Part 3 PST's - A Test Route For Part 3

Test Routes for Part 3

There are many ways that you can think about part 3 that just may help your understanding of the test. One of the ways that often proves useful in shedding some light on just what this test is all about, is to think of it as a test route for part 3

Let me explain what I mean . . .

Think back to your part 2 driving test. As you left the area of the test centre, the SE could ask you to drive along any one of a number of different routes. Each DSA test centre usually has a number of learner test routes, most probably have a dozen or more

The test centres that conduct ADI part 2 tests usually have 3 or 4 ADI test routes as well, so that the SE has some flexibility in where to take trainees

Now, when you drove your car on whatever route was chosen for you, what do you think the SE was marking you on?

Was the SE marking you on how well you drove that particular road? . . . how well you emerged from this particular junction?

The answer is "no!" . . . the SE was marking you on how you deal with all junctions, in all traffic conditions and under all circumstances

The SE was looking for your use of ms-psl, your observations, your skill in the manoeuvres, your judgment of speed and distance . . . in short, all of the skill areas on the DSA test marking sheet

In other words, the route you drove along was completely insignificant. The SE could have marked you on the same skill areas no matter where you were driving

If this was not the case, every candidate who failed could complain that they weren't taken along a particular route! Think about it

A very senior DSA examiner I was chatting to recently said "the PST's are nothing more than a vehicle that we use to test a candidates instructional ability and fault correction skills"

That makes complete sense . . .

For part 3 you have to display an entirely different set of skills. Instead of showing the SE your driving skills, you now have to show the SE the sub skills of good instruction. The SE will be assessing your control, your use of the Core Competencies, your level of instruction, your use of Q and A, your use of feedback . . . etc etc

To test your driving, the SE needed a test route . . . some roads for you to drive along

To test your teaching, the SE needs a test route . . . some lessons you can give to display your skills . . . the pst's!

Lets explore this idea a little further . . .

For part 2, it's a good idea to have a very good knowledge of driving in all types of traffic conditions . . . emerging, approaching junctions, roundabouts, dual carriageways, rural roads, city centres . . . etc etc etc . . . after all, the SE could ask you to drive just about anywhere. Now, you are not being tested on these individual areas of driving, as the SE will expect you to have a good knowledge of them anyway. You are being tested on your overall driving skills, with errors being marked on the driving test form

But it's just the same at part 3, is it not? The differing 'conditions' that the SE uses to test your skills of instruction are the pst subjects. The SE will expect you to have a good knowledge of the pst subjects, but . . .

you are NOT merely being tested on the pst subjects

This is one of the most widely misunderstood areas of the part 3 test, and without any doubt, one of the major reasons for the very low pass rates

Of course, the SE will expect you to have an excellent, in depth knowledge of the pst subjects, but . . .

you should have learned those at part 2, and they are NOT the main deciding factor for part 3

The main deciding factors for your part 3 test are the Core Competencies and your Instructional Techniques

ADIT Team