What the M1 knowledge test looks like
To ride a motorcycle in Ontario you need an M class licence. To apply, you must be at least 16, pass a vision test and pass a written knowledge test on traffic signs and on motorcycles and the rules of the road. Pass and you get an M1 licence, the first step of Ontario's graduated licensing system for riders. You take the test at a DriveTest centre.
| Part of the test | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Format | Multiple choice, on paper at all DriveTest locations or on a computer at some |
| Sections | Two or three sections, for example one on signs and one on the rules of the road |
| Pass mark | A total score of at least 80% |
| Time limit | None. DriveTest says a knowledge test typically takes 20 to 30 minutes |
| Languages | DriveTest offers the computer M1 test in 20 languages |
| What to bring | Two pieces of identification, money for the test fee, and glasses or contacts if you need them to read or write |
DriveTest says test results are valid for one year, and if you try again within that year you only redo the sections you did not pass. The official pages we checked do not give an exact question count for the M1 test. Our simulation uses 40 questions, the length commonly reported for Ontario knowledge tests, drawn from all four of our topic areas. Check DriveTest before your visit in case anything has changed.
What the handbook says the test covers
The motorcycle handbook says the knowledge test may ask about the rules of the road, traffic signs, motorcycle controls, lane position, steering, equipment requirements, safety helmets, carrying passengers or cargo, dangerous surfaces, downshifting and maintenance. It also tells you to study two chapters of the Official MTO Driver's Handbook, on safe and responsible driving and on traffic signs and lights. Our bank follows those topics:
- Licensing and the law (44 questions). M1 and M2 conditions, timelines, L and M conditions, helmet law, insurance, plates and permits, alcohol rules and demerit points.
- Riding skills and equipment (47 questions). Helmets and protective clothing, primary and secondary controls, the pre-ride check, starting, shifting, counter-steering, braking and maintenance.
- Hazards and road situations (76 questions). Lane position, space cushions, large vehicles, intersections, group riding, passengers and cargo, slippery surfaces, rain, fog, cold, night riding, emergencies and freeways.
- Signs and signals (26 questions). Signs described in words, with the motorcycle angle: grooved pavement, bumps, gravel, railway crossings, curve speeds and how to signal to other road users.
Key rules for new riders
- M1 conditions. Zero blood alcohol, ride only from half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset, wear an approved helmet, carry no passengers, and stay off roads posted over 80 km/h except highways 11, 17, 61, 69, 71, 101, 102, 144 and 655.
- Timelines. You must hold your M1 for at least 60 days before the Level One road test, and the M1 is valid for only 90 days. Level Two lasts at least 22 months, or four months less if you pass a ministry-approved motorcycle safety course, and you have up to five years at Level Two.
- M2. You may ride at night and carry a passenger (never on a moped), but your blood alcohol must still be zero.
- Your licence matches your vehicle. Pass the road test on a limited-speed motorcycle or moped and you get an L condition. Pass it on a three-wheeled motorcycle and you get an M condition.
- Numbers that come up. A two-second minimum following distance, the front brake giving about three-quarters of your stopping power, at least 1.5 mm of tire tread, crossing parallel tracks at 45 degrees or more, and stopping at least 5 metres from a railway crossing when a train is coming.
How our sign questions work
The real test shows pictures of signs. Our site does not use images, so every sign question describes the sign in words, using the shape, colour and message given in the handbook. Because our G1 practice test already covers general road signs in depth, our M1 sign questions focus on what a sign means for you as a rider, such as reduced traction on grooved pavement or how to treat a posted curve speed in the rain.
How to prepare
Read the Official MTO Motorcycle Handbook first, plus the two Driver's Handbook chapters it points to. Then practise one area at a time until you score well above 80%, and finish with full 40-question simulations. Read every explanation, including the ones you got right, because many questions test an exact number or a specific technique from the handbook.
Aptitude Tests Canada is an independent practice platform. We are not affiliated with or endorsed by the Ministry of Transportation, DriveTest or the Government of Ontario. Our questions are original practice questions written from the public handbooks, not real test questions.
Three worked examples
One question from different sections of the full pack, with the answer and explanation.
What is the minimum age to apply for a motorcycle licence in Ontario?
- 15
- 16
- 17
- 18
According to the handbook, what is the most important accessory a motorcycle rider can have?
- A helmet
- A windshield
- Saddlebags
- Heated grips
Why is the centre of the lane a poor riding position?
- It makes you too easy for other drivers to see
- It is illegal for motorcycles to ride there
- It is coated with oil and gets slippery when wet
- It is always full of loose gravel