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Motorcycle Theory Test
Blog date July 2015
I have been riding almost two years and as such my CBT is soon to expire. So this being the case it was about time that I started thinking about getting my full licence.
Until recently I could not consider my full licence as I simply did not have the finances needed for the DAS. I also could not find a bike small enough for me to take my DAS on. However both these problems were resolved. Moving home meant I had a small amount of spare cash, some of which I squirrelled away for the DAS fees and I had also found a training school with a bike that was low enough for me.
Happy days right? Well it was until I found out that once again for the fourth year running my job was under threat of redundancy. I will once again have to undergo the stress of applying for and being interviewed for my own job. This year the cuts are even more savage and I am extremely worried I might not secure my position this time. Therefore right here right now I simply can not dare to spend the money needed to gain my full licence until I know my future employment situation. So full licence plans are on hold for now.
However as my CBT is about to expire I will have to retake that as a stop gap. Something I was hoping to avoid but hey ho such is life and we have to play the cards we are delivered.
In preparation for the full test I had been studying for my Theory Test so I decided not to waste the time already spent with my nose in the highly boring Highway Code and go ahead with the Theory Test anyway. At £25 for the test this was not going to break my uncertain bank account.
There are 2 parts to the theory test:
the multiple choice part
the hazard perception part
Both parts of the test are taken on the same day.
I am quite good at preparing myself for written tests. So I was fairy confident I would be fine with the multiple choice. Although I have held a car licence for many years and therefore read the Highway Code it was a long time ago. I knew there were probably some new rules and regulations I would not be up to date with. So I purchased a new copy of said book and read through it cover to cover. YAWN.
Yes it is boring BUT if you want to pass your test you need to know this stuff, it is as simple as that.
I also borrowed from my Library The Official DSA Theory Test for Motorcyclists. It has hundreds of revision questions and answers and I found it really useful for highlighting questions I was not 100% sure on. I would study one Section each night, that way I did not get too bored and the answers would actually stick into my mind.
So that was the questions part prepared for. However I was a little uncertain of the Hazard Perception because way back when I obtained my driving licence there was no such thing. Therefore I thought it best if I try some mock tests as to be fully prepared for this part also. To do this I signed up to the online Theory Test Pro website.
One thing I believe I am quite good at (and being a motorcyclist you better had be dam good) is hazard perception. Although I was a little uncertain I was not particularly perturbed by the thought of this part of the test. Well not until I did a mock hazard perception test that is. Then it was like OH MY GOD ...... ARGGGHHH. I scored ... well mainly zero. What the hell. Ok now I started to panic. However what you have to understand about the Hazard Perception is that you score points for clicking at what is perceived to be the correct time. You have a space where you can score from 5 to 1 points.
Below is the official scoring
Hazard perception test scoring
The earlier you notice a developing hazard and make a response, the higher you will score.
The most you can score for each developing hazard is 5 points.
To get a high score you need to respond to the developing hazard as soon as you see it starting.
If you click continuously or in a pattern during a clip a message will appear at the end. It will tell you that you have scored zero for that particular clip.
Theory Test Pro allows you to review your clip so you can see where you clicked and also where you should have clicked. By reviewing this it became clear why I was scoring zero. I was actually seeing the hazard too early. Obviously my keen observations skills were working as a disadvantage. I had to hold off a little before clicking. I also found it advantageous to click say two or three times for the hazard to ensure I clicked at least once during the scoring zone.
So it is not just a case of seeing the hazard it is a case of learning when and where the optimum scoring zones are. Therefore I would advise anyone taking their Theory Test to practice this part of the test either via a online source or through various DVD's that you can purchase.
So the day arrived for my test. I was fairly confident I could pass the questions but was still very nervous of the hazard part. I arrived at the test centre early and killed some time by having a cup of tea from a local cafe. This turned out not to be a good idea because I ended up really needing a wee throughout the test.
Once inside the test centre is is all very official. Your Identification is checked 3 times by 3 different staff members, so do not forget that. Also do not be late, if you are you are not going to be able to take your test. I was witness to this because a very angry and upset lady was in the queue before me and despite her pleas and excuses she was not having her test that day and she had lost her fee. Once I was signed in all my belongings were put away into a locker and I had to show I had nothing in my pockets, nothing written on my hands or arms and nothing hiding in my hair. The staff were efficient and polite but with it all being so official I could feel my nerves being to get rattled.
My name was called and I went into a booth to begin my test. Big breaths Sharon and start .....
The Multiple Choice questions were not too bad at all. Thanks to using both the books and the Pro Theory Test site many of the questions I had already encountered. There was a few that I had not seen before and of those there were around 3 that I had a little flutter about because I was not 100% certain of the correct answer. But so far I felt ok.
Now the Hazard Perception part. My heart rate definitely went up for this part. But I held it together and just clicked away hoping for the best.
When you finish you leave the booth and sit down to await being called with your results. I only had to wait a couple of minutes and was handed a piece of paper determining my fate. I nervously glanced down at the results ..... I had PASSED. Big smile time, Wahoooo!
The motorcycle multiple- choice pass mark is 43 out of 50. I scored 50 out of 50. Pretty proud of myself for that. It would appear my study paid off.
The hazard perception pass mark is 44 out of 75. I scored 63. Not too shabby at all.
I was surprised to find out that the pass rate for the Theory test is only between 47% to 51% with most failures coming from the questions rather than the perception part.
So any advice I could give is this ... take time to study for your Theory Test and you will pass it. The wing it and see approach does not seem to work too successfully.
I would highly recommended you read both the Highway Code and a revision questions book such as the one I used The Official DSA Theory Test for Motorcyclists. Lots of questions that are in this book did appear on my actual test and that helped my confidence at lot.
Also practice the Hazard Perception clips either via a DVD or an online source such as Theory Test Pro. I was lucky enough to be able to access the Theory Test Pro site free of charge through my Library. Once signed up I could then access the site via my home computer. So see if your Library offers this or your bike instructor my also have access to this site.
Also check out the Official Gov site for further information on your Theory test https://www.gov.uk/driving-theory-test/overview
If you about to take your test Good Luck ... it was really not half as bad as I had expected but that I believe was because I was prepared.
The essential tools required if you want to pass your Theory Test successfully
Reader's Comments
Mark said :-
Well Done - Just Taken Mine As Well And Was Told When I Got There That There Was A Bank Of 900 Questions!
Fifty Of Them Can Be Random!
Passed Ok But Was Complexed By Many A Motorway Question As i Live In Cornwall
And We Have No Motorways!
But I Agree Do Practise The Highway Code It Helps.
01/01/2000 00:00:00 UTC
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