
In Subject 3, the minimum speed for second gear should not be lower than 15 km/h, and the maximum speed should not exceed 30 km/h. For gears 1, 2, and 3, the engine speed should not drop below 800 RPM, otherwise the engine may stall, and it should not exceed 1800 RPM. Below are the precautions for the Subject 3 road test: 1. If a candidate fails the fingerprint verification, they must exit the vehicle to re-collect their fingerprint before rejoining the test queue. 2. If a candidate's score falls below the passing threshold during the test, the system will automatically prompt them to pull over. Once the pull-over maneuver is completed, the system will indicate the next test phase. 3. After completing all required test items and driving a distance of more than 3 kilometers, the system will automatically prompt the candidate to pull over. Upon hearing the pull-over instruction, the candidate should choose a clear curb (or solid road edge line) along the test route and complete the maneuver safely. The system will then announce the test results. 4. When walking around the vehicle to inspect its appearance and surroundings, maintain a distance of within 1 meter from the vehicle body to ensure accurate radar signal detection.

I remember during my driving test for Subject 3, the instructor kept reminding me, 'Never exceed 20 km/h in second gear!' Although the car itself could definitely go faster in second gear, the test rules stated that exceeding 20 km/h would be considered a gear-speed mismatch, resulting in an automatic fail. When practicing with a Jetta or Santana, the engine would only be around 1500 RPM at 20 km/h, running very smoothly. However, I once secretly accelerated to 30 km/h, and the car clearly started to roar—definitely don’t try that during the test. The key is to watch the dashboard; as soon as the needle hits 20, you should prepare to shift to third gear. Nowadays, test cars are equipped with GPS and sensors for real-time monitoring.

Last time when I accompanied my wife practicing for the License Test Part 3, I finally understood how strictly the speed limit for the second gear is set. Although the car itself can go over 30 km/h, the exam system has a hard limit of 20 km/h. During practice with the coach car, I noticed: at 18 km/h in second gear, it runs very smoothly, but once it hits 22 km/h, the engine starts whining, and the dashboard flashes a warning light. Here’s a tip: it’s more accurate to watch the tachometer—shift gears immediately when it exceeds 2000 rpm. During the pre-exam simulation, a fellow trainee accelerated to 25 km/h in second gear, and the system instantly announced a failure. The safety officer said this penalty is even harsher than forgetting to use the turn signal.

I've learned my lesson the hard way about second gear speed. The test requires you not to exceed 20km/h, but in reality, an old Santana can easily hit 40 in second gear. But don't take the risk! Going even 1km/h over the limit counts as a violation during the exam. I remember one trainee who, after starting at a traffic light, panicked and shifted into fifth gear instead of third, causing the car to jerk violently and fail the test. My advice is to gently tap the accelerator in second gear, glance at the speedometer as you feel the car pick up speed – developing the habit of checking your dashboard is crucial.


