Driving instructor - the exams
The ADI qualifying examination
The DSA ADI qualifying examination is in three parts:
Part 1: Theory - consists of a multiple-choice test on a touch screen computer and a video based hazard perception test & on the same computer.
Part 2 : Driving - consists of an eyesight test, show me tell me safety check questions followed by a practical driving test all conducted at the same sitting.
Part 3: Instructional ability - consists of a practical test of the ability to instruct (You instruct the driving examiner).
Once you have passed Part 1 you are required to undertake and pass the two remaining parts within two years. You are permitted an unlimited number of attempts at Part 1, however for Part 2 and Part 3 you are only allowed three attempts at each test. Should you fail a third attempt at Part 2 or Part 3 you would have to restart qualification again after 2 years had elapsed from your Part 1 pass date [caution, do not attempt part 1 to early, because the 'clock starts ticking' & before you know it your two years are up].
Waiting time for Part 1 is about 6 to 8 weeks because you need to pass a Criminal Record Bureau check before you can sit the exam. Waiting time for a Part 2 or Part 3 test appointment is also about 6 to 8 weeks, which means the exam process itself from start to finish can be around 18 to 24 weeks minimum, there may be other delays.
Driving instructor - theory test
Part 1: Theory - Multiple choice section
Multiple Choice Test: This section tests your knowledge of the Highway Code and other instructional matters via a Personal Computer and lasts for 90 minutes. You are asked 100 questions with optional voice over. For each question four answers are shown on the screen and you are required to select the answer you think is correct. To pass you are required to answer 85 questions correctly overall (including 20 within each of the 4 subject groups tested, also known as bands). Below is a list of the topics covered and which band or group (i.e. 1 to 4) they belong to:
- 1. Road procedure (25 questions)
- 2a. Trafic signs and signals (5 questions)
- 2b. Car Control (10 questions)
- 2c. Pedestrinas (5 questions)
- 2d. Mechanical knowledge (5 questions)
- 3a. Driving test (10 questions)
- 3b. Disabilities (5 questions)
- 3c. The law (10 questions)
- 4a. Recommended publications (10 questions)
- 4b. Instruction knowledge (15 questions)
For people with reading difficulties there is a voiceover that you can request or you may ask for additional time within which to complete the test.
Driving instructor - hazard perception test
Hazard perception section of driving instructor theory exam
Multiple Choice Test: This part tests your ability to identify moving hazards ahead that are likely to cause you to slow down, stop or change direction. You are required to watch 14 video clips, each filmed from the drivers eye view of a car as it drives down the road. Each time you see a moving hazard start to develop you should click the computer mouse button to let the program know you have seen the hazard. The earlier you see the warning signs and click the mouse button the higher your score could be, clicking far to early might mean you miss the marking window, clicking to late might give you lower marks or none at all. A maximum of 5 can be scored on any hazard and a total of 15 hazards are shown, at least 1 per clip, with one clip having 2. To pass this test you have to score 57 out of a maximum possible score of 75, which means you have to be scoring at least 4/5 on each clip unless you of course manage six 5's & nine 3's!
Driving instructor - driving test
Part 2: Driving test for a driving instructor
The Part 2 instructor driving test closely resembles the current car-driving test for learners in format and content. However, the eyesight test requires you to see a number plate at a slightly longer distance (i.e. 27.5 metres or 26.5 metres depending on the width of the lettering), the duration of the test is longer to allow you to undertake all the set manoeuvres and you are expected to perform to a higher standard. Unlike the L test you are only permitted a maximum of 6 minor driving faults and what constitutes a minor driving fault may be more harshly assessed.
Driving instructor - instructional exam
Part 3: Instructional ability for a driving instructor
The Part 3 test requires you to give two half-hour driving lessons on subjects chosen by the examiner. The examiner plays the role of a pupil and whilst in that role he or she tests your ability as a driving instructor by asking questions and making mistakes. In particular, the examiner will expect you to explain the objectives of the driving lesson (i.e. what you hope to achieve) and give a briefing where required, provide appropriate verbal support while on the move to aid the learning process and to identify and deal with any faults that might occur. Your performance for each driving lesson will be graded from 1 to 6 with grade 4 and above being a pass. Therefore the minimum you need to pass part 3 is a 4/4. Grade 4 is adequate, grade 5 is good and grade 6 is excellent.
Driving instructor - the trainee licence
Trainee Licence Scheme for a driving instructor
Once you have passed the first two parts of the Approved Driving Instructors (ADI) qualification process, have found a suitable driving school to sponsor you and have had at least 40 hours of Part 3 training (of which a minimum of 10 hours must be in-car training) you can apply for a trainee licence to help you gain experience instructing pupils to drive.
