Which is more difficult, Automatic Transmission Subject 2 or Subject 3?
3 Answers
Automatic Transmission Subject 2 and Subject 3 vary in difficulty depending on individual learning circumstances. Here is relevant information: 1. Subject 2: Also known as the small road test, Subject 2 is part of the motor vehicle driver's license assessment, specifically referring to the field driving skills examination. Starting from June 1, 2021, the "slope fixed-point parking and starting" item will be removed from the Subject 2 examination for small automatic transmission vehicle driver's licenses. 2. Subject 3: Subject 3 includes the road driving skills test and the safe and civilized driving knowledge test, which are part of the motor vehicle driver's license assessment. It is the abbreviated term for the road driving skills and safe and civilized driving knowledge examination in the motor vehicle driver's test. The content of the road driving skills test varies for different types of vehicles eligible for driving.
Personally, I think the automatic transmission Subject 2 test is harder, especially during practice at the exam site. The reverse parking and parallel parking sections require extreme precision—if you don’t steer accurately, you’ll easily cross the line and fail. As a beginner just learning to drive, repeatedly maneuvering in a confined space really tested my spatial awareness and left me flustered. In comparison, Subject 3 on the road has more vehicles, but with an automatic transmission, you don’t need to shift gears—just focus on braking, accelerating, and watching road signs, which feels more freeing. Of course, I’m not saying Subject 3 is easy—it has its challenges too, like quick reactions to traffic lights or emergency lane changes—but overall, the mechanical repetition of Subject 2 drove me crazier. Looking back now, passing Subject 2 in one go requires mastering marker points first; otherwise, failing to build a solid foundation would be troublesome. The small space of the test center makes the margin for error especially high.
From my experience learning to drive, the road test for Subject 3 is indeed more challenging. After all, there's no gear-shifting hassle in an automatic transmission car, but it requires you to be fully alert—keeping an eye on traffic flow while memorizing the examiner's instructions doubles the mental pressure. The maneuvers in Subject 2, like S-curves and right-angle turns, seem more controllable as long as you familiarize yourself with the test layout beforehand. But once on the road, failing to change lanes promptly or misjudging traffic signals can instantly lead to point deductions or failure. Honestly, I think automatic transmission makes Subject 2 easier—eliminating clutch-related stress—but the adaptability required in Subject 3 truly tests driving maturity. I recommend practicing more on simulators to sharpen reflexes rather than just rote memorization, as real-road unpredictability is hard to anticipate.
