Top Tips for the ADI Part 3 Test

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The ADI Part 3 is the final hurdle before you qualify as a fully badged UK driving instructor — and it's the one that trips most trainees up. It's not a written exam or a theory check; it's a real, live lesson judged on how well you actually teach. Here's what to expect and how to give yourself the best shot.

The format in brief. You bring along a genuine pupil — either a learner or a full-licence holder — and deliver a lesson of your choosing. A DVSA examiner sits in the back and observes for around 45 minutes. They score you across 17 competencies grouped into three areas: Lesson Planning, Risk Management, and Teaching & Learning Strategies. Total marks out of 51. Score 31–42 and you get a Grade B. Score 43+ and you hit Grade A — the gold standard.

Tip 1: Pick the right pupil. Choose someone who'll genuinely benefit from the lesson topic you plan. Nervous learners can actually work in your favour — they give you more to coach.

Tip 2: Go client-centred, not instructor-led. The examiner wants to see you asking, not telling. Use Q&A, draw diagrams, get the pupil self-assessing. Avoid the temptation to dictate.

Tip 3: Manage risk out loud. Don't just take the wheel when things go wrong — verbalise your thinking, reinforce learning, and only intervene when safety demands it.

Tip 4: Recap and goal-set. Start with a clear agreed objective, check understanding throughout, and end with a proper debrief. Examiners love visible structure.

Tip 5: Treat it like a normal lesson. Easier said than done, but candidates who perform best forget the clipboard in the back and focus on the learner in front.

Prepare like you'd teach — and you'll pass like you planned.