CBT Test: The ​5 Parts of a CBT | RideTo

The five elements of Compulsory Basic Training (CBT) are the modules you work through in order to get your DL196 certificate. Labelled A to E, each element builds on the last, gradually introducing you to the bike and then the road. A CBT training course typically lasts six to eight hours, and your instructor needs to be satisfied with your progress in each of the five element before you move onto the next one. It's built this way so that your confidence is growing as the day progresses.

The 5 Parts of the CBT

Element A: Introduction and eyesight check

Element A is the first part of your CBT and takes place before you go anywhere near a bike. Your instructor will outline the aims of the course, check your provisional or full driving licence, and cover the legal requirements for riding on public roads.

You'll also get a rundown of the clothing and equipment you need — helmet, jacket, gloves, and boots — and why each matters. Proper kit isn't optional; your instructor will check you're suitably dressed before the day goes any further.

You'll also complete a quick eyesight check, where you'll be asked to read a number plate from around 20.5 metres away.

Element B: On-site motorcycle training

Element B introduces you to the bike itself, carried out on the training pad, an off-road area away from public roads. Your instructor will take you through:

Your instructor will take you through:

• Using the bike stand
• The different motorcycle controls
• Basic maintenance checks covering things such as the coolant
• Wheeling the bike round to the left and right
• Starting and stopping the engine

Element C: On-site riding

Element C is the most substantial on-site section and is also carried out on the training pad. This is where you ride for the first time! Your instructor will work through a set sequence of skills:

• Pulling away, stopping, and changing gears
• Riding in a straight line and in a slow, controlled manner
• Using both brakes correctly
• Riding a figure of eight
• Carrying out left turns, right turns, and U-turns
• Emergency braking
• Riding round bends safely
• Rear observation

Observation is as important as the physical manoeuvres here. Understanding blind spots and checking mirrors and over your shoulder are assessed alongside your bike control. You'll need to demonstrate a basic level of competence across all of these before moving to Element D.

Element D: On-road preparation

Before heading out onto public roads, you return to the classroom for a full briefing from your instructor. This covers everything you need to know before riding in live traffic:

• Speed, road positioning, and safe following distances
• Your visibility to other road users
• Rear observation and when to use it
• Anticipating hazards and riding defensively
• Adjusting speed and position for different road and traffic conditions
• How the radio system works so you don't lose contact with your instructor on the road

This element also covers the legal restrictions that apply while you're riding on a CBT certificate — L-plates, no passengers, no motorways — and reinforces the Highway Code knowledge introduced in Element A.

Even though there isn't a formalised theory test for the CBT, you'll still need to show you have a good understanding of the Highway Code. If it seems like you haven't done your homework, you might not get let onto the final element!

Element E: On-road riding

The final element is a minimum two-hour ride on public roads. You'll go out in groups of no more than two pupils per instructor, connected by radio. Early in the ride your instructor will offer guidance and direction; towards the end, the focus shifts to whether you can navigate safely from one point to another independently.

During the ride you'll encounter real traffic situations — junctions, roundabouts, varying road conditions — and will be asked to carry out a U-turn and an emergency stop. Your instructor uses this time to confirm you can ride safely before signing you off and issuing your DL196 certificate.

CBT requirements and restrictions

To take a CBT, you must hold a valid UK provisional or full driving licence and be at least 16 years old. Once completed, your DL196 certificate is valid for 2 years. If you don't progress to a full licence within that period, you'll need to complete the CBT again. While riding on a CBT certificate, you must display L-plates, cannot carry passengers, and cannot ride on motorways.