From Monday 6 March 2006 the Part 3 test will provide the examiner with the additional option of assessing a candidate’s ability to give instruction to a qualified driver undertaking driver development.

The format and duration of the Part 3 examination has not changed. The examiner will select one paper from the ten Pre-Set Test (PST) examination papers and test the subject matter for each phase as before. No changes or additions have been made to the subject matter used to assess a Potential Driving Instructor’s (PDI) ability to demonstrate competence for entry onto the Register of Approved Driving Instructors (Car).

No changes have been made to the conduct of the first phase. The role played by the examiner will be either as a beginner or a partly trained stage pupil (depending on the content of the PST paper selected).

As normal at the end of the first phase, the examiner will set the scene for the second phase and describe the pupil level they intend to role-play along with the subject matter to be covered. While the examiner then makes a few notes, the candidate can use that short period of time to prepare for the second phase.

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Nothing new has been added when preparing for the change to the trained stage, however should the examiner decide to adopt “a qualified driver undergoing driver development” role, the candidate will be advised that they may also wish to take this opportunity to either cover or remove the L plates before the second phase begins. (If the L plates cannot be covered or it is impracticable to remove or stow them away the examination will still be conducted).

As a qualified driver the examiner may portray the role of a person who:

requires development in preparation for a job interview that requires a driving assessment by their potential employer
has been abroad for a couple of years and has now returned to driving in Great Britain
has not driven regularly for some time and will now be required to commute by car between different urban office locations
has difficulty with reverse parking as they were not taught it and realises that with fewer spaces available on-road there is a need to be able to do so

As always, please listen carefully to the pupil pen-picture (which will set the context for the lesson) and the details of the phase 2 exercise of that specific Pre-set Test (the content of the lesson) that the examiner describes. Once the second phase of the examination begins, it will be important to ensure that the training/instruction given suits the needs of the pupil role adopted and the faults that require attention. The items in column A for phase 2 will remain unchanged and will be the same irrespective of whether the examiner role plays a trained or full licence holder.

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There have been no changes to the assessment and marking process so it makes no difference which role the examiner may adopt for the second phase. The candidate will need to demonstrate a competent overall performance. There will still be the need to ensure instruction and feedback is structured and pitched at the correct level and the core competencies are covered sufficiently to meet the same minimum criteria. .ie. the lowest acceptable rating in any of the three competencies must be a four to complete the phase successfully.

The role of a qualified driver undertaking driving development will be selected on a random basis and until a reprint of the PST examinations forms becomes available the examiner will make an amendment to the form in manuscript to reflect the pupil level for that phase. When in role as a qualified driver undertaking driver development the “T Trained” item printed on the form in Column A will be deleted and replaced with FLH for Full Licence Holder.

The addition of the qualified driver role has not changed the key criteria for being successful in the Part 3 examination. A PDI must successfully demonstrate a competent overall performance of a grade 4 or better in each phase to pass the examination.