The game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas on mobile devices offers the same deep gameplay as the original version, but controls on the touch screen require special skill. One of the most difficult and important stages for beginners is driving school in Los Santos. It is here that you not only learn to drive, but also unlock unique bonuses that will greatly facilitate the passage of the main storyline.
Many players encounter difficulties when passing exams due to the unusual physics of transport on emulators or the mobile version. In this detailed guide, we'll break down each test, give management tips, and explain why earning gold medals is critical to your progress. Only by earning all the gold badges will you unlock access to special cars that will appear in garages across the state.
Before you start practicing, make sure you save your game before entering the school building. This will allow you to roll back if you fail without losing hours of progress. Let's look at where the educational institution is located and how to properly prepare for the tests.
Where to find a driving school and how to start learning
The driving school is located in the Doherty area in the city of Los Santos. On the map it is indicated by an icon in the form of a steering wheel or the inscription “Driving School”. To start training, you need to drive up to the building in any car and enter through the green marker zone. The interface of the mobile version may slightly block your view, so it is recommended to adjust the transparency of the buttons in the settings menu.
Inside you will meet an instructor who will offer you a list of tests. They are divided into several categories: basic driving, parking, extreme driving and working with motorcycles, the complexity of which increases with each level. To begin, select the first available test from the list. There are 12 tests to complete, the difficulty of which increases with each level. To begin, select the first available test from the list.
⚠️ Attention: In the mobile version, the physics of wheels may differ from the console version. Before starting serious tests, practice in free mode to get used to the turning radius and accelerator sensitivity on your device.
Successful completion depends not only on skills, but also on understanding the conditions of the task. At the top of the screen you will see a timer and a list of requirements (for example, “do not knock down the cones” or “meet within the standard”). Violating any of the conditions leads to an instant failure of the test, regardless of how much time you have left.
Basic tests: turns and parking
The first tests in a driving school are devoted to developing basic maneuvering skills. You have to make a 180 degree turn, park in a confined space and reverse. It would seem simple, but on the touchscreen it’s easy to overdo the gas or jerk the steering wheel sharply.
When parking, use the camera for a better view. In the control settings, you can enable the “third person” view with maximum distance to see the dimensions of the car. Car models in the game they have different inertia, so for tests it is better to choose light cars, if the game allows you to choose, or get used to the standard Banshee or Perennial.
- 🚗 For precise parking, release the gas in advance and use short-term brake presses.
- 🎯 Watch the cones: even a light touch is counted as an error in some versions of the port.
- ⏱️ Do not chase the time record in the first tests, the main thing is clean execution without penalties.
Pay special attention to the “Reversal” test. You need to turn around on a narrow road without hitting the curbs. On Android, this is convenient to do by combining pressing the brake button and turning the steering wheel in the opposite direction to create a skid if you are driving a sports car.
Use the "Look Back" function, if it is displayed, to better control the distance when reversing.
Complicated maneuvers: snake and extreme driving
The next stage includes driving along a snake between cones and extreme passage of narrow sections. The smoothness of the inputs is important here. Turning the steering wheel sharply on the touchscreen often results in loss of control. Try to predict the trajectory of movement 2-3 cones ahead.
In the Snake test, the secret of success lies in minimal use of the brake. Release the gas before entering a turn and gradually add it on the exit. If you start to brake inside the snake, the car may skid and you will knock out the markings. Inertia GTA SA is realistic, and heavy cars continue to slide even after you stop pressing the gas.
| Test name | Basic complexity | Tip for Android |
|---|---|---|
| 90 Degree Turn | Accuracy of entering a turn | Brake to the turn line |
| 180 Degree Turn | Skid control | Use the handbrake briefly |
| Alley Oop | Narrow corridor | Keep the car strictly in the center |
| Poppin' Wheelies | Balance on the rear wheel | Press the gas rhythmically |
The "Alley Oop" test requires driving through a very narrow concrete corridor. Any contact with the walls means failure. Here it is recommended to reduce the sensitivity of the steering wheel in the settings, if such an option is available in your version of the game, or just drive your finger very slowly and smoothly.
☑️ Preparing for complex tests
Motorcycle tests and balance
A separate block of tests is dedicated to motorcycles. For many players, this is the most difficult stage due to the instability of two-wheelers. You will need to drive on the rear wheel (wheelie), go through a slalom and perform jumps.
