What to Learn First in Subject 2?
3 Answers
In Subject 2, you generally start by familiarizing yourself with the gear positions and related equipment inside the car, then practice driving straight, followed by reverse parking. Each instructor may have a slightly different order, but the overall process includes reverse parking, parallel parking, 90-degree turns, curve driving, and hill starts. Below are the relevant details: 1. Reverse Parking: Since the clutch travel of the exam car may differ from the training car, it's crucial to get a feel for the clutch height before starting the reverse parking section. Maintaining a steady speed—neither too fast nor too slow—ensures you won't miss the steering timing even under exam pressure, and allows ample time for adjustments. 2. Parallel Parking: Similar to right-side reverse parking, controlling the speed well makes it easier to hit the reference points and steer at the right time. Pay special attention to both side mirrors to avoid crossing the lines, so the final left full-lock steering timing is critical. 3. 90-Degree Turns: It's recommended to use the shoulder line and the corner of the test lane as reference points, as they won't vary much even with a different exam car. 4. Curve Driving: During curves, observe both side mirrors closely and adjust promptly. 5. Hill Starts: Hill starts heavily test your skill in using the clutch's half-engagement point. Start slowly, and when the clutch reaches half-engagement, release both the clutch and brake gradually—releasing too quickly may stall the engine.
In the early stages of learning to drive for Subject 2, instructors usually start with the parallel parking exercise because it's fundamental and effectively develops spatial judgment. That was exactly my experience when I first started—spending half an hour daily practicing reverse parking in the training area, aligning reference points while steering, and controlling the clutch to slowly reverse. Initially, I kept crossing lines or hitting poles, but after a few weeks, I got familiar with the car's dimensions and steering angles. Parallel parking is the core among the five exercises in Subject 2; other maneuvers like perpendicular parking and hill starts rely on this skill as a transition, and it also reduces on-road risks. My advice for beginners is to focus intensely on practicing this, combined with the instructor's guidance. Don’t rush—internalize each small improvement, and the overall progress will accelerate.
From the perspective of exam success rate, prioritizing learning hill start in Subject 2 is quite wise. This test item assesses the coordination of clutch and brake. Mastering it early can help stabilize throttle control, laying a foundation for reverse parking and parallel parking. During my practice, I noticed that mistakes in hill starts are common among beginners, such as the car rolling back or stalling. However, with more practice, one can become proficient. Combining theoretical knowledge, such as understanding engine torque and brake principles, can boost confidence in practical operations. Remember, take it step by step without rushing. Set a daily goal to focus on one aspect, like stopping accurately first, then tackling the uphill. Accumulating these skills will lead to a higher overall pass rate.
