Which is Easier, Subject One or Subject Four?

[McPhoebe]

Generally, Subject Four is considered easier than Subject One, as it primarily covers common knowledge related to traffic and road safety. Below is an introduction to the Subject Four exam: 1. Required Documents: Items needed for the Subject Four exam include an ID card, student permit, exam records, etc. Some locations may also require photos for the driver's license. If the driving school handles the Subject Four exam registration, usually only an ID card is required. The driving school will provide the student permit and records before the group trip to the DMV for the exam. 2. Exam Scope: Depending on the type of driver's license being tested, 50 questions are randomly selected from the corresponding Subject Four question bank. For car licenses, questions are drawn from a pool of 1,235, while for large vehicle licenses, questions are also drawn from 1,235. Each question is worth 2 points.

[SanZachary]

Anyone who has taken the driver's license test knows that Subject 1 is the theoretical exam when you first start learning to drive. The questions are extremely varied, requiring rote memorization of traffic markings and penalty point rules. Although Subject 4 is also a written test, it focuses on practical knowledge of safe driving, such as how to handle a flat tire or when to turn on lights in tunnels. I personally find Subject 4 much easier—there's no need to memorize as many numbers, and the questions are scenario-based. Our driving instructor always says, 'Subject 4 tests your driving brain.' With just three days of practice, you're pretty much guaranteed to pass, making it far less stressful than the grueling Subject 1.

[Valerie]

I just got my license last year. The fourth subject test only had 50 questions, all multiple-choice or true/false, while the first subject test required answering 100! The most frustrating part was the fine-related questions in the first subject—I kept mixing up whether it was 200 or 2000. The fourth subject was all about safety knowledge, like what to do when seeing a school bus stopped or how braking distance increases on rainy days—all very practical in daily life. I remember during mock exams, I often barely passed the first subject with around 90 points, but consistently scored above 95 in the fourth subject.

[DelDakota]

The questions in Subject 4 are more practical. During my exam, I encountered mostly animated and real-scenario questions. For example: a picture shows a slippery road on a rainy day, asking what the safe following distance should be. Such questions can be answered correctly just by looking at the scenario, unlike Subject 1 which is full of cold numbers and symbols. Although the question types are simpler, many people fail because of the multiple-choice questions. For instance, when asked which steps to choose for first aid for an injured person, missing just one option results in an immediate wrong answer.

[SanKevin]

I've taught many students who said the Subject 1 test is like a liberal arts exam, requiring memorization of over 2,000 questions. Subject 4 feels more like an open-book test, with questions mostly falling under 'safe driving knowledge' and 'civilized driving requirements.' Here's a tip: when answering Subject 4 questions, put yourself in the driver's seat—for example, choose to yield to the right when an ambulance flashes its lights, or slow down and stop for pedestrians at crosswalks. Using common sense is much easier than rote memorization.

[HaydenAnn]

The numbers speak for themselves: Our driving school has a 75% pass rate for Subject 1 and 90% for Subject 4. The challenge in Subject 4 lies in the 10 multiple-choice questions, but adhering to the 'safety first' principle will get you through. For example, when asked how to handle a tire blowout on the highway, the correct answer is always 'firmly grip the steering wheel and brake gently'—while 'slamming on the brakes immediately' is invariably wrong. From a practical standpoint, the knowledge from Subject 4 proves useful from your very first day behind the wheel.