Understanding Driving Instructor Grades

1. About understanding 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  driving 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 and understanding your driving instructor’s grade

You can ask your driving instructor what their grade is. Grade A or Grade B this will give you a idea why some driving instructors charge more per hour.

Or contact dvsa if you feel there is no badge in the window pink for pdi or green for adi driving instructor please check.