Understanding your motorcycle module 1 test result, including what was assessed, what sorts of things counted as faults, and how to improve in each area.
About your motorcycle test result
To pass your motorcycle module 1 test, you needed to make:
- no more than 5 riding faults (sometimes called ‘minors’)
- no serious or dangerous faults (sometimes called ‘majors’)
If the examiner had to tell you to do something to avoid an accident, your result will show the ‘examiner took action (ETA)’.
Talk to your motorcycle instructor about your result. This will help them focus any more lessons you need on the right skills.
You or your motorcycle instructor have to rebook your test and pay again if you failed. You have to choose a date at least 3 working days (Monday to Saturday) from the date of your last test.
Avoidance exercise and controlled stop
You needed to ride your bike safely at a minimum speed of 19 miles per hour (mph) (30 km/h), then increase your speed to a minimum of 31 mph (50km/h) or 19 mph (30km/h) for mopeds.
You then needed to steer between a set of cones before bringing the bike back into a straight line and stopping in a bay. You should not have touched any cones.
Examples of faults
Some of the most common faults for this area include:
- hitting one or more cones
- not making appropriate observations
- failing to reach the minimum speed requirement
Your examiner may have explained the specific details of any faults you made.
How you can improve in this area
If you made faults in this area during a test, or if you believe you need to improve in this area, read pages 91 to 94 and 164 to 166 of ‘The Official DVSA Guide to Riding: the Essential Skills’ (2020 edition)
If you need to rebook the test, spend time practising this skill with your riding instructor. You could work on making effective use of the steering and brakes.
Emergency stop
You needed to do an emergency stop from a minimum speed of:
- 31 miles per hour (mph) (50km/h) if on a motorcycle
- 19 miles per hour (mph) (30km/h) if on a moped
You needed to do this quickly and safely.
Examples of faults
Some of the most common faults for this area include:
- failing to reach the minimum speed requirement
- losing control of the bike
Your examiner may have explained the specific details of any faults you made.
How you can improve in this area
If you made faults in this area during a test, or if you believe you need to improve in this area, you should:
If you made faults in this area during a test, or if you believe you need to improve in this area, read pages 94 to 95 of ‘The Official DVSA Guide to Riding: the Essential Skills’ (2020 edition)
If you need to rebook the test, spend time practising this skill with your riding instructor. You could work on progressive braking (increasing pressure steadily).
Manual handling
You needed to show you can move the vehicle with the engine off. You needed to wheel the vehicle backwards out of a bay marked with cones, into another bay.
This should have been done without touching any cones and with the appropriate observations.
Examples of faults
Some of the most common faults for this area include:
- hitting one or more cones
- not making appropriate observations
Your examiner may have explained the specific details of any faults you made.
How you can improve in this area
If you made faults in this area during a test, or if you believe you need to improve in this area, you should:
If you made faults in this area during a test, or if you believe you need to improve in this area, read page 87 of ‘The Official DVSA Guide to Riding: the Essential Skills’ (2020 edition)
If you need to rebook the test, spend time practising this skill with your riding instructor.
Slalom and figure of 8
You needed to ride a slalom and 2 ‘figure of 8’ circuits between cones. You should have performed effective observations, and not touched any cones throughout.
Examples of faults
Some of the most common faults for this area include:
- hitting one or more cones
- not making appropriate observations
- putting one or both feet down whilst riding
- losing control of steering and clutch causing the bike to run wide
Your examiner may have explained the specific details of any faults you made.
How you can improve in this area
If you made faults in this area during a test, or if you believe you need to improve in this area, read page 90 of ‘The Official DVSA Guide to Riding: the Essential Skills’ (2020 edition)
If you need to rebook the test, spend time practising this skill with your riding instructor. You could work on:
- slow control skills when manoeuvring the bike
- making effective observations
Slow control
You needed to ride slowly in a reasonably straight line. You needed to keep your bike under control and not ride past the examiner who was walking at a slow steady pace to the side and in front of your bike.
Examples of faults
Some of the most common faults for this area include:
- going too fast
- stalling the bike
- not moving in a reasonably straight line
Your examiner may have explained the specific details of any faults you made.
How you can improve in this area
If you made faults in this area during a test, or if you believe you need to improve in this area read pages 90 of ‘The Official DVSA Guide to Riding: the Essential Skills’ (2020 edition)
If you need to rebook the test, spend time practising this skill with your riding instructor. You could work on handling the bike at slow speeds.
Speed requirement
You needed to achieve a minimum speed of 31 miles per hour (mph) (50km/h) during the avoidance and emergency stop exercises. You will have been given two chances to reach the minimum speed.
If you are on a moped, the minimum speed you must reach is 19 mph (30km/h).
If you need to rebook the test, spend time practising this skill with your riding instructor.
Use of stands
You were asked to show the examiner that you can safely place the machine on and off its stand. If your bike had two stands you could choose which one you used.
U-turn exercise
You needed to complete a U-turn under full control between 2 painted lines. You should have made proper use of the clutch, throttle, brakes and steering, whilst keeping good balance.
You needed to give rear observation appropriately before moving off or changing direction. You should not have touched either of the 2 lines during the exercise.
Examples of faults
Some of the most common faults for this area include:
- touching either of the 2 painted line
- not making appropriate observations
- loss of balance
Your examiner may have explained the specific details of any faults you made.
How you can improve in this area
If you made faults in this area during a test, or if you believe you need to improve in this area, read pages 141 to 144 and section 5 of ‘The Official DVSA Guide to Riding: the Essential Skills’ (2020 edition)
If you need to rebook the test, spend time practising this skill with your riding instructor. You could work on:
- slow control handling of the bike
- looking over your shoulder to check blind spots (lifesaver check)
