ADI Prep IrelandWhat Stage 1 examines
The RSA lists the examined knowledge areas as the Rules of the Road, road safety, the ADI scheme, pedagogy and pupil assessment, interpersonal skills, Essential Driver Training, correction of driving faults, and driver-testing procedures and documentation.
That list is broader than most candidates expect. Two of those areas — pedagogy and pupil assessment, and interpersonal skills — are about teaching, not driving, and they are examined in Stage 1 long before you get anywhere near Stage 3. Candidates who treat Stage 1 as “an advanced theory test” consistently underprepare for them.
How the test is structured
For a Category B candidate, the test is made up of four core sections totalling 80 questions, followed by a 20-question category section — 100 questions in total. Each section is marked against its own threshold.
The number and type of questions depend on the number and type of licence categories of instruction you apply for. A candidate applying to instruct in more than one category will sit additional category questions, so do not assume another candidate’s description of the paper matches the one you will get.
| Section | Questions | Needed to pass |
|---|---|---|
| Driver Testing Procedures and Documentation | 20 | 14 |
| Road Safety Precepts and Practices | 25 | 18 |
| Pedagogy – Teaching Ability | 15 | 9 |
| Basic Mechanics and Maintenance of Vehicles | 20 | 14 |
| Category B | 20 | 14 |
There is no overall pass mark. You have to clear the threshold in every section. Scoring 90 out of 100 while falling one short in Teaching Ability is a fail, and it is a fail that no amount of strength elsewhere can rescue. This is the single most important structural fact about Stage 1.
The consequence for revision is direct: your weakest section sets your result, so revision time should follow weakness rather than interest. The section-by-section breakdown goes into what each one actually asks for.
Where and how you sit it
Stage 1 is computer-based and can be taken at one of more than 40 theory-test centres nationwide. Prometric is currently the RSA’s preferred service provider for the test, and the published fee is paid directly to Prometric rather than to the RSA. Fees change, so check the current published figure at the point of booking rather than relying on a number quoted on a third-party page.
You cannot book until you hold a unique nine-digit Prometric Eligibility Number, which is issued after your RSA ADI-candidate registration is complete and your Garda vetting has been approved. See how to book the ADI theory test for the full prerequisite list and what identification to bring.
Results and what happens next
You receive a report on your performance at the end of the test. Because the test is marked per section, that report is genuinely useful after a fail: it tells you which section cost you the attempt, which is exactly where the next block of revision should go.
A pass lets you continue to Stages 2 and 3 — and starts the two-year clock within which all three stages must be completed. A fail is not the end of the route: current RSA guidance permits unlimited Stage 1 attempts, subject to the published repeat-booking process, though you must wait at least three complete business days before a re-sit and request a new eligibility number. Resits and appeals covers that in detail.
How to prepare for it
Three things matter more than volume of practice:
- Work to the section split. Practising 100 mixed questions tells you your average. Your average is not what is being marked.
- Read the handbook, not just question banks. The Driving Instructor’s Handbook is the source most of the driver-testing, pedagogy and scheme content comes from, and questions in those areas are often about applying a principle rather than recalling a number.
- Check the edition of anything printed. Rules can change after a printed or downloaded edition is published, and the RSA maintains the current version online. A question that turns on a rule you learned from an out-of-date book is a question you will get wrong confidently.
There is a worked approach in the Stage 1 study plan, and sample questions with explanations if you want to see the style first.
Frequently asked questions
How many questions are in the ADI Stage 1 theory test?
For a Category B candidate there are 100: four core sections totalling 80 questions, plus a 20-question category section. The number and type of questions depend on the number and type of licence categories of instruction you apply for, so candidates applying for multiple categories sit a different paper.
What is the pass mark for the ADI Stage 1 theory test?
There is no single overall pass mark. Each section has its own threshold and you must clear all of them. For a Category B candidate the thresholds are 14 of 20 in Driver Testing Procedures and Documentation, 18 of 25 in Road Safety Precepts and Practices, 9 of 15 in Pedagogy – Teaching Ability, 14 of 20 in Basic Mechanics and Maintenance of Vehicles, and 14 of 20 in Category B.
How many times can I sit ADI Stage 1?
Current RSA guidance permits unlimited attempts, subject to the published repeat-booking process. After a fail you must wait at least three complete business days before re-sitting and request a new Prometric eligibility number before applying again.
Where can I sit the ADI theory test?
It is computer-based and can be taken at one of more than 40 theory-test centres nationwide. Check which centres are convenient to you before booking, as availability varies by location.
Is the ADI theory test the same as the driver theory test?
No. The ordinary Driver Theory Test is for learner drivers. ADI Stage 1 is a separate, longer and broader assessment for instructor candidates, and it examines teaching ability, the ADI scheme, Essential Driver Training and driver-testing procedures alongside road safety and category knowledge.
Sources
This page summarises published guidance from the Road Safety Authority. Confirm the current rule on the RSA site before you book or rely on a fee, date or pass mark.
Practise Stage 1 on your phone
ADI Prep Ireland turns this material into structured practice: full-length Stage 1 mocks built to the published section split, revision by subject area, and every answer explained.
Independent guide: TritonApps is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or approved by the Road Safety Authority or Prometric. This page summarises published RSA guidance for convenience and is not official advice. Always confirm current requirements, fees and dates with the RSA before you book.