When to Start Gear Shifting in Subject Three?
2 Answers
When hearing the voice prompt "Please perform gear shifting," the examinee should adjust the gear to 2nd gear, sequentially upshift to 5th gear, maintain a speed exceeding 40km/h in 5th gear, and then sequentially downshift back to 2nd gear. The relevant instructions are as follows: 1. Remember one principle: Accelerate before upshifting, decelerate before downshifting. Keep in mind one key point: Upshift at multiples of five, downshift at multiples of zero. 2. During upshifting, first gently press the accelerator to increase speed. When the speed reaches 15 km/h, shift to 2nd gear; when reaching 25 km/h, shift to 3rd gear; at 35 km/h, shift to 4th gear; and at 45 km/h, shift to 5th gear. 3. During downshifting, first gently apply the brakes. When the speed drops to 40 km/h, shift to 4th gear; at 30 km/h, shift to 3rd gear; at 20 km/h, shift to 2nd gear; and at 10 km/h, shift to 1st gear.
As a driving instructor, I often get this question. There's no fixed timing for gear shifting operations in Subject 3 (road test) - it's entirely up to the examiner's discretion based on actual road conditions and the candidate's performance. Typically, a few minutes after the test begins when the vehicle is stably moving on straight or safe road sections, the examiner will instruct you to start gear shifting practice. For example, after accelerating to 30km/h from start, you'll be asked to upshift to 3rd gear, then downshift back to 2nd when decelerating. The key is smooth operation without rushing - novices often fail due to jerky gear changes causing stalling. I recommend practicing simulated test scenarios, paying attention to clutch-throttle coordination during gear transitions while maintaining steady speed. The test evaluates driving fluidity - you can practice gear shifts this way during daily driving too, not just through rote memorization.
