ADI Part 3 Training
AK Automatic Driving School — Brighton & Hove
Pass Your Instructional Ability Test with Confidence
The Final Step to Qualification
Becoming a fully qualified driving instructor in the UK is a life-changing step — and ADI Part 3 is the final and most important stage of your journey.
At AK Automatic Driving School, we provide professional, structured, and supportive ADI Part 3 training in Brighton & Hove and surrounding areas, helping you pass with confidence and become a high-quality instructor — not just someone who passes a test.
This is not just about ticking boxes.
This is about becoming a safe, professional, and effective driving instructor — exactly what the DVSA expects.
Areas We Cover
🎯 What is ADI Part 3?
The ADI Part 3 test is your Instructional Ability Test, where a DVSA examiner watches you deliver a real driving lesson. You are no longer being tested on your driving — you are being tested on your ability to teach.
- ⏱️ Duration: Approximately 45 minutes
- 👨🏫 Pupil: You teach a real learner driver
- 👀 Examiner: Observes from the back seat
- 📋 Marked on: 17 distinct competencies
These competencies are grouped into three areas:
- 1. Lesson Planning
- 2. Risk Management
- 3. Teaching & Learning Strategies
Understanding the 17 Competencies
This is the most important part of your Part 3 journey. At AK Automatic Driving School, we train you step-by-step on all 17 competencies, so nothing is left to chance.
1. Identifying the Pupil's Goals & Needs
You must ask questions, understand their level, and agree a clear goal.
2. Structuring the Lesson Properly
Your lesson must match the pupil's ability:
- Beginner → simple roads
- Intermediate → more traffic
- Test standard → independent driving
3. Choosing the Right Area
The examiner expects safe but challenging locations appropriate to ability:
- Beginner → quiet residential roads
- Advanced → busy roads and complex junctions
4. Adapting the Lesson
Things don't always go to plan. You must adjust difficulty, change approach if needed, and stay calm and flexible.
⚠️ Critical Section Auto Fail if ≤7
This is the most critical section of the entire test. If you score 7 or less here → automatic FAIL, regardless of your overall score.
5. Sharing Responsibility for Risk
You must clearly explain who is responsible and what the pupil should do to manage risk.
6. Clear and Timely Instructions
No last-second instructions. Use clear and simple language at the right moment.
7. Awareness of Surroundings
You must watch everything happening around the vehicle and predict hazards early.
8. Timely Intervention
When needed: use verbal help, use dual controls if necessary, and stay calm throughout.
9. Safety Feedback
Explain clearly: what went wrong, why it was dangerous, and how to fix it next time.
10. Teaching Style
Adapt your approach to nervous learners, confident learners, and different personalities.
11. Encouraging Thinking (Coaching Questions)
Instead of just telling — ask questions to develop independent thinking:
12. Using Examples
Use real-life situations and clear explanations to reinforce learning.
13. Technical Accuracy
Everything you say must be correct, clear, and to DVSA standard.
14. Giving Feedback
Feedback must be timely, clear, and balanced — not just criticism.
15. Answering Questions
Always listen carefully and answer pupil questions properly and accurately.
16. Professional Behaviour
Remain calm, respectful, and non-judgemental throughout the entire lesson.
17. Encouraging Reflection
End every lesson by asking the pupil to reflect on their own performance.
How You Are Marked
Each competency is scored: 0 = No evidence | 1 = Needs improvement | 2 = Competent | 3 = High standard
0–30
❌ Unsuccessful
31–42
✅ Grade B (Pass)
43–51
⭐ Grade A (High Pass)
❌ Common Reasons Candidates Fail
Many trainees fail not because they are bad drivers — but because of these common mistakes:
At AK Automatic Driving School, we focus on fixing these exact issues.
🗓️ Our ADI Part 3 Training Approach
We provide a complete, structured training system:
- Personalised training
- Tailored to your level
- Same format as DVSA
- Full marking sheet used
- Honest feedback
- How to structure lessons
- How to adapt
- How to impress examiners
- Where most people fail
- We make it your strength
- Ask questions
- Develop thinking pupils
- Teach like a professional
- Practice on actual test roads
- Build local confidence
What Makes AK Automatic Driving School Different?
- ✔️ Local expertise in Brighton & Hove
- ✔️ Friendly, patient training
- ✔️ Real exam-focused preparation
- ✔️ High pass-rate approach
- ✔️ Full preparation for all 17 DVSA competencies
- ✔️ Focus on risk management and coaching techniques
- ✔️ Support from start to finish
We don't just train you to pass. We train you to become a confident, professional instructor.
The ADI Part 3 test, also known as the Instructional Ability Test, is the final and most important stage of becoming a fully qualified driving instructor in the UK. It is designed to assess your ability to teach a learner driver safely, effectively, and professionally — rather than simply demonstrating your own driving skills.
During the test, a DVSA examiner will observe you delivering a real driving lesson to a pupil for approximately 45 minutes, including: a short briefing where you agree lesson objectives and discuss risk management; a full lesson demonstrating clear communication, coaching techniques, and the ability to adapt your teaching; and a recap where you encourage the pupil to reflect on their performance.
You are assessed against 17 key competencies grouped into three areas — lesson planning, risk management, and teaching and learning strategies — with each area carrying equal importance, but with particular emphasis on safety. The examiner is looking for a client-centred approach: involving the pupil in the learning process by asking questions, encouraging independent thinking, and helping them understand not just what to do, but why they are doing it.
Each competency is scored from 0 to 3. You must achieve a minimum of 31 marks to pass at Grade B, with higher scores achieving Grade A. Poor risk management can result in an automatic failure regardless of overall score.
Training in Brighton & Hove provides an excellent environment, with a wide variety of real-world driving conditions including busy city roads, complex junctions, roundabouts, and residential streets — all helping you develop the confidence and adaptability required to succeed.
At AK Automatic Driving School, we specialise in ADI Part 3 training in Brighton & Hove, offering structured one-to-one instructor training, real mock tests based on DVSA marking standards, and full support across all 17 competencies.
🎉 First-Time ADI Part 3 Pass – Congratulations Ben!
A massive congratulations to Mr. Ben, who successfully passed his ADI Part 3 exam on his first attempt with the full support and guidance of AK Automatic Driving School. This is a fantastic achievement and a major milestone on the journey to becoming a fully qualified ADI in the UK.
Passing Part 3 on the first attempt is not easy — it requires strong instructional ability, excellent risk management, and professional teaching skills. Ben's success reflects his dedication, commitment, and the effectiveness of our structured training programme.
🏆 Why Our ADI Part 3 Training in Brighton Works
- ✅ Structured ADI Part 3 training programme
- ✅ Real Brighton test route practice
- ✅ Full preparation for all 17 DVSA competencies
- ✅ Focus on risk management and coaching techniques
- ✅ One-to-one personalised instructor training
- ✅ Mock tests using real DVSA marking standards
🌟 Join Our Successful Students
Ben is one of many students who have successfully passed their ADI Part 3 test in Brighton with our support. If you are looking for:
- ADI Part 3 training Brighton
- Driving instructor training Brighton & Hove
- Pass ADI Part 3 first time
- Become a driving instructor UK
Then you are in the right place.
▶️ Watch Ben's Success Story
Watch the video below to see how Ben achieved his first-time ADI Part 3 pass and how our training helped him succeed.