Changes to the UK Driving Instructor qualifying examination …

Since 23 December 2017, the way that the two practical ADI tests to qualify as an Approved Driving Instructor (ADI) has been improved. The ADI Part 1 test won’t be changing.

Better assessment of driving ability
The ADI Part 2 test will change to reflect the changes made to the car driving test on 4 December 2017. Trainee driving instructors will have to demonstrate the skills that they’ll be teaching to learner drivers. The changes include:

• driving independently for around 20 minutes (an increase from the current 10 minutes) while following directions from a SatNav or a series of traffic signs
• doing 2 of 4 possible reversing manoeuvres:
  – parallel park at the side of the road
  – reverse into a parking bay and drive out
  – drive into a parking bay and reverse out
  – pull up on the right-hand side of the road, reverse for around 2 car lengths, and rejoin the traffic
• answering 2 vehicle safety questions while driving – for example, showing the examiner how they’d use the car’s cruise control

More realistic assessment of teaching ability
The ADI Part 3 test will change to become a much more realistic assessment of a trainee driving instructor’s ability to teach a learner.
The driving examiner no longer role-plays the part of a learner driver. Instead, the trainee will give a driving lesson to a real learner. The examiner will sit in the back of the car to assess their teaching and coaching ability. This means tailoring the training to the needs of the individual learner.
The examiner will:

• look for evidence that the trainee instructor meets the national standard for driver and rider training
• mark 17 areas of competence in 3 categories – lesson planning, risk management and teaching and learning skills

The change will bring the ADI Part 3 test in line with the ADI standards check, which every ADI has to take at least once every 4 years to stay qualified.

Client-centred learning
People learn in different ways and at different speeds. Client-centred learning is an approach to learning that takes into account how the learner prefers to learn. When people learn in this way they are more likely to retain information and skills. People are also more likely to keep learning if they are encouraged to take responsibility for their learning at an early stage. Put simply, instructors are expected to listening to each learner (the client) to find out how they like to learn, the things that are getting in the way of their progress and how best to tailor driving lessons.