operations throughout the entire process, which made me feel particularly nervous. The examiner supervised in real-time during maneuvers like reversing into the parking space and parallel parking. If I made any mistakes, he would immediately point them out or intervene. The whole examination process was very fair, but the pressure was higher because the examiner had to ensure safety and prevent cheating. Nowadays, most test centers are set up this way, as student drivers are prone to mistakes, and having an examiner present allows for timely braking control. I’ve also heard that some places use monitoring systems instead of having a person in the passenger seat, but in the early stages or smaller locations, human supervision is still common. After the test, the examiner provided feedback to help me improve my skills. I’d suggest you clarify the rules before the test to avoid any unexpected situations.
As someone long involved in driving tests, whether there's an examiner in the co-pilot seat for Subject 2 depends on specific test center arrangements. Some locations have examiners sitting in the car throughout to monitor students' movements, score them, and promptly address safety issues; others rely on camera surveillance with examiners in the control room. The primary reason is to ensure safety, allowing examiners to directly intervene when students operate unskillfully, such as mistakenly pressing the accelerator. Rules vary across regions, with efficient test centers shifting to electronic proctoring, though most traditional centers retain manual methods. Experience tells me that when preparing, students should familiarize themselves with venue requirements and stay calm—having an examiner present can actually provide practical guidance.
Regarding the presence of an examiner in the co-pilot seat during the Subject 2 driving test, what I know is that examiners are often there for supervision. During the test, they observe operational details such as starting and parking to ensure no mistakes are made. At some test centers, examiners might only provide guidance from outside, but generally, their presence in the co-pilot seat is common. This setup is primarily for safety and fairness considerations, as having an examiner on-site can prevent accidents or assist in handling issues. With technological updates, some areas have replaced human supervision with monitoring systems, but traditionally, manual supervision is still in place. In short, when taking the driving test, pay extra attention and ask your driving school in advance to find out more.
