What are the requirements and penalty items for gear shifting in Subject 3 driving test?
3 Answers
The requirements and penalty items related to gear shifting in Subject 3 driving test are introduced as follows: I. Requirements for gear shifting: Accurate and smooth gear shifting, with appropriate speed matching the corresponding gear. II. Penalty items related to gear shifting include: 1. Starting or driving in the wrong gear without timely correction, deduct 10 points. 2. Prolonged mismatch between gear and speed, causing excessively high or low engine speed, deduct 100 points. 3. Looking down at the gear or failing to engage the gear twice in a row while driving, deduct 100 points. 4. Gear collision during gear shifting, deduct 10 points. 5. Failing to smoothly shift gears as instructed, deduct 100 points. 6. Mismatch between vehicle speed and gear, deduct 10 points.
During my driver's license training, the gear shifting exercise in Subject 3 was a core test requirement, demanding smooth operation to avoid jerking. Specifically, it required upshifting to second gear when reaching around 20 km/h and to third gear at 40 km/h, while downshifting promptly when speed dropped below 10 km/h to first gear. There were many point deductions: 5 points for jerking due to incomplete clutch depression, 10 points for incorrect gear selection like using a high gear at low speed, and severe deductions for untimely gear shifts. Initially, I struggled with coordination, often stalling due to poor clutch control. However, daily driving practice helped me master the clutch-throttle coordination, and now looking back, frequent practice leads to automatic reflexes. During the test, maintaining situational awareness is crucial—don’t just focus on the dashboard and neglect safety.
I just passed the Subject 3 test, and the gear shifting part really made me nervous for a while. The requirement was to operate smoothly, like shifting to second gear when the speed reaches 15-20 km/h—too fast or too slow would be wrong. The penalty points were scary: a noticeable shake during gear shifting costs 5 points, delayed clutch engagement causing jerking costs 10 points, and I almost shifted to the wrong gear. My instructor said beginners like me often make mistakes by focusing only on the speedometer and forgetting to watch the road. During practice, I needed to simulate test conditions to get used to combining speed control with visual awareness. Safety comes first, and although the test route is safe, distractions must be avoided. Timely gear shifting helps reduce mistakes.
