Resources & materials, both journeys.
Study materials for ADI candidates and the professional toolkit for registered instructors — most of it free. Start here before spending a euro anywhere, including with us.
One page, two audiences. Preparing for the qualification? Start with the candidate study materials. Already on the register? Jump to the registered-ADI toolkit — check test guides, the GDE Matrix and MyEDT.
Most ADI study material is free from the RSA — the Rules of the Road, the ADI application pack and the online study guides all cost nothing, and you should budget no more than €100 for one or two guidebooks. Stage 1 suits self-study: free RSA reading plus question practice. For registered ADIs, the essentials are the RSA Guide to the Check Test, the Stage 3 report form, the GDE Matrix and the MyEDT portal — all free too.
Stage 1 study materials.
Everything you need to prepare for the ADI Stage 1 theory test — the majority of it free.
RSA Rules of the Road
The essential foundation for any ADI candidate — all the road rules, signs and regulations the theory test draws on. Available as a free download or to read online at RSA.ie.
RSA ADI application pack
All application forms, eligibility criteria and step-by-step guides for ADI registration. Download it before you apply so you understand the full process and can gather the required documents.
Free RSA ADI resources
The RSA publishes additional study guides, information booklets and reference material for ADI candidates — covering all five Stage 1 sections, from driver testing procedures to teaching ability.
Guidebooks (1–2 recommended)
Supplement the free RSA material with one or two comprehensive guidebooks on the ADI qualification, from bookshops or online retailers. Budget no more than €100 total for study books.
These cover all five sections examined in Stage 1 of the qualification. When the reading is done, drill it against 980 practice questions organised into the same five RSA sections.
The official links
The authoritative source for requirements, fees and the application pack. Free.
The core text the exam leans on — read it cover to cover. Free online.
The official booking channel once your eligibility number is issued.
The public register, updated daily — useful for scoping your county.
Study material checklist.
Track the resources you’ve gathered and the preparation steps you’ve completed.
0 of 7 in place
Downloaded the RSA Rules of the Road
Free from RSA.ie. Essential reading for all five Stage 1 test sections.Downloaded the RSA ADI application pack
Contains all forms and guides for ADI registration. Free from RSA.ie.Reviewed the free RSA ADI resources online
Study guides and information booklets, available on RSA.ie at no cost.Chosen 1–2 study guidebooks
Budget no more than €100 total. Available from bookshops and online.Familiar with the five Stage 1 sections
Driver testing procedures, road safety, teaching ability, vehicle maintenance, category-specific knowledge.Practised hazard perception
An important thread through both the Stage 1 theory and the later practical stages.Created a study schedule
Plan your time across all five sections — each carries its own pass mark.Free vs paid resources.
What’s available for free, and the few things worth paying for.
| Resource | Cost | Where | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| RSA Rules of the Road | Free | RSA.ie | Essential reading |
| RSA ADI application pack | Free | RSA.ie | All forms included |
| RSA online ADI resources | Free | RSA.ie | Study guides & booklets |
| Guidebooks | €30–50 each | Bookshops & online | 1–2 recommended, €100 max |
| Stage 1 prep courses | Varies | Training schools | Rarely needed — Stage 1 suits self-study |
| PassADI quiz library | 6 quizzes free | This site | 980 questions, 30 mock exams |
The registered-ADI toolkit.
Professional development resources, RSA guides and online tools for instructors already on the register.
This half of the page brings together the key resources every registered ADI should keep in their professional toolkit. Whether you are preparing for an upcoming check test, maintaining your continuing professional development, or refining your teaching methodology, the materials below help you hold — and exceed — the standard the RSA assesses against.
All the RSA publications listed here are free to download. Reviewing them regularly is part of maintaining the professional standard the RSA checks during check tests — use the toolkit checklist below to track which resources you have in place.
RSA Guide to the Check Test
The essential reference for how the RSA assesses your teaching during a check test — the assessment criteria, the 16 core competencies and the standard expected. Worth re-reading at least once a year, and always before a scheduled check test— understanding the criteria is the foundation of good preparation.
