Taking my M1 in about 3 weeks and trying to figure out how much time to actually put in. I've been riding casually for two summers but never got licensed, so I know the basics but I'm not confident on the written portion at all. My roommate said he passed first try after one afternoon with the handbook but I don't want to chance it.
I've been doing practice tests online and scoring between 74% and 82%. The DMV manual says you need 80% to pass, so I'm right on the edge. The questions I keep missing are about following distances at highway speeds and right-of-way rules at unmarked intersections — stuff that seems obvious but the wording trips me up.
Also curious about the skills test. I've read it includes a U-turn, cone weave, and quick stop. The quick stop is what worries me most on my 600cc — locking the front is easy to do if you panic. Has anyone failed specifically that portion and had to come back for a retest?
Failed the skills test my first attempt because I put my foot down during the U-turn. Automatic fail. Came back two days later and passed — just needed to trust my balance more and look where I was going instead of down at the ground.
I studied about 4 days, maybe 2 hours each day, and passed the written with a 91%. The key is memorizing the specific numbers — following distances, BAC limits, minimum tread depth. Those show up constantly.
The skills test was easier than I expected. Stay slow on the cone weave and you've basically got it.
For the quick stop: firm brakes, both together, don't grab the front. Practice it in an empty lot a few times before your test date. The panic reaction is what fails people, and a few reps removes that panic entirely.
If you're hitting 80%+ on practice tests you're probably fine. The real test tends to be more straightforward in wording than some third-party practice sites. I went in scoring 78% and passed with an 87%.