Music Theory Grades 1 to 5 – syllabus summary
Select your grade below for a summary of what we assess at each grade or download the complete syllabus for Music Theory Grades 1 to 5.
Online exams
We assess Music Theory at Grades 1 to 5 with an online exam. Before booking or taking an exam, make sure you read our online Music Theory guidelines and requirements and try our free sample papers and practice exams.
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- Basics of notation in treble and bass clef
- Some simple time signatures
- Some major keys and scales
- Terms and signs
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- More basics of notation including triplets and triplet notes groups
- Grouping of notes and rests
- More simple time signatures
- Extension of the stave up to two leger lines
- Some relative major and minor keys
- More terms and signs
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- Compound time signatures and the grouping of notes and rests
- The demisemiquaver (32nd note) and its equivalent rest
- Extension of the stave up to three ledge lines
- Transposition at the octave between treble and bass clefs
- Scales and key signatures of all major and minor keys up to and including four sharps and flats, in both forms of minor scales
- Naming of intervals including type and number
- Further terms and signs
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- All simple and compound time signatures and the grouping of rests and notes
- The breve and its equivalent rest, double dotted notes/rests and duplets
- The alto C clef and its transposition between clefs
- Enharmonic equivalents, double sharp and flat signs
- Scales and key signatures of all major and minor keys up to and including five sharps and flats, and the construction of the chromatic scale
- Technical names (tonic, supertonic etc,)
- Intervals between any two diatonic notes
- Triads and chords in root position
- More terms and signs including some French terms
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- Irregular time signatures and the grouping of notes and rests
- The tenor C clef
- Transposition at the octave between clefs and transposition to concert pitch of instruments in Bb, A or F
- Scales and key signatures of all major and minor keys up to and including six sharps and flats
- All diatonic and chromatic intervals, and compound intervals
- Root position, 1st inversion and 2nd inversion forms of the tonic, supertonic, subdominant and dominant chords in any of the keys set for the grade
- Identification of perfect, imperfect and plagal cadences
- More terms and signs including Germans terms
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Quick links
- Book exams
- How to book
- Exam information and regulations
- Specific needs
- Grade 1-5 online Music Theory guidelines
- Grade 1-5 online Music Theory practice materials
- Grade 1-5 Music Theory marking criteria
- Results and certificates
- Appeals and feedback
- Syllabus updates
- Syllabus FAQ
- Where to buy music
- Apps and practice tools