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.