What are the rules for scheduling driving school exam appointments?
4 Answers
Driving school exam appointment scheduling rules are as follows: For first-time applicants scheduling the Subject 1 exam, the application date for initial driver's license or license upgrade serves as the scheduling sequence reference. For repeat Subject 1 exam scheduling, the date of the previous exam serves as the sequence reference. If a successfully scheduled examinee cancels due to personal reasons, the cancellation date becomes the new sequence reference. For cancellations due to non-personal reasons, the original sequence remains unchanged. Subject 2 scheduling is based on the passing date of Subject 1. For Subject 2 retakes, the previous Subject 2 exam date serves as the sequence reference. Maximum scheduling attempts for both Subject 2 and Subject 3 road driving skills exams are five times each (i.e., ten total exam opportunities). If the fifth attempt still fails, all previously passed subjects become invalid, requiring the student to restart from Subject 1. Subject 1 exam content includes driving theory fundamentals, road safety laws and regulations, and local traffic rules. Subject 2 refers to the field driving skills test, with C1/C2 vehicle tests comprising five mandatory items: reverse parking, parallel parking, hill start, right-angle turns, and S-curve driving. Subject 3 refers to the road driving skills and safe driving knowledge test. Subject 4, also called the theoretical exam, is part of the driver's license assessment.
I just finished my Subject 3 driving test last week, and I have a lot to say about the appointment scheduling rules. Driving test appointments are mainly handled through the 12123 Traffic Management APP. First, you must complete all required course hours before you can book a test, and the system will automatically review your eligibility. There are two types of appointment scheduling: self-scheduling allows you to choose from available slots within the next 10 days, while system-assigned scheduling randomly allocates a faster slot but doesn’t let you pick the time. Here’s the key point: the system prioritizes candidates based on certain rules—first-time test-takers are ranked by their registration date, while retakers are ranked based on their last test date. If you cancel an appointment, you’ll be pushed back in the queue. So, don’t cancel lightly! Once your appointment status shows as 'under review,' just wait—results usually come out three days before the test date. I recommend refreshing the page at 8 a.m., as the system tends to lag during peak hours. Booking a weekday slot also increases your chances of success.
As an experienced instructor, I advise students to do three things before making an appointment: complete the required training hours, check the test center location, and avoid holiday peaks. The process is straightforward: log into the 12123 APP, click on exam appointment, select the subject and test center, then available dates will appear. Note that dark-colored dates indicate full capacity, while green ones are available. You can schedule up to five exams at once, but only one can be successfully booked. In special cases like illness, canceling one day in advance won't count toward your limit. Here's a lesser-known fact: the system allocates test slots based on registration order, so early registration does provide an advantage. Remember to bring your ID card on the exam day, and don't delete the confirmation SMS as it's required for entry verification.
My son got his driver's license last year, so he's quite familiar with the rules. The key to booking is choosing the right time. The system usually opens 15 days before the test, depending on the test center's schedule. The operation is very simple: just use the 12123 APP to select the date and time slot in the exam module. If you fail to book for the first time, don't panic, you can try again after seven days. I want to remind everyone of two points: first, avoid booking on weekends as slots are limited; second, you can only confirm whether the booking is successful three days before the test, so don't book tickets or hotels in advance. Additionally, older candidates should note that those over 70 need to undergo a separate medical examination before they can book the test.
