About the exam
MOT Tester Annual Assessment Exam structure
An independent Great Britain study guide for the 2026–27 DVSA MOT tester annual assessment, preserving the separate Group A and Group B syllabuses, official question allocations and live-source boundaries.
Issuer and path
DVSA MOT Tester Annual Assessment 2026–27 Study Guide is administered through Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA). Check official resources before booking, retesting, or relying on a stale requirement.
Group A: Classes 1 and 2
30 scored + 0 pretest
The separate 30-question annual assessment for testers of motorcycles, mopeds and motorcycle combinations in classes 1 and 2.
Group B: Classes 3, 4, 5 and 7
30 scored + 0 pretest
The separate 30-question annual assessment for testers of three-wheelers, cars, passenger vehicles and light goods vehicles in classes 3, 4, 5 and 7.
Before buying or taking an assessment
Confirm whether the provider assessment covers Group A, Group B or both, and that it is for the 2026–27 cycle. Finish the required training first, take each group assessment yourself and verify the pass has been uploaded to your MOT testing service profile before 31 March 2027.
Official Outline Coverage Map
Coverage is mapped to official outline item counts so content depth can be checked without hard-coding a single exam.
| Topic | Official outline items | Your questions | Your flashcards | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Group A Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment | 4 | 40 | 12 | Strong |
| Group A MOT Testing Guide | 5 | 50 | 12 | Strong |
| Group A Braking Requirements | 5 | 50 | 12 | Strong |
| Group A Motorcycle Inspection Manual | 12 | 100 | 24 | Strong |
| Group A Previous Training Years | 4 | 60 | 12 | Strong |
| Group B Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment | 4 | 40 | 12 | Strong |
| Group B MOT Testing Guide | 5 | 50 | 12 | Strong |
| Group B Braking Requirements | 5 | 50 | 12 | Strong |
| Group B Cars and Passenger Vehicles Inspection Manual | 12 | 101 | 24 | Strong |
| Group B Previous Training Years | 4 | 60 | 12 | Strong |
How to use this guide
How to prepare for this year's assessment
Start with group and vehicle class, confirm whether a rule applies, follow the prescribed inspection or administration method, and classify only the evidence permitted by the live source.
Identify group and class
Use vehicle type, seats, weights, fuel or propulsion details and authorisation to select Group A or Group B and the correct class.
Select the live source
Open the relevant inspection manual or MOT testing guide and check update history, special notice and effective date.
Check application
Use first-use dates, vehicle details, exemptions and component configuration to decide whether the requirement applies.
Follow the prescribed method
Set up equipment correctly, inspect only as permitted, and distinguish observation from unsupported inference.
Classify the evidence
Choose the exact defect category or administrative outcome supported by the current wording and observed facts.
Record the annual evidence
Keep training details current and confirm the provider-uploaded assessment result on the tester profile.
Group A Lighting Requirements and Compliance
Apply motorcycle lamp and reflector requirements using the vehicle's first-use date, lamp position, colour, type, visibility and separation.
Key rules
Rule 1
Apply motorcycle lamp and reflector requirements using the vehicle's first-use date, lamp position, colour, type, visibility and separation.
Exam cue: Identify whether the scenario belongs to Group A or Group B before selecting a manual.
Rule 2
Identify the class and date, decide whether the lamp is required, then inspect function, operation and the exact manual defect wording.
Exam cue: Identify the class and date, decide whether the lamp is required, then inspect function, operation and the exact manual defect wording.
Rule 3
The 2026–27 DVSA examples specifically include multi-function lamps such as position or daytime-running lamps combined with indicators or stop lamps.
Exam cue: Use the source version and effective date that apply during the live 2026–27 training year.
Rule 4
Do not apply Group B requirements merely because a component looks similar.
Exam cue: Identify group and class, select the current source, check application, follow the prescribed method and classify only supported evidence.
Common traps
Judging a lamp from appearance alone without checking the applicable date and operating requirement.
Prevention: Do not replace current manual wording with workshop preference, memory from an earlier year or an assumption based on appearance.
Treating workshop repair preference as the statutory MOT test outcome.
Prevention: Do not replace current manual wording with workshop preference, memory from an earlier year or an assumption based on appearance.
Reproducing a sample answer without checking current application and evidence.
Prevention: Use public examples to identify concepts only; the live source and current facts control the result.
Memory anchors
Date Before Defect
First establish whether the lamp is required for that date and vehicle.
Function and Colour
Check operation, colour, position and visibility against the current motorcycle manual.
Combined Lamp Logic
Assess how a multi-function lamp behaves when the indicator or stop lamp operates.
Group A Lighting Requirements and Compliance: Source
Confirm the answer in the live DVSA guide, inspection manual or applicable special notice.
Group A Lighting Requirements and Compliance: Sequence
Identify group and class, confirm application, use the prescribed method, then classify the evidence.
Group A Lighting Requirements and Compliance: Annual Boundary
Keep the 2026–27 assessed topic allocation separate from live rule changes and earlier training years.
Next best moves
Quick check-up
Use a short quiz to confirm the rule pattern is actually sticking.
Check-up Questions
A 1960 solo motorcycle has front indicators showing white light. How should their colour be treated?
While the right indicator flashes, a combined front position lamp on the same side goes out. What is the correct approach?
Answer all questions to submit.
Next step personalized recommendations
Open another topic next
Official resources
Verify the details with the official sources
Use these links for eligibility, scheduling, handbook rules, and issuer updates. Our guide helps you study; official sources tell you what the testing partner currently requires.
