Guidance

Driving instructor grades explained

Published 17 July 2017

Applies to England, Scotland and Wales

1. About driving instructor grades

Approved driving instructors (ADIs) are regularly assessed on their instructional ability. During a normal lesson with a pupil, they’re assessed on how well they:

  • planned the lesson
  • manage risk to their pupil and other road users
  • use the best ways to help their pupil learn

2. Grade descriptions

Your instructor will have a grade from either the current grading system, or an older system. Any instructor with a grade from the old system will get a new grade the next time they’re assessed by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency.

The current grading system has these levels.

Grade Score Description
Grade A 43 to 51 The instructor has shown a high standard of instruction
Grade B 31 to 42 The instructor has shown a satisfactory standard of instruction
Fail 0 to 30 The instructor’s performance is unsatisfactory

Instructors who still have a grade from the old system will have one of these grades.

Grade Performance description
6 Very high
5 Good
4 Satisfactory
3 Inadequate
2 Poor
1 Extremely poor

3. Finding your instructor’s grade

You can ask your instructor what their grade is.

Some instructors also publish their grade on the service to find driving schools, lessons and instructors, or on their own website.