To perform wheelie, you need to accelerate, sharply pull the steering wheel towards you (or press the corresponding button for lifting the front wheel) and maintain balance with the gas. If the front wheel drops, add gas. If the motorcycle falls backwards, release the gas or press the brake. This requires fine motor skills of the fingers on the glass of the smartphone.
⚠️ Attention: If falling from a motorcycle at high speed, CJ can receive critical damage or die, which will lead to mission failure and loss of money for treatment in the hospital.
In jumping tests, it is important not just to take off, but also to land on two wheels. If you land on your side or on one wheel at a steep angle, the test will fail. Use the inertia of the ramp to level the motorcycle in the air.
The secret to easily passing motorcycle tests
If you find it too difficult to control the motorcycle on the touchscreen, try connecting a physical gamepad via Bluetooth. This radically changes the driving experience in GTA mobile ports.
Rating system: bronze, silver and gold
Each test is graded using a three-point system. Receiving Bronze a medal means that you simply completed the task, but made mistakes or met the deadline with a large margin. Silver a medal is given for good performance with minimal flaws.
To receive gold a medal, you must fulfill all the conditions perfectly: do not knock down a single cone, do not go off the road and meet a strict time limit (usually this is a time close to the instructor’s record). Gold medals provide the greatest bonus to respect and unlock the most valuable rewards.
Don't be discouraged if you don't get gold the first time. The game mechanics allow you to retake tests an infinite number of times. Analyze your mistakes: if you don’t stay on time, look for a more optimal trajectory; if you knock down cones, reduce your speed before the maneuver.
Rewards for completing and their meaning
Why do you even need to try to get all the gold badges? The fact is that awards in a driving school are not just decorative. They affect the gameplay. For example, receiving all the gold medals gives you access to unique car models that spawn in certain locations.
Among the rewards you can find such rare cars as Hotring Racer (racing car) and improved versions of sports cars. In addition, completing the school significantly improves CJ's driving skill, making cars more stable on the road and allowing him to perform more difficult tricks in normal game mode.
- 🏆 All Bronze: Unlocks some cars in garages.
- 🥈 All Silver: Additional bonuses and respect.
- 🥇 All gold: Full access to exclusive transport and max. skill.
⚠️ Attention: The mobile game interface can be updated by developers. The location of control buttons or the sensitivity of physics may change in different versions of the client, so check the current settings in the options menu.
Completing a driving school for gold is an investment of time that will pay off with convenient and fast transport throughout the game.
Frequent problems and technical tips
Android players often complain that the car does not obey the steering wheel or brakes with a delay. This may be due to low frame rate (FPS). Make sure your graphics settings are set to the optimal quality for your device. High FPS ensures smoother and more predictable physics.
An oily screen can also be a problem. Wipe the display before playing and use the "Game Mode" on your smartphone to disable unnecessary gestures and notifications that may interfere with control at a critical moment during the test.
If you are stuck on a certain test and nothing helps, try changing the car (if the game allows you to choose before starting) or temporarily switch to other missions to "cool down" and return to driving school with fresh energy and skills.
Where to find saved games on Android
Usually they are in the folder /Android/data/com.rockstargames.gtasa/files/GTA San Andreas User Files/, but access to it may be limited in new versions of Android.
Is it possible to skip driving school and pass game without it?
Technically, you don’t have to go through the driving school at all, the plot will not be blocked. However, you will miss out on unique cars and bonuses, and your driving skill will only grow through practice in regular missions, which takes much longer.
Why is it more difficult to drive on Android than on PC?
The lack of tactile feedback and limited screen area make precise dosing of gas and brakes difficult. Virtual buttons do not give the same control as physical keys or pedals.
What should I do if the test does not count, although I did everything correctly?
This is a known bug of some ports. Try reinstalling the game or checking the integrity of the files. Sometimes taking the test again immediately after saving helps.
What is the most valuable reward for a driving school?
The most valuable is the unlocking of the racing car Hotring Racer, which appears in the driving school garage after receiving all the gold medals. This is one of the fastest cars in the game.
Do I need to go through moto-school separately?
Yes, motorcycle tests are part of the overall driving school app in Los Santos. They come as a separate block, but also affect the overall progress and receipt of final awards.