ADI part 1 test: prepare for instructor-level theory

The ADI part 1 test is the first qualifying test for prospective car driving instructors in Great Britain. It combines multiple-choice questions and hazard perception, and both must be passed in the same sitting. It is not the ordinary learner-car theory test with a different name. Official booking overview.

Prepare for the demands of teaching, not just recognising familiar answers. A future instructor needs to understand why a decision is appropriate and explain it clearly. This guide separates the official format from practical ways to organise your study.

Understand the multiple-choice format

There are 100 questions with 90 minutes available. They are divided equally between four categories covering road procedure; signs, control, pedestrians and mechanical knowledge; tests, disabilities and law; and publications and instructional techniques. The system lets you flag questions and revisit answers. Official question format.

Create a study record for each category rather than keeping only a single overall mock score. Otherwise, strength in familiar road rules can disguise a weakness in teaching-related knowledge. Review how you reached an answer, especially when you guessed correctly.

For example, if you consistently miss questions about helping someone learn, another evening spent identifying road signs may improve a comfortable topic without addressing the problem. Use your results to choose the next task, not merely to repeat the activity you enjoy most.

The category minimum matters

To pass the multiple-choice section, you need at least 85 out of 100 overall and at least 20 out of 25 in every category. Hazard perception requires at least 57 out of 75. A high overall question score does not compensate for falling below a category minimum. Official pass marks.

Imagine mock category scores of 24, 24, 23 and 19. The total looks strong, but the fourth category would miss its required minimum. That is why a revision plan should track the breakdown and not celebrate the total alone.

Treat these figures as assessment thresholds, not a reason to aim for the narrowest possible margin. Practising until you occasionally scrape through may leave important misunderstandings unresolved. Look for consistent understanding across unfamiliar questions and different study sessions.

Study from the current official reading list

DVSA publishes an ADI part 1 revision list, including the Highway Code, traffic-sign guidance, driving and teaching references, national standards and specified examiner guidance. Check that list rather than relying only on an old training-company handout or learner revision app.

Build short study sessions around a specific question. Read the relevant material, close it and explain the principle in your own words. Then test whether you can apply it to a different situation. If you cannot, return to the explanation before taking another mock.

Keep a corrections log with three headings: what I thought, what the source says, and how I would explain the difference. This makes revision more useful than collecting screenshots of wrong answers. It also provides something precise to discuss with a trainer when a topic remains unclear.

Practise recognising a developing hazard

The hazard-perception section uses 14 clips containing 15 developing hazards in total. A developing hazard calls for action such as changing speed or direction. Continuous or patterned clicking can result in no score for a clip; responses cannot be reviewed afterwards. Official hazard-perception guidance.

During practice, separate noticing a possible source of trouble from identifying its development. Afterwards, describe what changed in the scene and why that change mattered. Do not replace observation with a memorised clicking rhythm or a supposed trick for beating the scoring system.

If you recognise a practice clip from memory, use another one before drawing conclusions about readiness. Knowing where an event appears in a familiar video is different from detecting a developing situation you have not seen before.

Make mock tests diagnostic

A useful revision cycle is:

• Study a defined topic from the current references.
• Answer questions without consulting notes.
• Identify the reason for each mistake or uncertain answer.
• Practise explaining the underlying principle.
• Revisit the topic later with different questions.

Add timed practice once understanding is improving. Review whether errors came from knowledge, misreading or rushing. Those problems need different responses: more speed will not fix a rule you have misunderstood, while rereading a whole book may not address careless question reading.

Prepare the administration too

You can book after your application to enter the qualifying process has been accepted. Check the official appointment and identity instructions before travelling. DVSA's what-to-take page covers photocard, paper-licence and name-change circumstances. Do not assume the documents needed for a different test will be sufficient.

If you require support because of reading difficulties, follow the dedicated guidance linked from the official test page before booking. Avoid leaving questions about arrangements until arrival at the centre.

Use the result to plan the next stage

If unsuccessful, you must retake the whole test, even if one section was passed. The next sitting must be at least three working days later. A pass certificate lasts two years, so record the date and plan the remaining qualification stages carefully. Result and retake guidance.

The first pass is a milestone, not permission to sell lessons. Read our qualification timeline and ADI part 2 guide for the next decisions. Northern Ireland candidates should instead begin with DVA's qualification guidance; this article's GB format is not a substitute for it.

For future platform participation, see instructor onboarding or contact Learn and Drive. We distinguish platform registration from official instructor authorisation and do not promise a pass or a qualification date.