DVSA MOT annual-training topics
Official 2026–27 Group A and Group B topics, class groups, minimum training time and two-assessment rule.
2026–27 annual-assessment sample-question hub
DVSA publication hub for the current Group A and Group B assessment structures; no sample item is copied here.
2026–27 Group A structure
Official 30-question allocation for classes 1 and 2, with public examples used only to identify tested concepts.
2026–27 Group B structure
Current page title and content give the official 2026–27 30-question allocation for classes 3, 4, 5 and 7 despite the retained URL slug.
MOT tester training and assessments
Annual cycle, training-hour, recording, deadline, new-tester and suspension overview.
Recording annual training
Permitted training routes and the details a tester must record on the MOT testing service.
Taking the annual assessment
Online format, 30 questions, usual duration, open-resource rule, pass mark, attempts and missed-deadline consequences.
MOT testing guide
The live administrative and testing-process source; use current wording rather than a frozen annual summary.
MOT testing guide updates
Dated changes to the live guide during and across annual training cycles.
Tester training and demonstration tests
Group definitions, annual records, failed-assessment review and demonstration-test requirements.
Motorcycle MOT inspection manual
Current application, methods of inspection and defect categories for Group A vehicles.
Cars and passenger vehicles inspection manual
Current application, methods and defect categories for Group B vehicles.
Group B vehicle classes
Current class 3, 4, 5 and 7 definitions and the June 2026 zero-emission goods-vehicle note.
Special Notice 01-26
The 1 June 2026 class 7 and tyre-tread change for qualifying 3,501–4,250kg zero-emission goods vehicles.
Special Notice 03-26
Physical security-card retirement from 25 June 2026 and the expanded fast-track disciplinary scope from 1 July 2026.
Special Notice 04-26
The phased photo-at-test rollout beginning 3 August 2026, including its current optional status and operational boundaries.
MOT manuals, checklists and special notices
DVSA collection for finding current manuals and notices that may change practice during the year.
MOT vehicle classes and maximum fees
Public summary of vehicle class descriptions; the live inspection manual remains controlling for a test decision.
FAQ
Common MOT Tester Annual Assessment questions
Is this an official DVSA assessment or question bank?
No. This is an independent study guide aligned to current public DVSA material. It does not reproduce DVSA sample questions, assessment-provider items, protected diagrams or live assessment content.
Who must complete MOT tester annual training and assessment?
An authorised MOT tester must complete the annual requirements for every vehicle group they test. The current DVSA cycle runs from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027.
Which vehicle classes belong to Group A?
The annual topic publication places classes 1 and 2 in Group A. These are the motorcycle and sidecar route, studied with the current motorcycle inspection manual.
Which vehicle classes belong to Group B?
The annual topic publication names classes 3, 4, 5 and 7. The testing guide also deals with classes 4A and 5A, the related class 4 and class 5 seatbelt-installation-check variants; this guide keeps that distinction instead of silently changing the annual group title.
What if I test vehicles in both groups?
Study all Group A and Group B topics, complete at least six hours of annual training in total and pass two separate 30-question assessments. One group's pass does not cover the other group.
What is the 2026–27 assessment structure?
Each group assessment has 30 multiple-choice questions: 4 on lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment; 5 on the MOT testing guide; 5 on braking; 12 on the applicable inspection manual; and 4 on topics from previous training years.
How long is the assessment and what is the pass mark?
DVSA says the online assessment usually takes around one hour. The 2026–27 pass mark is 80%, which is 24 of 30 questions.
Can I use notes or an inspection manual?
Yes. DVSA says notes and the MOT inspection manual may be used. Select the manual for the group and class, use current wording and check an amendment's effective date.
Can an assessment be retaken?
DVSA's annual-assessment service says attempts are unlimited during the training year. The MOT testing guide adds that after a failure the tester should review the relevant topics, record that activity and wait seven calendar days before retaking.
What happens if the 31 March deadline is missed?
The tester must stop testing and can be suspended. Restoring status can require the next year's training and assessment plus a demonstration test, so the pass should be completed and shown on the MOT testing service before the deadline.
When does a new tester first enter the annual cycle?
DVSA says a newly qualified tester starts annual training and assessment from the April after passing the demonstration test. Initial qualification and demonstration requirements are outside this annual-maintenance module.
Why can earlier training years still appear?
Four questions in each group assessment are allocated to previous-years topics. DVSA does not publish a detailed question-by-year split, and the current guide, manual and special notices control the answer even when the subject was learned earlier.
What changed for class 7 in June 2026?
Special Notice 01-26 brought qualifying zero-emission goods vehicles with a design gross weight from 3,501kg to 4,250kg into class 7 from 1 June 2026. It also changed the applicable minimum tyre tread depth to 1.6mm for those vehicles.
Does the 1 April syllabus freeze the rules for the year?
No. The annual topic allocation is fixed for the training year, but testers must follow the live MOT testing guide, current inspection manual and effective special notices. A mid-year amendment can change how a listed topic is applied.
Does this module cover becoming an MOT tester?
No. The Level 2 qualification, eligibility, authorisation, demonstration tests and extra class-specific training are separate. This module is limited to maintaining existing tester status through annual training and assessment.
Why is a single full mock disabled?
A tester may need Group A, Group B or both, and DVSA delivers a separate 30-question assessment for each group. Section practice preserves the official group and weighting without presenting an inaccurate combined mock.