What Is the ADI Part 3 Pass Rate?
In 2025, the national pass rate for a first attempt at the ADI Part 3 test was 19.8%.
The pass rate was 27.8% for second attempts and 33.9% for third attempts.
These figures were provided by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency in response to a Freedom of Information request covering the five calendar years from 2021 to 2025.
The data also shows a clear change over that period. The number of first attempts increased from 1,282 in 2021 to 4,498 in 2025, while the first-attempt pass rate fell from 31.1% to 19.8%.
That does not tell us why the pass rate fell, and it does not tell us what proportion of individual candidates eventually qualified. It does show that Part 3 is a significant challenge and that most attempts in every category during those five years were unsuccessful.
ADI Part 3 pass rates by attempt
DVSA provided the following national pass rates:
| Calendar year | First attempt | Second attempt | Third attempt |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 31.1% | 31.3% | 36.5% |
| 2022 | 31.2% | 36.2% | 40.7% |
| 2023 | 25.9% | 34.7% | 39.6% |
| 2024 | 23.1% | 29.0% | 37.4% |
| 2025 | 19.8% | 27.8% | 33.9% |
The first-attempt pass rate fell by 11.3 percentage points between 2021 and 2025.
Second-attempt and third-attempt pass rates also fell from their 2022 peaks. However, the third-attempt pass rate remained higher than the first and second-attempt rates in every year shown.
How many people took ADI Part 3?
DVSA also provided the number of tests taken in each attempt category:
| Calendar year | First attempts | Second attempts | Third attempts | Total tests shown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,282 | 841 | 881 | 3,004 |
| 2022 | 2,445 | 1,816 | 1,163 | 5,424 |
| 2023 | 2,802 | 2,131 | 1,492 | 6,425 |
| 2024 | 3,401 | 2,479 | 1,581 | 7,461 |
| 2025 | 4,498 | 3,468 | 2,287 | 10,253 |
The number of first attempts increased by approximately 251% between 2021 and 2025.
Across all three attempt categories, the number of Part 3 tests shown in the response rose from 3,004 in 2021 to 10,253 in 2025.
These are numbers of test attempts, not necessarily numbers of different people. The same candidate may appear in more than one category or calendar year.
Is the ADI Part 3 first-time pass rate really one in five?
For 2025, yes.
A first-attempt pass rate of 19.8% is approximately one pass for every five first attempts.
That does not mean an individual candidate has an exact one-in-five chance of passing. A national pass rate describes what happened across all recorded tests in that category. It does not account for the quality of an individual candidate's preparation, their previous experience, the lesson presented on the day or the support they received.
It is still a useful indication of how demanding the test is.
Why was the third-attempt pass rate higher?
The FOI data does not establish the reason.
Candidates reaching a third attempt may have completed more training, gained more teaching experience or responded to feedback from earlier tests. There may also be differences between the groups of candidates taking each attempt.
Those are possible explanations, not findings contained in the data.
The figures show that third attempts had a higher pass rate in every year. They do not prove what caused that difference.
Does this show how many candidates eventually qualify?
No.
DVSA was also asked for:
- the proportion of candidates who ultimately passed within their permitted attempts
- the proportion who did not qualify within those attempts
- the average number of attempts taken by candidates who eventually passed
DVSA did not provide those figures because answering would exceed the Freedom of Information cost limit.
It explained that candidates can reapply and start the process again. To produce an eventual qualification rate, DVSA would need to examine individual records and identify each candidate's two-year qualifying period.
DVSA estimated that checking the applications received in one year alone would require more than 700 hours of work. The central government FOI cost limit equates to 24 hours of staff time.
The information was therefore exempt under section 12 of the Freedom of Information Act because the estimated cost of compliance exceeded the appropriate limit.
This is important because the three published attempt rates cannot simply be combined to calculate an eventual pass rate.
Why can't we combine the three pass rates?
The first, second and third-attempt figures are not one clearly tracked group of candidates moving through three tests together.
For example, someone taking a first attempt in late 2024 could take a second attempt in 2025. Another candidate recorded as taking a third attempt in 2025 may have completed their earlier attempts in a previous year.
Candidates may also:
- pass on their first or second attempt and never enter the next category
- decide not to take another attempt
- reach the end of their two-year qualifying period
- fail three attempts
- reapply and begin the qualification process again
Because the data is grouped by calendar year and test attempt, it cannot show the complete journey of an individual candidate.
Adding or multiplying the three percentages would produce an answer that the evidence does not support.
How many attempts do you get at ADI Part 3?
You can take the ADI Part 3 test a maximum of three times during your two-year qualifying period.
The two-year period begins when you pass ADI Part 1. You must pass Parts 2 and 3 within that period or start the qualification process again.
The official ADI Part 3 test guidance describes Part 3 as the final qualifying test and a test of your ability to teach pupils.
What happens if you fail ADI Part 3?
Failing does not mean you need to discard everything you have developed.
