Motorcycle
UK motorcycle theory test
Last reviewed against gov.uk on
The UK motorcycle theory test has the same overall shape as the car test — 50 multiple-choice questions in 57 minutes (pass mark 43 out of 50) plus a 14-clip hazard perception test (pass mark 44 out of 75) — but uses a case-study structure for some of the multiple-choice questions. The fee is £23. Minimum age is 17 for a motorcycle (16 for a moped — current category AM, speed range 25 km/h to 45 km/h; see the Category, age and licence section below).
Some questions are given as a case study. The case study will: show a short story that 5 questions will be based on; be about a real life situation you could come across when driving.
Structure and pass marks
| Questions | 50 multiple-choice (5 based on a case study) |
|---|---|
| Time allowed | 57 minutes |
| Multiple-choice pass mark | 43 out of 50 |
| Hazard perception clips | 14 (15 scored developing hazards) |
| Hazard perception pass mark | 44 out of 75 |
| Both sections required? | Yes — pass both in the same sitting |
| Test fee | £23 |
| Certificate validity | 2 years |
The case study section
Five of the 50 multiple-choice questions are linked to a single short case-study scenario — typically a rider in a real-world situation. You answer 5 questions based on that scenario, drawing on Highway Code rules, hazard awareness and safety margins specific to motorcycling.
New for 2026: CPR and AED questions
Motorcycle theory tests now include new questions about CPR and using a public-access defibrillator (AED) — added to car and motorcycle tests first, with DVSA announcing the change on 13 August 2025. Candidates were told to start familiarising themselves with the content from autumn 2025; the questions began appearing in tests in 2026. No additional cost or time, and the pass mark is unchanged.
Minimum age and licence categories
- Moped (AM): age 16. Category AM covers mopeds with a speed range of 25 km/h to 45 km/h, small 3-wheelers up to 50 cc and below 4 kW, and light quadricycles. Two- or three-wheeled mopeds with a top speed of 25 km/h sit in category Q (granted automatically with AM).
- Motorcycle A1: age 17 (up to 125 cc / 11 kW).
- Motorcycle A2: age 19 (up to 35 kW). Progressive access is also possible after 2 years on A1 plus a further practical test.
- Motorcycle A: age 24 for direct access. Progressive access from age 21 requires 2 years on A2 plus a further practical test.
- A valid UK provisional driving licence with the relevant motorcycle entitlement.
Compulsory Basic Training and the practical Module 1 / Module 2 tests
The theory test is one piece of the full motorcycle qualification. Before riding on the road you need Compulsory Basic Training (CBT) — a course at an approved training body that ends with a certificate valid for 2 years. After passing the theory test you take the practical in two parts: Module 1 (off-road manoeuvres at a designated DVSA motorcycle test centre) and Module 2 (on-road riding with an examiner). Full licence holders going straight to category A via Direct Access (DAS) follow the same Mod 1 + Mod 2 structure.
Sources
- GOV.UK — Motorcycle theory test
- GOV.UK — Motorcycle theory test: multiple-choice questions
- GOV.UK — Motorcycle theory test: pass mark and result
- GOV.UK — Book your theory test
- GOV.UK — Driving test cost
- GOV.UK — New theory test questions to boost cardiac-arrest survival (DVSA)
- GOV.UK — Bike categories, ages and licence requirements (minimum ages for moped / A1 / A2 / A)