At my school, two days ahead of the exam, everyone who participated in the last class was given a "preparation" paper, and we were ordered to memorize all of the questions and answers.

The preparation paper turned out to be identical to the real thing, and I got 97. This was how the school could get the 95 percent pass rate it claimed in its ads, even for students who only attended the final class.

After passing the exam, I felt a little worried, since I couldn't remember any of the supposedly crucial figures and laws I was taught in the traffic regulation classes. My training centered around meaningless tricks, not real content.

And for the practical exams on the roads, despite national regulations demanding at least 10 basic driving skills, examiners normally test only two to three items within a quick 5 minutes, because they confidently believe that randomly chosen two to three items could well prove the students' overall driving skills. Students are also often expected to bring "gifts" of cigarettes to the examiner.

Examiners don't have the patience to test all items. One typical test involved driving 20 meters on a straight road and then stopping. In comparison, the practical component of a driver's license exam in the US typically takes about 30 minutes and tests a wide variety of skills.

This is what most training institutions proudly advertise "quick courses" and "high pass rates." Under such training method, 90 percent of students, despite barely being able to drive, are still licensed to take to the road.

I've had a driver's license for two years now, but I still haven't tried to drive a car myself. Actually, I am planning to hire a tutor during the Chinese New Year's holiday, find a closed area, and practice my skills again.

Why bother? Well, maybe because I don't want to kill anyone.

The author is a media commentator. viewpoint@globaltimes.com.cn