What is the failure rate for Subject 1 of the driving test?
3 Answers
The failure rate for Subject 1 of the driving test is approximately 60%. Here are some tips for the Subject 1 exam: 1. Remember three sets of numbers: "261", "145", and "520". These correspond to visibility of 200 meters, speed limit of 60 km/h, and distance of 100 meters; visibility of 100 meters, speed limit of 40 km/h, and distance of 50 meters; and visibility of 50 meters, speed limit of 20 km/h, and exiting the highway as soon as possible. 2. Right-of-way principles: Turning vehicles must yield to straight-moving vehicles; at intersections without traffic signals, yield to vehicles coming from the right; right-turning vehicles must yield to left-turning vehicles.
I've seen many newcomers nervous about the first driving test, but the failure rate isn't as high as imagined, usually fluctuating between 10% to 20%, depending on the city and the difficulty of the question bank. For example, it's stricter in big cities like Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou, while smaller places are a bit more relaxed. The key is to systematically review the question bank—don't just memorize answers; understand the principles of traffic rules, such as the meaning of traffic signals or right-of-way judgment, which can also help avoid risks when driving in the future. I often advise friends to use apps for practice questions and take three mock tests a week. If you fail, don't be discouraged—try a few more times, and it will get easier. Experience tells me that with two weeks of serious preparation, the pass rate can reach 90%. In short, stay calm, build solid knowledge, and pass with ease.
I remember when I was learning to drive, the instructor always said that not many people fail the first subject, probably around 15%. Back then, I spent an hour every day memorizing all the question types through a test bank app, and eventually passed on my first try. A lot of the exam content was common sense, like pedestrian priority and speed limits, but don’t underestimate the tricky questions—misreading them can easily lead to mistakes. In fact, a low failure rate doesn’t mean you shouldn’t put in effort. The more you practice, the less anxious you’ll be. Learning to drive is a necessary step, and building a solid knowledge foundation helps you make fewer mistakes on the road. Looking back now, that review period was also quite helpful for real-world driving situations.