Your knowledge, teaching experience and existing skills still matter. The result means your lesson did not meet the required standard on that particular attempt.
The useful next step is to examine what happened properly.
That could include looking at:
- whether the lesson goals reflected the pupil's actual needs
- how risk was identified and managed
- whether the pupil understood what they were trying to improve
- how responsibility was shared during the lesson
- whether your questions and explanations created learning
- how you adapted when the original plan was not working
- whether the pupil had suitable opportunities to practise and reflect
- how accurately you assessed your own performance afterwards
The answer is not automatically more role play, more scripts or trying to recreate an examiner-friendly performance.
The aim should be to understand the result and develop the areas that affected it.
Does a low national pass rate mean I am not ready?
Not by itself.
National statistics cannot assess your individual readiness.
A low pass rate should make you take preparation seriously, but it should not be used to convince you that passing is unlikely regardless of what you do.
Readiness should be based on evidence from your own teaching.
Ask yourself:
- Can I identify what the pupil needs rather than force a prepared subject?
- Can I agree a useful and realistic lesson goal?
- Can I manage risk without taking over unnecessarily?
- Can I recognise when the pupil needs instruction, coaching, practice or time to think?
- Can I adapt when the lesson does not develop as expected?
- Can I help the pupil understand their progress?
- Can I reflect honestly on what I could improve?
Passing Part 3 requires more than knowing the 17 competencies or being able to describe client-centred learning. You need to apply the relevant skills during a real lesson with a real pupil.
Do more attempts improve your chance of passing?
The data shows higher pass rates for later attempts, but it does not prove that simply taking more tests causes someone to improve.
A further attempt creates another opportunity to pass. What matters is what changes between the attempts.
If the same misunderstandings, habits or weaknesses remain, booking another test does not resolve them.
Development between attempts should be specific. You should know:
- what affected the previous result
- what you are trying to change
- how you will practise it
- what evidence will show improvement
- whether the change helps the pupil, rather than merely changing how the lesson looks
Time alone is not development. Repeating lessons without examining them can reinforce the same approach.
What do the falling pass rates tell us?
They tell us that a smaller proportion of recorded attempts resulted in passes in 2025 than in the earlier years shown.
They do not tell us why.
The FOI data does not establish whether the change resulted from:
- candidate preparation
- training quality
- changes in the candidate population
- increased numbers entering the qualification process
- test availability or timing
- the pupils presented on test
- examiner decisions
- any other particular cause
The increase in test numbers and the decline in pass rates happened during the same period. That does not prove one caused the other.
Any explanation would require additional evidence.
What should I look for in ADI Part 3 training?
Look for training that helps you become an effective instructor, not just perform a test routine.
Useful training should help you:
- understand your current strengths and development needs
- connect the 17 competencies to real lessons
- plan with the pupil rather than arrive with a fixed performance
- recognise and manage risk appropriately
- adjust your level of instruction and support
- use questions with a clear purpose
- analyse what happened during a lesson
- understand why an approach worked or failed
- make informed decisions when circumstances change
You should also understand what support is included, how progress will be monitored and what happens if the initial training approach is not working for you.
The pass-rate data should not be used to frighten trainees into buying more hours. It should support an honest conversation about the standard required and the evidence behind your readiness.
Can I prepare for ADI Part 3 in Swindon?
Yes.
ADI Part 3 training in Swindon can include one-to-one development, role play where it serves a clear purpose, observation, work with real learners and structured reflection on your own teaching.
The training should be adapted to your existing experience, previous test results and current understanding. Someone approaching their first teaching experience will not need the same support as an experienced PDI preparing after an unsuccessful attempt.
The goal is not simply to increase the number of training hours before your test. It is to identify what you need to improve and create evidence that you can apply it in a real lesson.
What should a potential instructor take from these figures?
ADI Part 3 is difficult, and passing should not be treated as automatic.
In 2025:
- 19.8% of first attempts passed
- 27.8% of second attempts passed
- 33.9% of third attempts passed
Those figures justify proper preparation. They do not justify claims that most candidates never qualify, because DVSA could not provide the individual candidate data needed to establish that.
Choose training that develops your understanding, judgement and ability to work with real pupils. Treat each test attempt as limited, but do not let a national percentage define your individual outcome.
Official information and source
The attempt totals and pass rates on this page were provided by DVSA in response to a Freedom of Information request submitted by Craig Preedy, co-founder of Instruct IQ.
DVSA declined to provide the eventual qualification rate and average number of attempts under section 12 of the Freedom of Information Act because producing that information would exceed the statutory cost limit.
View the original FOI response from DVSA (ref: 2608-117232)DVSA Freedom of Information Response
Source: Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), response to a Freedom of Information request submitted by Craig Preedy, co-founder of Instruct IQ. The original response is reproduced for transparency. Personal contact information has been redacted.
- Approved driving instructor Part 3 test
- Become a car driving instructor: step by step
- National standard for driver and rider training
The published GOV.UK guidance was checked on 2 September 2026.