Agree the lesson
At the start, you and your pupil agree what the lesson will focus on and discuss how risk will be managed.
ADI PART 3
Show that you can teach, not just drive.
ADI Part 3 is the final qualifying test. A DVSA examiner watches you deliver a real driving lesson and assesses how effectively you plan, manage risk and help your pupil learn.
ADI PART 3 AT A GLANCE
45
Approx. 45-minute lesson
17
Competencies assessed
51
Maximum possible score
31
Minimum overall pass score
WHAT IS ADI PART 3?
A real lesson with a real pupil.
Part 3 is a test of your instructional ability and your ability to deliver a safe, effective, client-centred lesson.
The examiner sits in the car and observes you teaching one of your pupils. They are looking at how well you adapt the lesson to that pupil rather than whether you can perform a rehearsed routine.
Your pupil should be actively involved in the lesson, making decisions, reflecting on their driving and developing greater understanding and independence.
Ask Marcus about Part 3 →
WHAT HAPPENS ON THE TEST?
About 45 minutes of real teaching.
The examiner watches how the whole lesson develops, from agreeing the goal through to your pupil's final reflection.
Deliver the lesson
Your pupil drives for around 40 minutes while you adapt your instruction, questions and support to what is happening during the lesson.
Manage the risk
You remain responsible for safety while helping the pupil take an appropriate level of responsibility for their own driving.
Help learning happen
The examiner looks at how well your teaching helps the pupil understand, practise, evaluate and improve.
Review the lesson
At the end, your pupil should be given the opportunity to reflect on what went well, what needs improvement and what comes next.
£111
This is the current DVSA fee for an ADI Part 3 instructional ability test.
THE PART 3 MARKING SHEET
17 competencies, three key areas.
Each competency is scored from 0 to 3. The examiner uses the evidence from the whole lesson when deciding each score.
Lesson planning
How well the lesson is matched to the pupil's needs, ability and agreed goals, and whether the lesson develops appropriately as circumstances change.
Risk management
How effectively you identify, manage and respond to risk while helping your pupil understand their own responsibilities for safety.
Teaching & learning strategies
How effectively you communicate, question, explain, give feedback and adapt your teaching to help the pupil learn.
THE OFFICIAL MARKING SHEET
See exactly what the examiner is marking.
The ADI Part 3 marking sheet shows all 17 competencies used by the examiner during your instructional ability test.
Each competency is scored from 0 to 3 across lesson planning, risk management and teaching and learning strategies.
0–3
Score available for each competency
17
Competencies assessed
31
Minimum overall score to pass
51
Maximum possible score
Marcus's advice
Don’t try to “tick off” 17 separate boxes during your lesson. Good lesson planning, risk management and teaching naturally work together.
HOW PART 3 IS SCORED
Every competency contributes to the result.
The 17 competencies are each scored from 0 to 3, giving a maximum possible score of 51.
A score of 31 or more is required to pass, but your overall total is not the only consideration. Risk management is particularly important and can affect the result independently of your total score.
See How Part 3 Is Marked
PART 3 RESULTS
0–30
Fail
A total score below 31 does not meet the required standard.
31–42
Grade B
A passing standard that allows you to join the ADI register.
43–51
Grade A
This indicates a high standard of instruction.
!
Risk management matters
A score of 7 or less in the risk management category results in an automatic fail.
ADI PART 3 ADVICE
The questions candidates often have before Part 3.
Part 3 is not about performing a rehearsed lesson or collecting techniques. The examiner is looking for evidence that you can deliver safe, effective teaching that responds to the pupil in front of you.
What catches candidates out on ADI Part 3?
One common problem is concentrating so hard on the marking sheet that the lesson stops being about the pupil.
Weak lesson goals, giving too much unnecessary instruction, failing to adapt when the pupil needs something different and missing opportunities to explore safety-critical situations can all reduce the evidence available to the examiner.
Part 3 works best when you teach the pupil rather than trying to demonstrate 17 separate competencies.
What does client-centred learning actually mean?
Client-centred learning means putting the pupil's needs, ability and development at the centre of the lesson.
It does not mean letting the pupil control everything. You remain responsible for managing risk and providing the level of support they need.
Sometimes that means asking questions and encouraging the pupil to find their own solution. At other times it may mean giving clear instruction, explanation or demonstration.
Do you have to use coaching on Part 3?
No. Part 3 is not a test of how many coaching questions you can fit into 45 minutes.
Coaching is one useful teaching approach, but DVSA guidance makes clear that it does not replace instruction. The important thing is choosing an approach that matches the pupil's needs at that moment.
A pupil who is struggling with something new may need direct instruction. A more experienced pupil may benefit from questions, reflection and greater responsibility.
How does the examiner score the 17 competencies?
Each competency is scored from 0 to 3 across the three categories of Lesson Planning, Risk Management and Teaching & Learning Strategies.
A score of 0 means the required evidence has not been demonstrated, while a score of 3 means the examiner has seen evidence of all the elements expected for that competency.
The maximum total score is 51.
Explore all 17 competencies →What causes an automatic fail on Part 3?
You automatically fail if you score 7 or less in the Risk Management category.
You will also automatically fail if the examiner has to stop the lesson because your actions or instruction have put you, the pupil or another road user in danger.
This is why good Part 3 teaching must always balance learning with effective risk management.
What happens if you fail ADI Part 3?
If your first or second attempt is unsuccessful, you can book another Part 3 test provided you remain within the qualification rules.
If you are working on a trainee licence under the additional training option, you may also need to complete further training before your next attempt.
If you fail Part 3 for the third time, you must stop giving paid driving lessons immediately and any trainee licence becomes invalid.
You then have to restart the qualifying process in line with the DVSA rules.
Understand the attempts and two-year rule →What happens after you pass ADI Part 3?
Passing Part 3 completes the three qualifying tests. You can then apply to join the Approved Driving Instructor register and receive your first ADI badge.
DVSA currently requires you to apply within 12 months of passing Part 3. If you leave it longer than that, you would have to pass all three qualifying tests again.
Once registered, you can work as a fully qualified ADI, whether you choose to work independently or as part of a driving school.
PART 3 TRAINING
Learn to respond, not perform a script.
Strong Part 3 performance comes from understanding your pupil and knowing how to adapt when the lesson does not unfold exactly as expected.
Marcus will help you understand what the competencies actually look like in a real lesson, rather than simply trying to memorise phrases for the examiner.
Client-centred lessons
Learn how to involve the pupil in setting goals, solving
problems and evaluating their own driving.
Risk management
Develop the judgement needed to balance pupil responsibility
with your responsibility for safety.
Real lesson analysis
Review what happened, why it happened and how your teaching
choices affected the pupil's learning.
PREPARE BEFORE YOU BOOK
You have three attempts.
Part 3 is the final stage, but it is not one to rush.
You can retake Part 3 after a first or second failure, provided you remain within the qualifying rules. If you fail your third attempt, you cannot simply book a fourth attempt.
The aim of your training should therefore be to reach a consistent teaching standard before test day, not simply to practise a single test lesson.
WORKING TOWARDS PART 3?
Train with Marcus.
Whether you are just beginning Part 3 training, working on a trainee licence or need help after an unsuccessful attempt, Marcus can help you work out what needs to improve.