What the ARKS test is
ARKS is the Association of Racing Kart Schools, a group of professional kart schools recognised by Motorsport UK. Passing their test is how a first-timer gets a Kart Interclub licence, the licence you need to race owner-driver karts at club meetings.
There are 12 ARKS schools: Bayford Meadows (Kent), Castle Combe Drive Tech (Wiltshire), Clay Pigeon (Dorset), Nutts Corner (Northern Ireland), Protrain Academy (Buckingham), Three Sisters (Wigan), Larkhall (the only one in Scotland), Msport (Daventry), Thruxton (Hampshire), Tockwith (York), Warden Law (Sunderland) and SuperKarting UK (long-circuit gearbox). Many clubs also have their own examiners.
Before you book
- Buy the Motorsport UK starter pack: £78 in the shop in September 2026 (check the current price). It includes the licence application form and your first year's licence.
- Watch the Starting Karting film and read the pack.
- Get some time in a proper racing kart first; ARKS says not only four-stroke indoor karts.
- Book with an ARKS school or club examiner. Most test once or twice a month.
On the day
It starts with about 30 minutes of briefing and the Starting Karting video, covering safety, driving and track discipline. The two parts of the test can be taken in either order, and the whole thing typically takes a couple of hours (HKRC allows about four).
- The drive: after a familiarisation session and feedback, you're assessed on racing lines, braking, throttle, steering and confidence. Your best lap has to be within 10% of a target time set for mid-grid in that class and conditions. You need 13 of the 18 general areas and all of the overall section.
- The paper: 20 multiple-choice questions with five answers each, on flags, safety, officials and the karting rules. You need 100% on flags and 80% on safety and general. Questions can be read aloud to you.
Pass one part and not the other, and you get a pass slip and only retake the part you failed.
The flags you must know
| Flag | What it means |
|---|---|
| Yellow | Danger: slow down, no overtaking. Waved means great danger, be ready to stop. |
| Red | Stop racing. Go slowly to the pits or start line without overtaking, ready to stop. |
| Black | Pit within one lap and report to the Clerk of the Course. |
| Black with orange disc | Mechanical problem or fire: pit next lap. |
| Yellow and black quarters | Slow down and line up behind the leader; no overtaking until you pass the green. |
| Green with yellow border | False start: slow down and re-form the grid for another rolling lap. |
| Yellow with red stripes | Slippery surface ahead. |
| Blue | Someone is close behind you. Waved means they're trying to overtake. |
| White | Service vehicle or slow kart on the circuit. |
| Green | All clear after a yellow zone; also the start of the formation lap. |
| Union flag | Start signal when there are no lights. |
| Chequered | End of the race or practice session. |
What it costs
ARKS caps the test at £100 including VAT, not counting kart hire. Retakes are up to £50 for the paper and £60 for the drive. For example, Three Sisters charges £100 plus £40 kart hire, and HKRC charges £120 including track time if you bring your own kart and kit.
After you pass
- The school stamps and signs your form, and you send it to Motorsport UK.
- You can race almost straight away: take the application form to your first meeting instead of the licence (once only).
- Licences run from 1 January to the end of the year shown. Lapse for more than three years and you apply as a first-timer again.
- Short-circuit karting needs no eyesight test or medical at any age.
Losing your novice plates, then upgrading
New drivers race as novices on black number plates with white or yellow numbers, and usually start at the back of heats. You need six race signatures from the officials to lose novice status, and the ARKS test counts as one, so it's five races.
The next licence is the Kart National: ten Interclub race signatures (the ARKS test counts as one), from at least three different venues. After that come the International grades, and a National licence is also the route into gearbox karts.
Ready to race? Find a race weekend or a club near you.
Questions people ask
Can you fail the ARKS test?
Yes. The paper needs 100% on flags and 80% on safety and general; the drive needs a best lap within 10% of the target and 13 of 18 general areas. You only retake the part you failed (up to £50 for the paper, £60 for the drive).
How long does the ARKS test take?
Usually a couple of hours on a test day, including a 30-minute briefing. Some clubs allow around four hours.
How much is the ARKS test?
Up to £100 including VAT, plus kart hire if you don't bring your own.
What's the minimum age for the ARKS test?
5 years 9 months, so children can race Bambino from their sixth birthday.
Do I need my own kart for the ARKS test?
No. ARKS schools hire karts (Three Sisters charges £40). Some club examiners expect you to bring your own kart and kit.
Your next step
Find a circuit near you
Every UK kart circuit, the clubs that race there and their next race dates.
Sources
- ARKS licence application pack and training syllabus
- Motorsport UK: Flag signals in karting
- ARKS: test fees and overview
- ARKS: accredited kart schools
- Motorsport UK National Competition Rules 2026 (Edition 3)
- Motorsport UK shop: karting starter pack
- Motorsport UK: Go karting
- Three Sisters: driver training and ARKS
- HKRC: ARKS testing
Prices and rules change. Always check with the circuit, club or Motorsport UK before you book.