Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas remains the standard of open worlds even decades after release, and the mobile version of the game allows you to enjoy the legendary plot anywhere. However, for many Android players, the real stumbling block is the starting location of Los Santos, namely Driving School. This is not just optional entertainment, but a critical element of progress, without which access to key missions and vehicles is blocked.
The problem is aggravated by the complexity of controls on the touch screen, where the lack of a physical keyboard requires increased coordination from the player. In this article, we will analyze in detail all the stages of passing a driving school, from simple exercises to extreme driving, give advice on setting up the interface and help you get the coveted gold medals.
Access to the driving school and basic settings
Before getting behind the wheel, you need to find a school building that is located in the area Doherty, north of downtown Los Santos. On the map it is indicated by a car icon with the letter “S”. When you approach the shining marker, you will see the inscription “Press Right to Enter” (or a similar hint in Russian, depending on the localization). To enter, you need to press the corresponding action button, which is usually located in the lower right corner on the touch screen.
Inside you will be met by an instructor The Truth (in original) or simply a faceless trainer who will explain the rules. There are a total of 12 lessons in the school, divided into three difficulty categories. It is important to note that you do not need special skills to start learning, but a basic understanding of the physics of the game is required.
Before starting, it is strongly recommended that you go to the control settings. Go to Options → Controller Setup → Custom. Here you can increase the size of the gas and brake buttons, and also move the handbrake button to a more accessible area of the screen. This is critical for parking exercises.
Use the ability to change the camera angle during lessons. Sometimes the view from the interior (First Person) helps to more accurately assess the dimensions of the car when parking, although the third-person view is more familiar.
Entry-level lessons: Drift and Snake
The first tests seem simple, but this is where the foundation for obtaining gold medals is laid. First lesson - Drift. You need to accelerate and enter the turn, keeping the car in a skid as long as possible. On Android, the difficulty lies in simultaneously pressing the gas and turning without losing control.
The second exercise is “Snake” (Slalom). Here you need to go around the cones without knocking them over. The main mistake beginners make is too high a speed. It is better to go through the track slowly but cleanly than quickly but with penalties. The third lesson is reverse parking, where you need to carefully drive the car into the garage without hitting the walls.
- 🚗 To drift, use a short pulse of the handbrake before turning, and then gradually add gas.
- 🚧 When parking, be guided by the rear-view mirrors, and not just by the general camera.
- ⏱️ Don't try to set a time record on the first stage - focus on accuracy.
Remember that time is constantly ticking, and any stop or collision with a cone will add penalty seconds to your final result. The table below shows the approximate requirements for obtaining a gold medal in the first lessons (time may vary slightly depending on the version of the game and the type of transport).
| Lesson | Task | Requirement for Gold (sec) | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Drift | Hold the skid | ~10-12 sec in the skid | Low |
| 2. Snake | Go around the cones | Less than 35 seconds | Average |
| 3. Parking | Garage entry | Less than 70 seconds | Average |
| 4. 90 degrees | Sharp turn | Less than 25 seconds | High |
☑️ Preparing for the first lesson
Medium level: Extreme driving
At the average level of difficulty, the requirements increase. Here there are lessons on passing narrow overpasses and driving in reverse along a winding road. A particular challenge is the Alley Oop lesson, where you need to accelerate and drive across a narrow wooden structure without falling.
For successful completion on Android, use the time acceleration function or simply take short pauses, if the game allows, to adjust the trajectory. However, in the classic version, pausing stops the timer, which is an advantage. The main thing is to keep the gas exactly in the middle, since sharp presses on the sensor can lead to loss of traction.
⚠️ Attention: On narrow overpasses, the slightest touch of the side can turn the car over. If you feel that the car is starting to roll, immediately release the gas and straighten the wheels.
Another difficult test is reversing in a straight line while accelerating. You need to develop high speed while looking in the rearview mirror (or simply moving backwards) and brake in time in the specified zone. The braking distance on the mobile version may feel different due to the lack of recoil vibration, so start braking early.
