Driving Instructor Training (Part 5) - Toni's Journey

A few days before the summer holidays began, I got the email I had been anticipating for so many months: a date for my Part 3 test had finally been allocated for me - September 9, 2025! It's time to put that driving instructor training into practice!

The instructional ability test is where the examiner watches you teach a lesson for 40 minutes to assess the level of your instructional abilities. You are assessed on 17 competencies and given a score out of 3 for each competency. To pass the test, you need to score at least 31 out of 51. You are then either given a Grade A or B, depending on the score. 

I quickly booked it off at work (it typically landed on a day I should have been working at the school). I knew I didn't want to miss the opportunity, as the test dates are few and far between, and not accepting it could lead to many months of more waiting.

Now, with the reality of the test date looming, I had to put in some extra training and work throughout the summer holidays!

I then asked my trainer, Steve, if he could sit in and observe one of my lessons. Because he wasn't too well, Steve could not sit in on my lessons, so he enlisted the help of his wife, Lorraine, who had done my Part 2 training, to observe me. She was impressed with how I was progressing, but gave me some fantastic pointers on how I could improve my teaching further. 

The next choice I had to make was which of my pupils I would take to the test. I needed to bring someone who could control the car to a reasonable standard, as the test centre in Lowestoft has a notorious hill within the car park, which can't be avoided. Also, I wanted someone who is a good communicator, to allow for great conversations during the lesson. I had a few suitable candidates for this: Jess (who had been my first ever pupil) and a couple of other choices. I chose Jess as my first choice pupil as I had a good working relationship with her. 

I continued having both Ady and Lorraine sit in on my lessons until the weekend before my test. Things weren’t going too well in any of them. I had an overwhelming sense of panic brewing, which I felt was growing because I was being watched. Because of this, I was not performing to the best of my abilities in those lessons! However, I needed to kick this somehow, as I would be watched by the examiner on my test day! 

For the test, you need to work on something that the pupil needs help with. Luckily, Jess’s lesson before my Part 3 was a mock driving test. Due to a fault that came up on her mock, the subject she needed to work on was 'judgement when meeting oncoming traffic'. 

Throughout the week prior to the test, Ady suggested I write some questions I could ask Jess. This became a valuable task, as writing things down always helps me to remember. I then planned a rough route that I could take Jess around to work on her subject. I even went for a drive the weekend prior, just to ensure the route was suitable.

Then came the day of my test. I prayed that morning; not to ask that I pass, just to ask for help in relaxing. Also, I went to work at the school on the morning of the test, to take my mind off the whole thing for a few hours. I sat and had my lunch with the children, then it was time to go pick up Jess! 

When we arrived at the test centre, we were met by Steve, who asked us what we’d be working on. Jess and I both explained. He then said, “let’s go into the test centre and see if you can start early.” No pressure! I can honestly say I was not nervous one little bit on my test! I felt calm and in control the whole time. We dealt with Jess’s meeting needs and a few other faults along the way. 

Once back at the test centre, Jess and I reflected on the lesson, and the examiner thanked me and went inside to write up my results. I then left Jess in the car and went to meet Steve and Ady, who had come to be there for my results. Steve asked how it went. I said, “honestly, I think that’s the best lesson I’ve ever taught!” 

The examiner then came out to meet us, asked if I was happy for Ady and Steve to be there for the result, and I agreed. “I’m happy to say, you’ve passed!” YES! He had a few pointers on how I could have made the lesson a bit more relaxing for Jess (who he felt was very nervous), that I was a little too picky with the faults, some were not needed to be highlighted, and I needed to be more praising. I got a very respectable 36 out of 51, which gave me a grade B result. 

But I DID IT! I’m officially an Approved Driving Instructor!