Why is it difficult to schedule the Subject 3 driving test?
4 Answers
Scheduling exam slots is not on a first-come-first-served basis, but determined by overall ranking numbers. The ranking rules are quite simple: For first-time Subject 1 test applicants, the scheduling time is based on when the user initially applied for a motor vehicle driver's license. For non-first-time Subject 1 test applicants, the scheduling time is based on the date of the last exam. Additional information: Subject 3 test precautions: Starting with doors not fully closed results in failure. Failing to check interior/exterior mirrors or look back to observe traffic conditions before starting results in failure. Starting the engine with gear not in neutral results in failure. Starting without releasing the parking brake and failing to correct promptly results in failure. Starting without releasing the parking brake but correcting promptly deducts 10 points.
I have deep feelings about how hard it is to book a slot for Subject Three of the driving test. Last year when I was getting my license, I waited for months without success, mainly because there are just too many people learning to drive, especially during summer vacations when students sign up in droves. Securing a spot feels as competitive as grabbing train tickets during the Spring Festival travel rush. Plus, with limited test sites—only a few in each city—the daily test capacity is low, leaving many people refreshing the system all day without getting a slot. I’ve also heard that in some areas, pandemic-related reductions in test capacity have caused severe backlogs. To make it easier, I’d suggest signing up early to avoid peak periods or asking your instructor to help monitor the system for openings. In the end, I barely managed to book mine, so I’d remind everyone to check local test resource availability before starting driving lessons—it’ll save a lot of hassle.
As someone who frequently accompanies trainees, I've observed that the difficulty in booking the Subject 3 test lies in the overwhelming demand far exceeding the supply. The driving school boom continues to surge, with large numbers of trainees from each school eager to take the test, but the examination venue resources and the number of examiners haven't kept pace. Particularly, the fixed and limited number of test slots means only a certain number of people can be accommodated each day, and the online booking system often crashes, leaving trainees struggling to secure a spot. Contributing factors like urban traffic planning adjustments and unreasonable test zone layouts further exacerbate congestion. The best solution would be to optimize the booking mechanism, such as limiting slots by district or adding evening test sessions, to make the learning process smoother. In short, systemic bottlenecks require coordinated efforts from all parties to alleviate.
From the examination center's perspective, the difficulty in scheduling Subject 3 stems from insufficient allocation system design and resource gaps. The surge in applicants far exceeds capacity, with rigid constraints like limited examiner shifts and tight venue availability. The online platform crashes during peak periods, causing widespread complaints. External factors such as slow equipment upgrades further exacerbate queuing pressure. Accelerated digital improvements are needed to balance supply and demand.
