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Test 1 - The Theory & Hazard Perception Test

The 1st test is, in fact, 2 separate tests that are taken during the same sitting. The Theory test is a 100-question multiple-choice test taken across the following subjects:

• Road procedures
• Traffic signs and signals
• Car Control
• Pedestrians and Mechanical knowledge
• General road safety and Driving techniques
• Medical knowledge

Once you have completed this, it's time to test your Hazard Perception skills. The Hazard Perception test is taken through 14 video clips from which you must identify at least 1 potential hazard. There are actually 15 potential hazards that you must identify, so 1 video will have 2 hazards in it! The scoring system counts down from 5 to zero, and the earlier you identify it, the more points you get, but if you're too early, you won't get any points.

If you fail 1 test, you fail both and must re-sit them both. These tests can be taken over 1 hour 45 minutes. The tests are run by Pearson Professional Services on behalf of the DVSA at many test centres across the country, and their staff will tell you at the end of your test whether you have passed or failed.

**Remember, from the date you pass your theory/Hazard Perception test, you have 2 years to complete the rest of the process, or you have to start all over again from the beginning**

You can read what the DVSA says about the ADi theory and hazard perception test here: Approved driving instructor (ADI) part 1 test: Booking your test - GOV.UK

Test 2 - The Practical

The driving ability test is broken down into the following categories.

An Eyesight Check

For the eyesight check you must be able to read a number plate from 26.5 metres for a new style number plate or 27.5 for an old style number plate. New-style number plates start with 2 letters followed by 2 numbers, e.g. AB51 ABC. If you fail the eyesight test it will be considered as 1 attempt but the test will be stopped straight away.

You must use glasses or contact lenses during the whole test if you need them to read the number plate.

You’ll fail the test if you don’t pass the eyesight test. It will count as 1 of the 3 attempts you’re allowed at the ADI part 2 test.

Vehicle Safety Questions

The Vehicle Safety Checks or Show/Tell questions as they are known are asked straight after the eyesight check. There are 19 potential questions and you will be asked 3 show questions. Which would be asked to “show” the examiner where the certain thing is and how it works. You will also be asked to “tell” me Questions during which the examiner will want you to tell them how to check something on the car for instance how you would check the brakes are working. You can get a minor driver fault for each question wrongly answered.

You’ll be asked 5 vehicle safety questions. These are also known as ‘show me, tell me’ questions.

The examiner will ask you 3 ‘show me’ questions where you’ll have to show them how you’d carry out the vehicle checks, and 2 ‘tell me’ questions where you’ll have to explain how you’d carry out the vehicle checks. You’ll get a driving fault for each incorrect answer you give.

You’ll get a serious fault and fail the test if you answer all 5 questions incorrectly.

You can find a full list of questions with videos at www.gov.uk/government/publications/car-show-me-tell-me-vehicle-safety-questions/car-show-me-tell-me-vehicle-safety-questions

General Driving Ability

During the driving ability part of the test you'll have to show the examiner all of the following:

• excellent handling of the controls
• understand correct road procedure
• anticipation of the actions of other road users and then react appropriately
• making good judgement of distance
• speed and timing
• show consideration for the convenience and safety of other road users
• drive in an environmentally friendly manner

You’ll drive in varying road and traffic conditions, including motorways or dual carriageways where possible.

You must be able to carry out all of the following manoeuvres:

• Pull away straight ahead or at an angle start
• Meet or cross the path of other vehicles
• Turn left-hand and right-hand
• Complete an emergency stop
• Pull up on the right and reverse back 2 car lengths
• Reverse-park the vehicle into the space behind a parked car
• Reverse-park into a parking bay
• Turn the vehicle to face in the opposite direction using forward and reverse gears

You'll also have to drive without turn-by-turn directions from the examiner for around 20 minutes; this is known as the independent drive. You’ll have to follow either:

• Traffic signs
• A series of directions given to you before you set off
• A combination of both

At the end of the test, you will be given your results, with feedback. To pass these, you must not get more than 6 minor driver faults.

**Remember, you only get 3 attempts at this test. If you fail all 3, you will need to wait until the 2 years are up and start all over again from the beginning**

Test 3 - The Instructional Test

The third and final test is approximately 1 hour, including the admin and feedback session; your pupil should be driving for about 40 minutes. The test is designed to test 3 things:

• The 17 Core Competences
• Your teaching ability
• Instructional characteristics

You will be expected to turn up at your designated test centre 10 minutes before your test with your pupil. Leave your pupil in the car, obviously without the keys, and wait for the examiner in the test centre waiting room.

On meeting you, the examiner will ask to see your driving licence, your training notes (these are what you have done with your trainer), and then ask you who you have with you and what subject/s you will be doing in your lesson. This test is quite literally you giving a lesson to a pupil with the examiner observing you from the back seat.

You will go out to the car with the examiner, and they will introduce themselves to the pupil and explain that they are not there to look at their driving but to watch the teaching of the instructor (you). This is where you need to make sure you are prepared, as the examiner will want you to deliver a Client Centred Learning (CCL) lesson.

You will now deliver a lesson where you can show:

• Safety/Risk Management – this is picking the right training area and you being in control all of the time to maximise safety
• The pupil learning, which will show your teaching abilities and strategies
• Lesson Planning – This is aligning the learning needs of your pupil to the subject you will be teaching

Once you arrive back at the test centre, you can give your pupil a short debrief on the things you have covered, both positive and negative. That’s where your bit is done, but you will be asked to accompany the examiner back into the test centre, where they will take a few minutes to complete the paperwork, and then they come back out of their office and deliver your result; that’s the nerve-racking bit, but our KUDOS trainers will be at the test centre before your test to help you keep the nerves down and a few final bits of wisdom and listen (if you want them to) to the feedback & result so they can help you understand the result.

You can read more about the DVSA Part 3 instructional test here: Approved driving instructor (ADI) part 3 test: What happens during the test - GOV.UK