Mod 1: the pad, to scale
Module 1 is about 15 minutes on a closed manoeuvring pad: no traffic, just painted lines, cones, and a speed trap. Riders fail it on geometry and nerves, not skill, and the geometry is entirely learnable. The diagram below is to scale with every spacing DVSA uses; switch it to steps mode and you can pace out a practice pad in any empty car park.
Lay the pad out yourself
Every spacing the examiner measures, drawn to scale. Switch to steps to pace it out on a car park.
Slalom
Five cones, 4.5m apart
- Where to look
- Two cones ahead, never the one you are passing.
- What ends the attempt
- Hitting a cone, or a foot down.
Pad dimensions are DVSA’s own, published in metres, which is why they are not converted to miles here. Step counts assume a 0.75m pace and are a guide for pacing out practice, not a measurement. Layouts vary slightly between motorcycle test centres.
Every exercise, and what actually ends attempts
| Exercise | Layout | What ends the attempt |
|---|---|---|
| Slow ride | Walking pace alongside the examiner | Putting a foot down. |
| Slalom | Five cones, 4.5m apart | Hitting a cone, or a foot down. |
| Figure of eight | Two cones, 6m apart, two continuous laps | A foot down, or breaking the figure before two laps are complete. |
| U-turn | 180 degrees inside a 7.5m corridor | A foot down, or crossing the corridor line. |
| Controlled stop | Ridden through the speed trap, stopped in the marked box | Missing the target speed, or overshooting the box. |
| Hazard avoidance | Swerve around a notional hazard at the target speed, then settle | Missing the target speed, or clipping the hazard cones. |
| Emergency stop | Reactive stop on signal, from the target speed | Missing the target speed, or locking a wheel. |
The speed-trap exercises need 50 km/h (about 32 mph) for category A and A2, or 32 km/h (about 20 mph) for A1 and AM. The trap reads km/h because that is how DVSA calibrates it; build the speed early so you pass through settled rather than still accelerating.
Check what you know
12 questions on the spacings, the speeds, the fees, the paperwork and the faults, marked instantly with the source behind each answer.
Each question shows the correct answer and the Highway Code rule the moment you choose.
Frequently asked questions
What happens in the Mod 1 test?
About 15 minutes on a closed off-road pad at a Multi-Purpose Test Centre: manual handling, a slalom through five cones, a figure of eight, a slow ride, a U-turn, cornering, a controlled stop, an emergency stop and a hazard avoidance exercise. The last two are measured through a speed trap.
What speed do you need for Mod 1?
The speed trap is calibrated in km/h. Category A and A2 candidates need 50 km/h, about 32 mph, on the emergency stop and hazard avoidance. A1 and AM candidates need 32 km/h, about 20 mph.
How much does the Mod 1 test cost?
The DVSA fee is £15.50. Training school costs for bike hire and test-day support are separate and usually the larger number.
What fails a Mod 1?
A foot down during a manoeuvre, a struck cone, crossing the U-turn corridor line, missing the minimum speed at the trap, or locking a wheel on the emergency stop. Up to five rider faults are allowed; a serious or dangerous fault ends it immediately.
How long is a Mod 1 pass valid?
Two years, but your theory certificate must also still be valid when you sit Mod 2, so in practice the tighter window usually rules. Book the two modules close together.
Deep dives on each manoeuvre
Original educational content based on gov.uk motorcycle test guidance under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Not affiliated with or endorsed by the DVSA.