IAM special assessment

The IAM introduced the "Special Assessment" for Car and Motorcycle Members and is designed to be the ultimate Advanced Driving/Riding challenge for civilian drivers and riders. It offers IAM Members an opportunity to demonstrate their driving or riding skills to the highest possible standard.

The IAM Special Assessment is not intended to be a learning experience in the same way that the IAM Driving Assessment is. Nevertheless, it is hoped that Members will benefit and learn from the experience, and from the comprehensive written feedback that they will receive after the IAM Special Assessment.

What's Involved ?

1. The Chief Examiner will select the Examiner to conduct each IAM Special Assessment from those available in the area concerned. Note that here are only a limited number of Examiners qualified to carry out the IAM Special Assessment and so it may be a few weeks between booking a Special Assessment and one being carried out.
2. Car Members are required to give a high standard, flowing commentary, unless there are special circumstances why this cannot be done (speech defect etc.) Any such problem must be notified on the application form when application to take the IAM Special Assessment is made.
3. Members will be asked to answer six questions relating driving/riding matters and road safety at the conclusion of their drive/ride. The Chief Examiner will provide the Examiner with a unique set of six questions for each candidate, in confidence, from a bank of questions maintained in the Test Department.
4. The IAM Special Assessment is voluntary and is not a Test. Members undertaking it will not be considered to have either "passed or failed" and their continued Membership of the IAM will not be affected.

The Examiner will give some verbal feedback in the debrief session after each IAM Special Assessment. Subsequent comprehensive written feedback from IAM Head Office will give Members an analysis of their driving/riding and will include an overall evaluation of it expressed as a percentage. The contents of this report will remain confidential between the IAM and the Member.

Members who successfully complete an IAM Special Assessment will be entitled to an IAM Special Assessment Certificate.

Notes:

The IAM Special Assessment is only open to IAM Members who:-

• Have been Members of the IAM for one year, or more, at the time of application.
• Have not had a blameworthy crash in the 24 months before application is made, or between the date of application and the date the IAM Special Assessment is carried out.
• Have not been convicted of a driving related offence (including a Fixed Penalty Notice) in the 24 months before application is made, or between the date of application and the date the IAM Special Assessment is carried out.
• Do not have any proceedings of any sort (including a Fixed Penalty Notice) pending against them.
• Do not have more than six penalty points endorsed on their driving licence.

Members who cannot meet these requirements will still have access to the (ordinary) IAM Driving Assessment. Members will be permitted to undertake only one IAM Special Assessment in any twelve-month period.

It should be noted that Members are expected to be fully and properly prepared for a very demanding and stringent examination of their driving/riding skills and knowledge. This preparation is, however, something that can be achieved on a personal basis by existing advanced drivers and riders and is not something which IAM Groups should offer on a formal basis to IAM Members. It should be clearly noted that nothing other than the very highest standard of driving/riding is expected from candidates and if it is evident that a Member is not fully and properly prepared, the Examiner will terminate the IAM Special Assessment.

Unlike the IAM Advanced Driving Test, the IAM Special Assessment will never be subsidised and the fee for it fully reflects the management and administrative costs involved, as well as the Examiners expenses and the costs involved in preparing comprehensive written feedback reports to Members. Therefore the cost is £60. Application Forms and the conditions that apply to the IAM Special Assessment can be obtained from IAM Head Office, or downloaded form the link below.

Related Links

Special Assessment Application Form - PDF Format

For more information, please contact Membership Enquiries.