ADI Part 1 Theory test Changes August 2025
ADI Part 1 Changes August 2025
The One Question Style Change Coming for ADI Part 1 (Are You Ready?)
What the 2025 Curriculum Update Means for You
If you’re preparing for the ADI Part 1 theory test, there’s a subtle but important shift coming that could catch you out — unless you know what’s behind it.
From August 2025, the DVSA made one quiet but significant update: they expanded the number of publications used to base ADI Part 1 questions on. That might sound like a small change on paper, but in reality, it’s reshaping the style of questions you’ll face.
The Shift: From Recall to Real Understanding
The Shift: From Recall to Real Understanding
In previous years, you could often pass ADI Part 1 by memorising key facts — what signs meant, what distances applied, what the Highway Code said.
But the new question design goes deeper.
The DVSA now wants instructors to interpret knowledge, not just recall it.
Expect more “scenario-based” questions that test whether you can apply professional judgement in real-world teaching situations.
For example:
“Your pupil approaches a junction where visibility is restricted by parked vehicles. According to the National Standard for Driving Cars and Light Vans, what would be the correct teaching approach?”
That’s not something you can answer by memory. You have to understand risk management, observation principles, and instructional strategy.
The Expanded Source Material
The Expanded Source Material
The questions are now drawn from ten official sources — not just the usual three or four.
Here’s the full updated list:
The Highway Code
Know Your Traffic Signs
Driving – The Essential Skills
The Official DVSA Guide to Learning to Drive
The Driving Instructor’s Handbook
Practical Teaching Skills for Driving Instructors
National Standard for Driving Cars and Light Vans
National Standard for Driver and Rider Training
Driving Instructor Code of Practice
Carrying Out Driving Tests: Examiner Guidance (excluding sections 2, 3, 4, 5, and 15)
If your study notes only cover the Highway Code and Driving – The Essential Skills, you’re revising for the old test, not the current one.
ADI Part 1 Changes What This Means for You
What This Means for You
You need to prepare for questions that test reasoning, not recognition.
Here’s how to adapt:
Read like a teacher, not a test-taker.
When you study, ask yourself: “How would I explain this to a learner?”Focus on the National Standards.
These outline what instructors must know and be able to do. You could be asked about things like:How to manage risk with cyclists and pedestrians.
What knowledge of lorry rules is expected.
How to apply teaching principles in complex traffic situations.
Don’t skip communication topics.
Many trainees lose marks because they ignore sections on feedback, questioning techniques, or instructional styles — now tested more often than ever.
ADI Part 1 Changes Example of the New Style Question
Example of the New Style Question
Scenario: You’re teaching a pupil to reverse around a corner. The pupil’s rear wheels cross the centre line before correcting.
Which of the following best demonstrates an instructor’s correct response?
A. Stop the car immediately and explain the fault.
B. Allow the pupil to finish the manoeuvre, then debrief.
C. Take control of the steering.
D. Ask the pupil to describe what went wrong before repeating the exercise.
(Answer: D — because it reflects client-centred learning and post-fault reflection, aligning with National Standard guidance.)
That’s the type of reasoning-based question now entering the ADI Part 1 exam.
ADI Part 1 changes How to Stay Ahead
How to Stay Ahead
If you’re revising for the 2025/26 test, make sure your materials match the new curriculum awareness and expanded sources.
Relying on outdated apps or mock test lists will leave big knowledge gaps.
Use resources built around the current DVSA framework:
👉 Practice ADI Part 1 questions and hazard perception tests:
www.drivertrainingtheory.co.uk
👉 Study the full ADI Part 1 course with in-depth guidance:
www.adionline.co.uk
And for regular updates, tutorials, and example question breakdowns:
Subscribe to the YouTube channel → @adipart1
ADI Part 1 Training Be ahead of the rest
This isn’t a harder test — it’s a smarter one.
The DVSA wants instructors who can think, apply, and explain — not just recall information.
If you’re ready for that shift, you’re already one step ahead of most trainees.
