A1, A2 and A License Courses

How do I know what course is right for me?

Please use the flowcharts on the PDF file below to help you decide;

DVSA How to obtain your full license

Know the right route for you now?

As the flowcharts suggests, once you know what path you need to take, the routes are generally the same.

You need a theory test.

You need to pass a Module 1 exam (Off-road manouvers with DVSA Examiner assessing you. Approx 20 minutes)

You need to pass a Module 2 exam (On-road riding with DVSA Examiner assessing you. Approx 40 minutes)

NB A module 1 exam is valid for 6 months. You will need to attempt your Module 2 exam within this period.

If you are successful, you'll be able to ride the appropriate size motorcycle for the test you have just passed without L plates.

A1 = 11kW maximum output

A2 = 20 - 35kW maximum output

A = Unrestricted

The courses:

Here at Ride we like to prepare our students to pass first time where we can.

We offer a Module 1 course, including test fees, and then a Module 2 course, including test fees.

By breaking the course down into two seperate modules we find students have time between lessons to reflect on their performance and begin to identify areas of weakness in their own riding.

Module 1 training:

We recommend at least 3 sessions in order to master the manouvers required to pass the Module 1 element of the exam.

Training will take place for the first 2 sessions on our training pad. The final session will be at the test centre. We will transport the bike to the test centre for you. You are required to make your own transport arrangements to and from the test centre. We are not insured to carry you in our vehicles. The nearest test centres are Kingswood (Bristol) and Taunton. We cannot guarantee which test centre you will be attending and your module 1 may be at a different test centre to your module 2 due to exam availability.

Each session is 4 hours in length and we leave at least 2 days between sessions for more self-reflection on your learning to occur. You will be able to choose between an AM or a PM session and is taught at a ratio of 2:1.

What happens during a Module 1 exam?

You’ll take the module 1 test in an off-road motorcycle manoevering area.

The test normally takes about 20 minutes and includes:

wheeling the moped or motorcycle and using the stand
riding a slalom and figure of 8
a slow ride
a U-turn
cornering and a controlled stop
cornering and an emergency stop
cornering and hazard avoidance

For the hazard avoidance and emergency stop exercises you must ride at a minimum speed of:

19 mph on a moped
31 mph on a motorcycle

You’ll be told if you’ve passed module 1 at the end of the test.

The examiner will make a note of:

dangerous faults - these involve actual danger to you, the examiner, the public or property
serious faults - these are potentially dangerous
riding faults - these are not potentially dangerous, but could become serious if you keep making the same mistake

You’ll pass module 1 if you make:

no serious or dangerous faults (sometimes called ‘majors’)
no more than 5 riding faults (sometimes called ‘minors’)

If you pass

The examiner will:

tell you what faults you made, if any
give you a pass certificate - you need to take this to the module 2 test.

If you’re upgrading your licence through 'progressive access', you must pass module 2 within 6 months. You have to pass module 1 again if you do not.

If you do not pass

You’ll have to book another module 1 test and pay again. You have to choose a date at least 3 working days away.

If you’ve already booked the module 2 test you might need to chnage the date, since you must pass module 1 before you can take module 2.

You’ll lose your fee if you do not give 3 full days’ notice to cancel your module 2 test. Sundays and public holidays do not count as working days.

Module 2 training:

The number of sessions you require will very much be determined by how much riding experience you already have.

The absolute minimum we would ever recommend is 4 sessions with the last session to include your module 2 test itself.

The course will be delivered on live roads in and around the training centres local area. The final day of training will be delivered in the area of the chosen DVSA test centre.

The nearest test centres are Kingswood (Bristol) and Taunton. We cannot guarntee which test centre you will be attending and your module 2 may be at a different test centre to where you passed module 1 due to exam availability.

What happens during a module 2 exam?

You must pass module 1 before you can take the module 2 test.

You can book both modules at the same time, but if you do not pass module 1 you must wait 3 working days before you can retake it.

The module 2 test normally takes about 40 minutes and includes:

an eyesight check
‘show me, tell me’ vehicle safety questions
road riding
independent riding

You must bring your module 1 pass certificate to the module 2 test, plus all the documents you had to bring to the module 1 test.

Eyesight check

You’ll have to read a number plate from a distance of:

20 metres for vehicles with a new-style number plate
20.5 metres for vehicles with an old-style number plate

New-style number plates start with 2 letters followed by 2 numbers, for example AB51 ABC.

You’ll fail your riding test if you fail the eyesight check.

‘Show me, tell me’ questions

You’ll be asked 2 vehicle safety questions known as the 'show me, tell me' questions'. These test that you know how to carry out basic safety checks.

Road riding

You’ll drive in various road and traffic conditions, but not on motorways. You’ll be asked to carry out:

normal stops
an angle start (pulling out from behind a parked vehicle)
a hill start (where possible)

The examiner will give you directions using a radio. They’ll normally follow you on a motorcycle.

Driving test routes are not published, so you cannot check them before your test.

Independent riding

You’ll have about 10 minutes of independent riding. This is designed to assess your ability to ride safely while making your own decisions.

You can ask the examiner to repeat the directions if you forget them - you will not fail the test if you go off the route. You cannot use sat nav.

Your test result

You’ll be told if you’ve passed module 2 at the end of the test.

The examiner will make a note of:

dangerous faults - these involve actual danger to you, the examiner, the public or property
serious faults - these are potentially dangerous
riding faults - these are not potentially dangerous, but could become serious if you keep making the same mistake

You’ll pass module 2 if you make:

no serious or dangerous faults (sometimes called ‘majors’)
no more than 10 riding faults (sometimes called ‘minors’)

If you pass your test

The examiner will:

tell you what faults you made, if any
give you a pass certificate
ask you if you want your full licence to be sent to you automatically - give the examiner your provisional licence if you want to do this

You can start riding without L plates straight away when you’ve passed your test. You do not need to wait for your full licence to arrive.

If you do not pass

You have to book another module 2 test and pay again. You have to choose a date at least 10 working days away.