// MCP TOKEN COST

The Moodle MCP server costs 56,457 tokens before the first call.

Every request your agent makes carries every tool definition this server exposes — context your code, documents and conversation can't use, mostly for tools the agent never calls. You don't need them all in the window, and you don't have to pay for them.

QUICK ANSWER The Moodle MCP server's 233 tool definitions consume 56,457 tokens — 28% of a 200k context window, and 30× the median MCP server (1,862 tokens). A scoped grant exposing only the tools you use cuts that roughly in proportion.

MEASURED FROM SCHEMAS tiktoken o200k_base · rank #68 of 12,722 measured servers · refreshed every build Method →

// CONTEXT WINDOW SHARE

What that costs before your agent starts working.

Tool definitions are overhead: they occupy context on every request and compete with your code, documents and conversation history for the same window.

200K WINDOW 28%

1M WINDOW 5.6%

Corpus context: Moodle ranks #68 of 12,722 measured MCP servers by definition cost. The median is 1,862 tokens, p90 is 13,674, and the heaviest (Ainumbers Mcp Apps) is 442,047 — 221% of a 200k window on its own. New to this? See MCP token cost and context window in the glossary.

Token cost is one axis. See the risk picture across your whole stack →

// PER-TOOL BREAKDOWN

Where the 56,457 tokens go.

Each row is one tool definition as a tools/list entry — name, description and input schema — counted with o200k_base. Average: 242 tokens per tool.

