Preparing For DVSA ADI Part 3

Preparing For DVSA ADI Part 3, Test Of Ability To Instruct

The Test of Ability to Instruct, DVSA ADI Part 3, is a practical test of your ability to teach.

It is not just giving directions and telling the learner that they have done something wrong.

Candidates are being assessed for their teaching ability, not just that any information that you give is factually correct. Candidates are being assessed as teachers.

The DVSA ADI Part 3 Test lasts about 1 hour, and an examiner sits in the back seat of the car, observing the candidate give a driving lesson.

The prospective driving instructor taking DVSA ADI Part 3 is delivering a real driving lesson to a client.

The client will have been selected by you in advance of the test, and you would have previously had a conversation with the client, regarding the goals of the lesson to be conducted.

For the best preparation you will have delivered lessons to your client previously, that way you will have continuity with the lesson being delivered, you will already know the client’s ability, and what topics they have already learnt, you will also know how they respond in different circumstances, and how they learn best.

The client used for the DVSA ADI Part 3 does not have to be a provisional licence holder preparing for a driving test.
The client can be either a provisional driving licence holder, or a full driving licence holder, or a foreign driving licence holder, provided they are legally entitled to drive in the UK.

The only people that you are not allowed to use as a client for a DVSA ADI Part 3 is a qualified driving instructor, or someone that has passed DVSA ADI Part 2, The Test of Driving Ability.

When a full licence holder is used as the client, it is important that a real driving lesson is delivered, suitable for the client's real driving ability.
Any attempt by the client to role play a learner driver, or to simulate driving errors, will almost certainly result in a failed exam.

DVSA ADI Part 3 Preparation

The candidate for a DVSA ADI Part 3 Test is able to plan and prepare many aspects of the driving lesson to be delivered on the test:

• The choice of client to teach
• The choice of lesson goals, in conjunction with the client
• The lesson plan, in conjunction with the client
• The route or area in which the lesson is conducted, flexibility is necessary though depending on how the lesson progresses

Even though the lesson can be planned and prepared, the potential driving instructor needs to have done sufficient training and preparation to enable them to teach anything, or deal with any situation that may arise during the driving lesson, and be able to answer any question asked by your client.

There are various reasons why the planned and prepared driving lesson may need to be changed

• The client performs worse than anticipated; and a more basic topic needs to be revised
• The client performs better than anticipated; and it is necessary to move on to another lesson goal or topic
• Actions or behaviour of another road user; which can result in an unexpected topic arising that needs to be addressed
• The client may ask an unexpected question; which can result in an unexpected issue arising that needs to be addressed
• The client may give an unexpected answer to a question; which can result in an unanticipated issue arising that needs to be addressed

The prospective driving instructor needs to have done sufficient training, practice and preparation that they are prepared, as a teacher, to deal with any situation that may arise.

After passing the DVSA ADI Part 3 Test, a driving instructor needs to be able to:

• Teach any client ranging from the complete beginner, to drivers with many years of experience
• Teach clients that are shy, timid, nervous or lacking confidence
• Teach clients that are positive, assertive, confident, or even over confident
• Teach any driving topic, ranging from basic car control through to driving at an advanced level
• Explain any driving procedure or topic
• Demonstrate an expert knowledge of driving, and related matters, (bearing in mind that no one knows everything)

Preparation for DVSA ADI Part 3, Test Of Ability To Instruct has various elements:

• Training sessions with Driving Instructor Trainers
• Reading and study
• Some skills can be practised alone
• Planning and preparing driving lessons
• Practice with real clients, probably using a Trainee Licence

Preparation for DVSA ADI Part 3 should be thorough, both to ensure success on the test, but also to ensure that as a driving instructor you have the knowledge and skills necessary to be confident and successful when teaching real clients

Pages in the Preparing For DVSA ADI Part 3 Section of the Driving Instructor Trainers website:

Sections of the Driving Instructor Trainers Website: