Preparing for Mod 1 After Your CBT

#What CBT actually gives you

Compulsory Basic Training (CBT) is a one-day course that lets you ride a 125cc with L-plates on the road. It teaches you the fundamentals: starting and stopping, gear changes, basic observation. It does not teach you how to ride a 650cc bike, and it certainly does not teach you the precise machine control that Mod 1 demands.

CBT is valid for two years. Mod 1 must be passed within that window or you have to redo CBT. For most candidates, the realistic timeline is three to six months from CBT to Mod 1 if they are working full-time and practising on weekends.

#The theory test gate

You cannot book Mod 1 until you have passed your motorcycle theory test. The theory test has two parts: multiple choice and hazard perception. The pass mark is 43 out of 50 for the multiple choice and 44 out of 75 for the hazard perception. Most candidates pass first time with around two weeks of revision.

Book the theory test as early as possible in your prep cycle. There is no point pouring weeks of practical training into your bike skills if you have not booked theory. The DVSA theory pass certificate lasts two years, so you can sit it before you have done much practical work and still have plenty of time to use it.

#How many practice hours you actually need

A complete beginner from CBT typically needs 15 to 25 hours of off-road practice before they can pass Mod 1 first time. Riders who already have some bike experience (a few months on a 125 commuting) can often pass with 8 to 12 hours.

Those hours need to be deliberate. Riding around your local roads on a 125 does not build Mod 1 skills. The skills are clutch slip, low-speed balance, precise braking and tight cornering. They are best practised on the actual test bike (or one of similar size) on a closed area.

Most training schools sell packages of 4-day or 5-day intensive courses that compress those hours into a week. The all-in cost is typically £900 to £1,400 including bike hire, instruction and the test itself. Spreading the training over multiple weekends costs slightly more but lets you absorb the skills more naturally.

#Choosing a training school

A good training school has its own off-road facility (or daily access to an MPTC) and uses bikes that match the licence category you are taking. Look for these signals:

• DVSA Approved Training Body (ATB) status
• Their own off-road area, ideally with the standard MPTC layout
• A fleet of bikes covering A1 (125), A2 (35kW restricted) and A (full power) categories
• Instructors who are full DAS-qualified, not just CBT instructors
• Pass rates above the local MPTC average (most schools will share this)
• Insurance for hire bikes during the test itself, not just during training

The biggest schools in the UK (Phoenix, BMW Motorrad rider training, Rospa-affiliated schools) tend to be reliable but expensive. Smaller local schools can be excellent if their reputation in your area is strong. Check Google reviews and look for specific praise about Mod 1 preparation, not just CBT.

#A typical training timeline

For a candidate with a fresh CBT and zero off-road experience:

• Week 1: pass theory test
• Weeks 2 to 4: book training school assessment, ride a 125 to maintain road skills
• Weeks 5 to 8: training school off-road sessions, building from basic clutch control to full manoeuvres
• Weeks 9 to 10: mock tests on the actual MPTC layout
• Week 11: book Mod 1
• Week 12 to 14: take Mod 1, pass, immediately book Mod 2
• Weeks 15 to 18: Mod 2 road practice with instructor
• Week 19: take Mod 2, complete the licence

#What to practise on your 125 between sessions

Your 125 is not the test bike, but you can use it to keep general bike feel sharp. Useful drills: low-speed cornering at junctions, observation discipline, hazard awareness, smooth gear changes. These all transfer to Mod 2 even if they do not directly help with Mod 1.

For the actual Mod 1 manoeuvres, you really need the bigger bike. A 125 figure of eight is a different exercise to a 650 figure of eight. Do not assume that smooth control on the 125 will translate.

#When you are ready to book

You are ready to book Mod 1 when you can do five clean repetitions of every manoeuvre on the standard layout, on the actual test bike, without your instructor needing to correct you. That sounds high but it is the realistic standard. Anything less and you are gambling on test-day calm to fill the gap.

Mock tests are the best confidence indicator. A clean mock test (zero serious faults) on the actual MPTC layout, in similar weather to your test day, is the gold standard for readiness. The full Mod 1 test day guide walks through what test day itself looks like.

#Costs end to end

Realistic budget for a full A licence from CBT to Mod 2:

• CBT: £130 to £180
• Theory test: £23
• Mod 1 training (off-road sessions, around 12 to 20 hours): £600 to £900
• Mod 1 test fee: £15.50
• Mod 1 bike hire and instructor on test day: £150 to £250
• Mod 2 training (on-road sessions, around 8 to 12 hours): £400 to £600
• Mod 2 test fee: £75 weekday or £88.50 evening/weekend
• Mod 2 bike hire and instructor on test day: £150 to £250
• Total: £1,500 to £2,300

For more on the licence categories and what each one allows, the licence ladder guide covers AM, A1, A2 and A in full.