Part three of the Approved Driving Instructor test: instructional ability

What you'll be tested on in part three of the Approved Driving Instructor test

The third part of the Approved Driving Instructor (ADI) examination assesses:

• the quality of your instruction
• your ability to pass your knowledge on to pupils

The test is in two parts - each of which lasts about half an hour. You will be asked to show your knowledge and ability by giving practical instruction to the examiner, who will play the role of a pupil.

The examiner will play two of the following roles:

• a beginner or partly trained pupil
• a pupil who is about test standard
• a qualified driver taking driver development training

For each of the two roles, the examiner will choose a test that includes a preset combination of two of these exercises:

• safety precautions on entering the car, and explanation of the controls
• moving off and making normal stops
• driving the vehicle backwards and while so doing entering limited openings to the right or left
• turning the vehicle round in the road to face the opposite direction, using forward and reverse gears
• parking close to the kerb, using reverse gears
• practical instruction in how to use mirrors and how to make an emergency stop
• approaching and turning corners
• judgement of speed and general road positioning
• dealing with coming out onto T-junctions
• dealing with all aspects of crossroads
• dealing with pedestrian crossings and giving appropriate signals by using your indicator and your arm in a clear and unmistakable manner
• meeting, crossing the path of and overtaking other vehicles, including allowing enough clearance to include following distance for other road users

It is essential that you understand what this test calls for. You should listen very carefully when the examiner explains what is needed for each part. If you don't understand, you should ask the examiner to repeat the explanation. Bear in mind that during the exercises the examiner is acting as a pupil with various levels of experience.

A supervising officer may also sit in on the test. They are there to check the examiner - not you. They will not have any say in how your test is carried out, or in the result.

Subjects covered in this guide

• Introduction
• What you'll be tested on in part three of the Approved Driving Instructor test
• Vehicle and insurance requirements for part three of the Approved Driving Instructor test
• What happens during part three of the Approved Driving Instructor test
• Core competencies in part three of the Approved Driving Instructor test
• Instructional techniques you must show in part three of the Approved Driving Instructor test
• Instructor characteristics you must display in part three of the Approved Driving Instructor test
• Improving your chances of passing part three of the Approved Driving Instructor test
• What happens if you pass - or fail - part three of the Approved Driving Instructor test
• How to book part three of the Approved Driving Instructor test

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