The secret of passing an overpass
If you fall off an overpass, do not restart the lesson immediately. Sometimes the game will bug and count the completion if you fall at the very last second, but the timer has not stopped yet. However, this is not a guaranteed method, it is better to go through honestly.
Advanced level: Racing and Stunts
The final stage of training turns the driving school into a real training ground for stuntmen. Here you have to perform Ditch Jump and Cross Country Race. The Race lesson (City Circuit) requires not only speed, but also knowledge of the ideal trajectory for cornering.
In a lesson with a ditch jump, it is critical to gain enough speed before the ramp. If you fall short, time will be lost turning around. If you fly over and turn over, the lesson will have to start over. Use all available acceleration on a straight line in front of an obstacle.
- 🏁 In races, cut corners by driving to the side of the road if there are no barriers.
- 🚀 For jumps, use a car with good suspension, if the choice is given.
- 🛑 Brake before the finish line in advance to Do not crash into the wall after completing the test.
The last lesson is often the most difficult due to the combination of all the skills learned. You will need to demonstrate perfect vehicle control under extreme conditions. Errors here are very expensive, since the amount of time is minimal.
Rewards for completion and their impact on the game
Why waste time on these tests? The reward depends on the number of medals received. If you complete all lessons with at least bronze, you will gain access to certain types of vehicles in the school garages. Obtaining all silver medals will unlock rarer cars.
Only receiving all 12 gold medals gives access to the unique Hotring Racer car and special racing missions on stadium. In addition, completing the school significantly increases the character's driving skill, which makes driving any vehicle in the game more responsive and resistant to damage.
It is also worth noting that some missions in the story (for example, hijacking planes or difficult chases) become much easier if your character is already a driving virtuoso. The game takes this hidden parameter into account when calculating the physics of the car.
Gold medals in all 12 tests is the key to unlocking racing missions in the stadium and getting the best racing car in the game.
⚠️ Warning: The interface of the mobile version may overlap important elements of the track (cones or overpass edges). Before complex lessons, try to temporarily hide the interface in the settings, if such an option is available in your version of the client.
Frequent problems and technical nuances on Android
Android players often encounter the problem of “phantom clicks” or insufficient sensor sensitivity during sharp turns. If your car doesn't respond to steering inputs as quickly as it does on a PC, try lowering your graphics settings. This will increase FPS (frames per second), making controls smoother and more predictable.
Another common problem is the device overheating during long sessions of trying to pass a difficult lesson. When overheating, the processor resets its frequencies, the game starts to slow down, and the timer goes forward while you fight against lags. Take breaks between attempts.
If you are using an external gamepad (Bluetooth controller), make sure that it is correctly detected by the system. In the game settings, select the “Gamepad” control mode. This greatly simplifies driving school, since analog sticks provide much more precise control of gas and brakes than touch buttons.
If the game crashes while loading the lesson, clear the application cache in the Android settings. Temporary data files are sometimes damaged and cause conflicts when loading specific mission scripts.
FAQ: Questions about driving school in GTA SA
Is it possible to skip driving school and continue the story?
No, completing at least part of the driving school lessons is a prerequisite for progressing along the storyline. Without this, you will not be able to access the next missions of your father's characters.
What if I can’t get a gold medal in the last lesson?
Try to learn the track by heart. Watch walkthroughs on YouTube specifically for the mobile version, as the physics may differ. Also make sure that you have the "Classic Controls" option turned on or set the steering sensitivity to maximum.
Is progress saved if I leave the game during a lesson?
Progress within the current lesson is not saved. If you exit during a task, you will have to start that particular test over again when you return. However, medals already received are saved automatically.
Does the phone model affect the difficulty of passing?
Indirectly, yes. On phones with high refresh rates (90Hz or higher), controls feel smoother, making fast-paced stages easier to navigate. On older devices with low FPS it is more difficult to get into a narrow opening.