Contents
Motorcycle Theory Test Booking
- at least 16 years old if you wish to learn to ride a moped of no more than 50cc
- at least 17 years old if you want to learn to ride a motorcycle
A provisional licence costs £34 and you will need to provide an identity document, 3 years of address history, and your National Insurance number if possible. If you provide this, you should receive your provisional licence within just one week. Once you have a provisional licence, you are eligible to book a motorcycle theory test. You can take the theory test either before or after taking your compulsory basic training (CBT) which allows you to practice driving on the roads subject to certain conditions.
About the Motorcycle Theory Test
If you have a paper licence, you will need to bring a passport as well as the paper licence to the test. Be aware that you are not allowed to take personal items into the test room with you. This includes bags, headphones, watches, and mobile phones. However, you will be able to store these in a locker.
You will be tested on your knowledge and understanding of the following areas:
- Alertness – This includes observation skills, anticipation of danger, and your overall ability to concentrate.
- Attitude – This includes how you respond to hazards, your frame of mind when imagining using the road, and how you should behave with other road users.
- Essential documents – You will need to know the legal documents required to run your own car (eg. licence, MOT, tax, etc.).
- Hazard awareness – This is assessed in both parts of the test and includes things like alertness, concentration, and an awareness of the effects of alcohol and drugs.
- Incidents, accidents and emergencies – You will need to know how you should respond in case of accident or emergency.
- Motorbike loading – This is unlikely to come up, but you should know about stability and speed limits in the event of needing towing.
- Motorway riding – You will need to understand about each of the lanes of the motorway, lighting, and the effects of different weather conditions on road surfaces.
- Other types of vehicle – You will need to understand how to safely deal with cars, lorries, and other vehicles you may meet on the road.
- Road and traffic signs – You should be able to interpret road markings, speed limits, and road signs effectively.
- Road conditions and motorbike handling – You need to demonstrate an understanding of how to respond appropriately to different road conditions, for example when driving at night, dealing with bends in the road, and traffic jams.
- Rules of the road – This includes things like legal parking, understanding lighting on the road, and basic knowledge of speed limits.
- Safety and your motorbike – You need to understand how to check your vehicle is not dangerous and meets regulations.
- Safety margins – This relates to stopping distances and appropriate responses to road and weather conditions.
- Vulnerable road users – You will need to demonstrate an awareness of how you should deal with contact with more vulnerable road users, such as cyclists, pedestrians, and elderly drivers.
NOTE: If you are caught cheating it is an imprisonable offence and you can also be banned from driving.
The motorcycle theory test is split into two parts. Here we outline what each entails:
The Multiple-Choice Test
This test is made up of 50 questions with a selection of potential answers to choose from. Before the test begins, you will be given instructions on how everything works. You will also have some time to practice questions and get used to the testing equipment. You will then have 57 minutes to answer the 50 questions.
Some of them will be a question and a list of possible answers. Some questions will also be based on a case study. In this case, a short story will be displayed and you will have to answer 5 questions in relation to the case study. Case studies are based on potential situations that are based on potential real-life situations. They test your ability to deal with these situations if you came across them when driving on the roads.
In the multiple-choice test, you are able to change your answers at any time within the time allowed. If you are unsure about a question, you can also flag it and return to it at a later time within the time limit. Whilst you are allowed 57 minutes, if you finish before this time you do not have to use it all. You are also permitted a 3-minute break before moving on to the hazard perception test.
The Motorcycle Hazard Perception Test
The hazard perception test is made up of 14 video clips. They will feature scenes you can expect to see on the road. Each clip will contain at least one developing hazard. However, there will also be one clip that contains 2 developing hazards. You will get more points for spotting a developing hazard sooner. However, you should not click repeatedly or in a pattern or you will be given a score of zero.
A developing hazard is anything that might cause you to react in some way. For example, something you see that might lead you to change your speed or alter your position on the road. This could be a pedestrian approaching a zebra crossing, a car indicator, or a road marking or sign warning of impending danger.
Whilst clicking repeatedly will see you score zero, you do not lose points for clicking when you think you see a hazard if you are wrong. This means you may need to click for a hazard even if you think you have already seen one. You should also note that, unlike the multiple-choice section of the test, you cannot go back and review a clip for a second time. As such, for each complete clip, you get one attempt.
Motorcycle Theory Test Pass mark
If you pass, you will be provided with a certificate number on the day. This pass certificate number will only remain valid for 2 years. If you do not pass your practical motorcycle test within that time, you will need to sit the complete motorcycle test again. If you fail either part of the test, you will have failed and will have to sit both parts of the test again. You will be given a breakdown of your results to help you revise for any re-sit.
Note: You must wait for at least 3 working days between failing your test and re-sitting it.