If you’re on the ADI register, the Standards Check is something you’ll face at least once every four years — and for some instructors, it can come around sooner if the DVSA’s data analysis flags areas of concern. Many experienced instructors approach it with more anxiety than necessary, often because they’re not clear on exactly what’s being assessed. Here’s a straightforward breakdown of what the Standards Check actually involves.
What Is the Standards Check?
The Standards Check is a practical assessment of your instructional ability, carried out by a DVSA supervising examiner who sits in the back of your car while you deliver a real lesson to a real pupil. It replaced the old “check test” in April 2014. The assessment lasts approximately 45 to 50 minutes, followed by a debrief of around 10 minutes — you should allow a full hour.
Unlike the old check test, which assessed fairly basic fault-spotting and correction, the Standards Check is focused on the quality of your teaching and coaching — specifically, how well you apply the principles of client-centred learning.
When Will You Be Called for a Standards Check?
All ADIs must complete at least one Standards Check within each four-year registration period. However, the DVSA now also uses data from your pupils’ driving tests to identify instructors who may need an earlier assessment. It looks at four indicators over a rolling 12-month period. If three or more of these indicators are triggered, the DVSA will contact you to book a Standards Check sooner than the four-year cycle would require.
If called, you’ll receive a letter asking you to book within 14 days via GOV.UK. You’ll also be offered an optional 30-minute phone call with a DVSA examiner approximately eight weeks before your assessment, during which you’ll receive your ADI driver test analysis report. This call is voluntary but strongly recommended — it gives you specific data about areas the DVSA has identified as potential weaknesses.
How Is It Marked?
The Standards Check is marked across 17 competencies, grouped into three main categories:
- Lesson planning — did you agree the lesson objectives with the pupil? Was the content at the right level?
- Risk management — did you identify and manage risk appropriately throughout the lesson?
- Teaching and learning strategies — did you use effective questioning, give appropriate feedback, and adapt your approach to the pupil’s needs?
Each of the 17 competencies is scored from 0 to 3, giving a maximum total of 51 points. Your overall score determines your grade:
| Grade | Score | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Grade A | 43–51 points (85%+) | High standard of instruction |
| Grade B | 31–42 points (60–84%) | Sufficient level of competence — you remain on the register |
| Fail | 0–30 points (below 60%) | Unsatisfactory — you’ll be reassessed within 12 weeks |
An automatic fail is also triggered if you score 7 or below in the risk management category alone, or if the examiner has to intervene to prevent danger. Three consecutive fails will result in removal from the ADI register.
What Examiners Are Actually Looking For
The most common reason instructors receive a Grade B (or fail) is not that their driving instruction is poor — it’s that their teaching method doesn’t align with what the Standards Check criteria assess. The check is firmly focused on client-centred learning: the examiner wants to see you asking open questions, involving the pupil in their own learning, and adjusting your approach based on what the pupil tells you.
An instructor who talks constantly, gives instructions rather than asking questions, and doesn’t involve the pupil in setting goals for the lesson will score poorly — even if the lesson appears perfectly competent from a road safety perspective.
Choosing Your Pupil
You’re responsible for bringing a pupil to your Standards Check. They can be at any level of ability, but they cannot be on the ADI register or have passed the ADI Part 2 test. Choose a pupil you know well and who you’re confident will allow you to demonstrate a range of coaching and teaching techniques naturally. Having a reliable backup plan is sensible — a friend or family member with a full licence can be used if your pupil is unable to attend.
How to Prepare
Read the DVSA’s national standard for driver and rider training before your assessment — this is the document your examiner works from. If you’ve not had recent training in client-centred learning or coaching techniques, consider booking a mock Standards Check with an ORDIT-registered trainer. Many instructors who approach the check as “just another lesson” are surprised by the result. Treating it as a distinct assessment with specific criteria, and preparing specifically for those criteria, makes a significant difference.
A Grade A Standards Check is a genuine marketing asset — it tells prospective pupils you teach to the highest standard. If you’re working on growing your pupil base and visibility online, see how we help ADIs build an online presence that attracts more enquiries.