A trainee licence allows you to be legally paid for giving driving instruction. The trainee licence lasts only six months and normally only one is granted in the two year qualifying period. Please note the Trainee Licence automatically terminates should you fail a third attempt at Part 3. Under certain exceptional circumstances it is possible to have the licence extended beyond the six months period if you can show through no fault of your own that you have not been able to fully utilise the license.
To obtain a trainee licence you have to be sponsored by, and work with, an established driving school and for each trainee sponsored the school has to have a fully qualified driving instructor operating with them. Each trainee licence holder also has to receive an extra 20 hours of Part 3 training (of which a minimum of 5 hours must be in-car training on either a 1-to-1 or 2-to-1 basis) within the first three months of the licence or prior to taking their first attempt at Part 3 while on a trainee licence if sooner.
Conditions of a trainee licence
The conditions under which a licence is granted by the DSA are:
- You are only authorised to give instruction for the school whose address is shown on the licence (i.e. the sponsoring driving school)
- You must not advertise yourself as a fully qualified instructor
- You must receive 40 hours practical Part 3 training from a qualified ADI (preferably DSA ORDIT registered) before your apply for your licence of which at least 25 per cent must be in-car training either 2-1 or 1-1. It is your responsibility to make sure that you receive training in each of the specified subjects. You must submit a completed Instructor Training Declaration (ADI 21T) with your application and have it signed on behalf of the sponsoring driving school and the trainer or trainers if more than one was used.
You must also abide by one of the following conditions:
Condition 1
- You must receive supervision for 20 per cent of all lessons you give from your sponsoring ADI
- A record of all lessons given, along with the supervision received must be kept on the form ADI 21S which will be issued with the licence, this must be signed by you and your ADI and must be returned to the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) as soon as the licence expires; or
Condition 2
- You must receive a minimum additional 20 hours of Part 3 training covering all the specified topics
- This extra training must take place within the first three months of the licence or before you take your first attempt at part three, whichever is the soonest
- A record of this training must be kept on the form ADI 21AT, and must be sent to DSA before the end of the three month period, or presented to the examiner conducting the part three test, whichever is the earliest
- At least 25 per cent of the training will have to be practical in-car training either 2-1 or 1-1 and again the trainer or trainers must sign the form to confirm the required training has taken place.
Displaying the trainee licence
When instruction is being given the licence must be displayed in the bottom left hand corner of the front windscreen. The use of the licence is your own responsibility. No refunds will be given for any period when the licence is not used.
If you cannot make full use of your licence and you have to stop giving tuition, return it to the issuing office immediately. If your trainee licence is lost or stolen you should report it to the police and to the DSA straight away.
Driving instructor - ORDIT registered driving schools
About ORDIT
ORDIT was set up by the Driving Standards Agency with the support of the major driving schools and trade associations (i.e. DIA - Driving Instructors Association, MSA - Motor Schools Association, NJC - National Joint Council of ADI's, DISC - Driving Instructor Scottish Council). ORDIT was set up to protect the public from substandard training by setting a 'minimum' standard of competences for training providers. ORDIT is managed by the DSA and members failing to maintain the required standard may be removed (or feel compelled to resign) from ORDIT.
To have your driving instructor training approved by the DSA and the various industry associations listed above you must join ORDIT and have your driving instructor trainers tested by the DSA every two years. The DSA only approve training from ORDIT organisations.
What ORDIT is not
Being on ORDIT does not guarantee that the company is financially sound or that it will provide sufficient driving instructor training to pass the necessary examination or provide the training in a timely manner or deliver the career promises it may have made. However, it does ensure the trainers were able to satisfy a minimum standard when they were last inspected by the DSA.
Regarding the above, the DSA state the following disclaimer on its website and in the ORDIT booklet it supplies.
The Agency does not check an organisation's financial standing and inclusion in the Register should not be taken as a measure of its financial stability. Similarly, the Agency has no role in contractual disputes which are matters for the parties to that contract to resolve and the DSA is therefore unlikely to intervene in such matters.
Why would companies not be on ORDIT?
At the moment ORDIT is a voluntary scheme and to join it does require a driving instructor training organisation to pay a membership fee of £117.50 plus a fee for each premises and trainer inspected by the DSA every two years of between £86.36 and £227.65 per trainer and £227.65 per premises. These are the only costs involved in being a member of ORDIT. Some non-ORDIT driving instructor training organisations use these costs as a reason for not being part of the scheme or they make various false claims that ORDIT is about to be scrapped or some other misleading claim. You really shouldn't be giving any money to an organisation that cannot afford these nominal DSA inspection and membership fees!
If an organisation is not on ORDIT it is probably because they do not wish to be bound by the ORDIT code of practice or employ the services of properly DSA ORDIT qualified driving instructor trainers throughout their driving instructor training programme. Alternatively, it is simply because they couldn't reach the required minimum training standard.
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