Tool	Category	Tokens	% of server
create_question	Write	1,676	3.0%
update_question	Write	1,521	2.7%
create_activity	Write	1,132	2.0%
update_activity	Write	1,123	2.0%
add_lesson_page	Write	869	1.5%
edit_lesson_page	Write	772	1.4%
add_database_field	Write	723	1.3%
set_course_completion_criteria	Write	698	1.2%
edit_database_field	Write	683	1.2%
grade_submission	Write	653	1.2%
edit_section	Write	651	1.2%
set_badge_criteria	Write	635	1.1%
add_feedback_item	Write	578	1.0%
copy_between_sites	Write	575	1.0%
edit_feedback_item	Write	559	1.0%
auto_create_groups	Write	554	1.0%
configure	Write	507	0.9%
restore_course	Write	470	0.8%
set_rubric	Write	459	0.8%
import_grades	Write	409	0.7%
reset_course	Destructive	382	0.7%
get_course_logs	Read	379	0.7%
set_enrolment_method	Write	367	0.7%
backup_course	Write	362	0.6%
create_wiki_page	Write	345	0.6%
get_course_updates	Read	343	0.6%
message_participants	Write	343	0.6%
allocate_workshop_randomly	Write	341	0.6%
create_discussion	Write	341	0.6%
list_wiki_pages	Read	340	0.6%
edit_glossary_entry	Write	331	0.6%
assess_workshop_submission	Read	327	0.6%
add_book_chapter	Write	326	0.6%
reply_to_post	Write	326	0.6%
get_submissions	Read	324	0.6%
schedule_workshop_allocation	Write	321	0.6%
list_glossary_entries	Read	314	0.6%
allocate_workshop_reviewer	Write	314	0.6%
set_grade	Write	314	0.6%
add_glossary_entry	Write	311	0.6%
get_course_completion_status	Read	309	0.5%
remove_workshop_reviewer	Destructive	307	0.5%
allocate_marker	Write	307	0.5%
add_questions_to_quiz	Write	305	0.5%
list_participants	Read	303	0.5%
edit_database_entry	Write	302	0.5%
assess_workshop_example	Write	300	0.5%
set_group_members	Write	300	0.5%
enrol_users	Execute	290	0.5%
edit_activity	Write	284	0.5%
answer_lesson_page	Read	276	0.5%
update_course	Write	275	0.5%
copy_course	Write	273	0.5%
set_database_template	Write	271	0.5%
set_quiz_override	Write	270	0.5%
edit_quiz_slot	Write	268	0.5%
edit_wiki_page	Write	268	0.5%
save_workshop_submission	Write	268	0.5%
edit_post	Write	266	0.5%
override_workshop_grade	Destructive	263	0.5%
get_quiz_statistics	Read	263	0.5%
grant_extension	Write	261	0.5%
open_scorm	Write	260	0.5%
answer_quiz_questions	Write	259	0.5%
add_database_entry	Write	258	0.5%
edit_book_chapter	Write	257	0.5%
export_grades	Write	255	0.5%
set_workflow_state	Write	253	0.4%
award_badge	Write	251	0.4%
edit_workshop_example	Write	251	0.4%
import_questions	Write	251	0.4%
get_quiz_results	Read	245	0.4%
list_database_entries	Read	243	0.4%
add_workshop_example	Write	238	0.4%
get_workshop_submission	Read	235	0.4%
submit_survey	Write	230	0.4%
list_discussions	Read	229	0.4%
update_grade_category	Write	228	0.4%
get_discussion	Read	226	0.4%
add_grade_item	Write	226	0.4%
get_conversation	Read	222	0.4%
create_badge	Write	222	0.4%
set_user_roles	Write	222	0.4%
export_questions	Write	221	0.4%
add_section	Write	218	0.4%
edit_question_category	Write	217	0.4%
export_database_entries	Write	217	0.4%
set_quiz_pages	Write	216	0.4%
update_event	Write	216	0.4%
move_lesson_page	Write	214	0.4%
list_questions	Read	210	0.4%
add_site	Write	209	0.4%
override_completion	Write	209	0.4%
calculate_workshop_grades	Write	206	0.4%
delete_question_category	Destructive	205	0.4%
grade_forum_user	Execute	205	0.4%
rate	Execute	202	0.4%
validate_html	Read	201	0.4%
grade_quiz_question	Write	201	0.4%
update_grade_item	Write	201	0.4%
import_activities	Write	200	0.4%
move_questions	Write	200	0.4%
get_activities_overview	Read	199	0.4%
add_quiz_section	Write	199	0.4%
get_participation_report	Read	198	0.4%
list_notifications	Read	198	0.4%
move_book_chapter	Write	198	0.4%
get_survey_results	Read	197	0.3%
import_glossary	Write	197	0.3%
download_file	Read	196	0.3%
create_event	Write	196	0.3%
browser_snapshot	Read	194	0.3%
get_course_structure	Read	194	0.3%
get_activity_content	Read	192	0.3%
get_wiki_page	Read	192	0.3%
add_grade_category	Write	192	0.3%
mark_course_complete	Write	191	0.3%
browser_wait	Execute	190	0.3%
import_database_entries	Write	186	0.3%
set_book_chapter_visibility	Write	186	0.3%
set_glossary_entry_approved	Write	186	0.3%
send_message	Write	182	0.3%
validate_gift	Read	181	0.3%
unenrol_user	Destructive	180	0.3%
apply_database_preset	Write	178	0.3%
import_groups	Write	178	0.3%
set_discussion_state	Write	175	0.3%
list_deadlines	Read	174	0.3%
get_lesson_pages	Read	171	0.3%
answer_choice	Write	171	0.3%
edit_scale	Write	171	0.3%
delete_questions	Destructive	170	0.3%
export_glossary	Write	170	0.3%
set_grade_letters	Write	170	0.3%
set_discussion_subscription	Write	169	0.3%
remove_quiz_slot	Destructive	168	0.3%
list_conversations	Read	168	0.3%
delete_lesson_page	Destructive	167	0.3%
list_book_chapters	Read	166	0.3%
add_question_category	Write	166	0.3%
move_feedback_item	Write	166	0.3%
save_submission	Write	166	0.3%
set_database_entry_approved	Write	165	0.3%
browser_navigate	Execute	162	0.3%
use_feedback_template	Write	162	0.3%
delete_glossary_entry	Destructive	161	0.3%
get_site_info	Read	161	0.3%
get_survey	Read	161	0.3%
update_group	Write	161	0.3%
browser_click	Write	160	0.3%
browser_upload	Write	160	0.3%
create_group	Write	160	0.3%
get_activity_settings	Read	159	0.3%
get_database_templates	Read	159	0.3%
delete_book_chapter	Destructive	157	0.3%
get_feedback_items	Read	156	0.3%
delete_database_entry	Destructive	155	0.3%
submit_assignment	Write	155	0.3%
set_workshop_phase	Write	154	0.3%
duplicate_activity	Write	153	0.3%
delete_database_field	Destructive	152	0.3%
get_workshop	Read	151	0.3%
add_scale	Write	151	0.3%
delete_activity	Destructive	150	0.3%
list_courses	Read	149	0.3%
list_potential_users	Read	149	0.3%
list_question_categories	Read	149	0.3%
show_browser	Read	149	0.3%
browser_type	Write	149	0.3%
get_attempt_review	Read	148	0.3%
get_scorm	Read	147	0.3%
set_grouping_groups	Write	147	0.3%
delete_feedback_item	Destructive	146	0.3%
delete_section	Destructive	146	0.3%
get_grader_report	Read	146	0.3%
add_glossary_category	Write	145	0.3%
get_forum_grades	Read	144	0.3%
get_rubric	Read	144	0.3%
get_completion_report	Read	143	0.3%
set_completion	Write	142	0.3%
get_activity_report	Read	139	0.2%
browser_select	Write	139	0.2%
save_feedback_template	Write	139	0.2%
start_quiz_attempt	Execute	138	0.2%
delete_workshop_example	Destructive	137	0.2%
list_questions_to_grade	Read	137	0.2%
delete_feedback_template	Destructive	136	0.2%
get_course_completion_criteria	Read	136	0.2%
get_workshop_allocation	Read	135	0.2%
login	Write	134	0.2%
get_quiz_info	Read	133	0.2%
list_question_banks	Read	133	0.2%
get_h5p_activity	Read	131	0.2%
finish_quiz_attempt	Read	130	0.2%
get_choice_results	Read	130	0.2%
list_pending	Read	130	0.2%
get_my_grades	Read	129	0.2%
get_database_fields	Read	128	0.2%
get_me	Read	127	0.2%
set_badge_enabled	Write	127	0.2%
get_lesson_page	Read	126	0.2%
list_database_presets	Read	125	0.2%
delete_grade_category	Destructive	124	0.2%
list_enrolment_methods	Read	124	0.2%
create_grouping	Write	123	0.2%
get_choice	Read	122	0.2%
use_site	Write	121	0.2%
list_badges	Read	120	0.2%
delete_grade_item	Destructive	119	0.2%
get_assignment	Read	118	0.2%
list_workshop_examples	Read	117	0.2%
delete_post	Destructive	114	0.2%
get_quiz_structure	Read	114	0.2%
get_quiz_attempt	Read	111	0.2%
list_assignments	Read	111	0.2%
list_glossary_categories	Read	110	0.2%
set_question_status	Write	108	0.2%
delete_event	Destructive	107	0.2%
remove_site	Destructive	106	0.2%
get_gradebook_setup	Read	103	0.2%
list_events	Read	103	0.2%
delete_group	Destructive	102	0.2%
list_feedback_templates	Read	98	0.2%
delete_grouping	Destructive	95	0.2%
list_groups	Read	95	0.2%
list_groupings	Read	91	0.2%
list_scales	Read	89	0.2%
get_grade_letters	Read	86	0.2%
list_sites	Read	81	0.1%
logout	Write	75	0.1%
get_event	Read	74	0.1%
mark_notifications_read	Write	63	0.1%
server_info	Read	62	0.1%

