THEORY TEST PASSED
ADI part 1 theory test practice, 2026 DVSA questions
Part 1 of the approved driving instructor qualification, and the hardest theory test the DVSA sets. Barely a third of candidates pass, largely because the band minimums catch people who are strong in three areas and weak in one.
What is in the ADI theory test
Multiple choice, 90 minutes
Marked the moment you submit
14 clips, 15 scoreable hazards
April 2024 to March 2025
One payment for this category
Pass rate figures from the DVSA driving and theory test statistics published on GOV.UK, covering April 2024 to March 2025. The DVSA test fee is £81 and is paid to them when you book.
How it differs from the car test
The format is familiar, but the bank, the clips and what comes next are not.
| Feature | Car | ADI part 1 |
|---|---|---|
| Questions | 50 in 57 minutes | 100 in 90 minutes |
| Pass mark | 43 out of 50 | 85 out of 100, minimum 20 per band |
| Hazard perception | 14 clips, 44 of 75 | 14 clips, 57 of 75 |
| Attempts allowed | Unlimited | Three, within a two year window |
| What comes next | Practical driving test | Part 2 driving ability, then Part 3 |
What you get to practise
Every question in the ADI bank is sorted into the topics below. You pick a topic, or let us choose: the more you get wrong in one topic, the more of it you see next.
What must a learner driver have before they drive on the road for the first time?
Co musi posiadać osoba ucząca się jeździć, zanim po raz pierwszy wyjedzie na drogę?Real questions from the current DVSA licensed bank, shown with the translations included in every category.
Booking it, and what happens on the day
£81, paid to the DVSA when you book. A retake is another £81. We do not book tests and take no part of this.
Your full car licence held for at least three years. Arrive 15 minutes early. Nothing else may be taken into the test room.
90 minutes of multiple choice, an optional 3 minute break, then the hazard perception clips. You must pass both in the same sitting.
Your pass certificate lasts 2 years. Then Part 2 driving ability, then Part 3 instructional ability.
Find a test centreADI test questions
Why is the ADI part 1 pass rate so low?
Two reasons. The hazard perception threshold is set above the learner one, at 57 out of 75 rather than 44, because you are being certified to teach. And the multiple choice has band minimums, so you can score 85 overall and still fail on one weak band.
What are the four bands?
Road procedure; traffic signs and signals, car control, pedestrians and mechanical knowledge; driving test, disabilities and the law; publications and instructional techniques. You need at least 20 out of 25 in each.
How many attempts do I get?
Three attempts at part 1 within a two year window, starting from when you pass it.
Do I need to have been driving for a while?
Yes. You need a full car licence held for at least three years before you can start the qualification.
One payment for the ADI bank
£11.99, once, for 700+ questions. No subscription, nothing renews automatically, and you are not paying for categories you will never sit.
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