Stage 3 test report form
The form RSA examiners mark against during both Stage 3 and check test assessments. It shows the exact competencies being graded — and because the check test uses the same competency standard as Stage 3, it applies directly to your ongoing assessments.
ADI toolkit checklist.
Track which professional resources you have set up.
0 of 7 in place
Downloaded the RSA Guide to the Check Test
Free PDF from RSA.ie — the assessment criteria in one document.Reviewed the Stage 3 test report form
Shows the exact competencies assessed. The same standard is used for check tests.Familiar with all 16 core competencies
Can name and demonstrate each one naturally during a lesson.Familiar with the GDE Matrix framework
Goals for Driver Education: four levels and three dimensions of driver learning.Registered on the MyEDT portal
The RSA’s online system for logging EDT lesson delivery and learner progress.Logbook up to date
Current, with pre-planned lessons recorded for each pupil.Check test preparation done or scheduled
Refresher work completed — or planned — ahead of your next check test date.Teaching methodology.
The framework that underpins how the RSA expects ADIs to approach driver education.
The GDE Matrix (Goals for Driver Education) is the framework the RSA uses to structure driver education in Ireland. It defines four levels of driver behaviour and three dimensions of learning at each level. Understanding it helps you structure lessons and demonstrate the teaching approach the RSA expects during check tests.
The four GDE levels run from basic vehicle handling at the lowest level through to self-awareness and life goals at the highest. The RSA expects ADIs to address all of them — not just the mechanical skills of driving. The matrix is available on RSA.ie and is referenced throughout RSA training documentation.
For a deeper look at applying these principles in your lessons, see our guides on taking a coaching approach and how to be a great driving instructor.
Online tools: the MyEDT portal.
The digital platform registered ADIs use in daily professional practice.
The RSA MyEDT (My Essential Driver Training) portal is the online system all registered ADIs use to log and track EDT lesson delivery. Both the instructor and the pupil record progress through the 12 EDT lessons on the portal — it is essential for every ADI delivering EDT, and the RSA uses it to monitor compliance. Access and support documentation live on the RSA website.
Through MyEDT, qualified ADIs record each lesson delivered, track learner progress and manage their professional records — it sits alongside the logbook as core working infrastructure.
Still a candidate? You won’t use MyEDT until you qualify and register — but understanding how it works early gives you a head start, and means one less thing to learn when you start the career.
The working instructor’s bookmarks
Where category B ADIs record pupils’ EDT progress.
Renewal, the check test cycle and your obligations on the register.
Income tax registration for sole traders — most ADIs need this.
Quick questions
Mostly, no. The Rules of the Road, the ADI application pack and the RSA online study guides are all free from RSA.ie. You only spend money if you choose to buy one or two guidebooks — and our quiz library gives you six practice quizzes free before any payment.
No more than €100 for one or two comprehensive guidebooks (typically €30–50 each). Free RSA resources cover most of what Stage 1 needs; a couple of well-chosen books fill in detail on teaching methods and vehicle maintenance topics.
From RSA.ie. It includes all the forms and guides needed to apply for ADI registration and prepare for Stage 1 — check the eligibility criteria in the pack before you apply.
Usually not. The theory test covers topics well suited to independent learning using free RSA resources, one or two guidebooks and plenty of question practice. Professional in-car training earns its keep at Stages 2 and 3 — that is where a training budget belongs.
Two: the RSA Guide to the Check Test, which sets out the assessment criteria and the 16 core competencies, and the Stage 3 test report form, which shows exactly what the examiner marks. The check test uses the same competency standard as Stage 3.
Goals for Driver Education — the framework the RSA uses to structure driver education in Ireland. It defines four levels of driver behaviour and three dimensions of learning at each level, from vehicle handling up to self-awareness and life goals. ADIs are expected to address all of them.
The official material tells you what. We drill it.
Read the Rules of the Road for free — then find out how much of it stuck, 980 questions at a time.
No card required · Not affiliated with the RSA