// CUT THE COST

Your agent uses a handful of these tools. It pays for all 233.

You don't need all 233 of those definitions in the window. PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway that sits in front of Moodle: only the tools you grant are exposed to the agent, the rest never load. A smaller window means a sharper agent — less noise when it picks a tool — and every request costs less:

Grant scope	Definition cost	Reduction
All 233 tools (no gateway)	56,457 tokens	—
3 granted tools	~727 tokens	−99%
5 granted tools	~1,212 tokens	−98%
10 granted tools	~2,423 tokens	−96%

The risk dividend: 24 of these 233 tools are critical-risk (destructive or financial) and cost 3,949 tokens (7% of the definition load). Block them — the recommended starter policy — and you reclaim that context before tuning anything else.

Create a free account and register Moodle — nothing to install.
Grant only the tools you use — ungranted definitions never enter the context window.
Point your MCP client (Claude, Cursor, anything) at your gateway URL.

CUT MOODLE TOKEN COST →

Instant setup, no code required.

Model your own stack in the token-cost calculator, or see the Moodle policy for what a sensible grant looks like.

//FAQ

Moodle token-cost questions.

How many tokens does the Moodle MCP server use?+

Its 233 tool definitions total 56,457 tokens — 28% of a 200k context window — measured with tiktoken o200k_base over the serialised tools/list payload. Exact counts vary slightly by client and model.

Why does Moodle consume tokens before I send a message?+

MCP clients load every connected server's tool definitions — name, description, and input schema — into the model's context so it knows what it can call. That payload is charged against your context window on every request, whether or not a tool is used.

How do I reduce Moodle's token usage?+

Expose fewer tools. A PolicyLayer grant scopes Moodle to only the tools you allow — ungranted definitions are filtered out of the tool list, so they never enter the context window. A grant of 3 typical tools costs roughly 727 tokens, a 99% reduction.

Does deferred tool loading fix this?+

Partially, in some clients. Claude Code defers MCP tool schemas behind a tool-search step by default, and VS Code has experimental grouping — but you still pay tokens per search and reload, and Cursor, Windsurf and Gemini CLI load definitions upfront. Reducing the exposed tool set cuts the cost in every client.

// METHOD & REVIEW

How these numbers were measured.

01

Serialisation

Each tool is serialised as a tools/list entry — name, description, input schema — from the schemas in the PolicyLayer scan database. Clients differ slightly in framing, so treat counts as close estimates.

02

Tokeniser

tiktoken o200k_base (GPT-4o/o-series). Anthropic's current tokeniser isn't published, so Claude's exact counts will differ; for English text and JSON schemas the totals are close enough to treat these as estimates.

03

Deferred loading

Some clients now defer schema loading (Claude Code's tool search; VS Code experimental grouping). You still pay per search and reload — and Cursor, Windsurf and Gemini CLI load everything upfront.

Computed 20-10-2026 from the PolicyLayer scan database over all 233 catalogued Moodle tools. Counts refresh with every site build.