Music Theory Grades 1 to 5
Grades 1 to 5 Music Theory exams are marked out of a total of 75 with 50 being required for a pass, 60 for a Merit and 65 for a Distinction.
Our online Music Theory suite at Grades 1 to 5 have been designed to use objective test questions. This style of assessment contains questions that generate either a correct or incorrect answer across all sections of the paper. This allows us to award marks in line with the very specific knowledge and understanding of Music Theory each candidate demonstrates. Candidates do not have to pass each section of the exam in order to achieve the overall qualification.
Each exam at Grades 1 to 5 are separated into knowledge based sections as outlined below.
Grades 1, 2 and 3
Section |
Rhythm |
Pitch |
Keys and Scales |
Intervals |
Tonic Triads |
Terms and Signs |
Music in Context |
Total |
Marks available |
15 |
15 |
15 |
10 |
10 |
5 |
5 |
75 |
Grades 4 and 5
Section |
Rhythm |
Pitch |
Keys and Scales |
Intervals |
Triads/ Chords* |
Terms, Signs and Instruments |
Music in Context |
Total |
Marks available |
10 |
10 |
15 |
10 |
10 |
10 |
10 |
75 |
* At Grade 4, section 5 is entitled Triads/Chords.
At Grade 5, Section 5 is entitled Chords