Free Music Theory Practice Questions: Test Yourself

Introduction

Practice questions are the single most effective way to prepare for ABRSM Music Theory exams. Research across seven meta-analyses and 48,000+ learners confirms that answering practice questions produces dramatically better retention than passive study. Reading a textbook teaches you the rules; answering questions teaches you how to apply them under exam conditions.

This post provides sample practice questions across the key topics for ABRSM Grades 1 to 5 so you can test your knowledge and identify areas that need more revision. Use them as a starting point, then continue practising with our full question bank.

How to Use These Questions

• Try each question before looking at the answer — resist the temptation to peek
• Note which topics you find difficult — these are the areas to focus your revision on
• Come back and try them again in a few days — spaced repetition strengthens your memory
• Time yourself — in the real exam, you need to work efficiently

Grade 1 Sample Questions

Question 1: Note Values

How many crotchet beats does a dotted minim last?

Answer: 3 beats. A minim lasts 2 beats, and the dot adds half its value (1 beat), giving 3 beats in total.

Question 2: Key Signatures

What key has one sharp in its key signature?

Answer: G major (or E minor). The one sharp is F sharp.

Question 3: Time Signatures

In 3/4 time, how many crotchet beats are there in each bar?

Answer: 3 crotchet beats per bar.

Question 4: Musical Terms

What does forte (f) mean?

Answer: Loud.

Grade 2 Sample Questions

Question 5: Intervals

What is the interval from C to E?

Answer: A major 3rd. Count the letter names: C(1), D(2), E(3) — so it is a 3rd. E is in the key of C major, so the interval is major.

Question 6: Key Signatures

Name the key with two flats in its key signature.

Answer: B flat major (or G minor). The two flats are B flat and E flat.

Question 7: Triplets

In simple time, what does a triplet of quavers equal in duration?

Answer: A crotchet (one beat in 2/4, 3/4, or 4/4 time). Three notes are played in the time of two.

Grade 3 Sample Questions

Question 8: Compound Time

How many quaver beats are there in a bar of 6/8?

Answer: 6 quavers per bar. However, 6/8 is felt as 2 dotted crotchet beats per bar, each divided into 3 quavers.

Question 9: Transposition

If you transpose the note C up an octave, what note do you get?

Answer: C — the same letter name, one octave higher.

Question 10: Scales

Write the key signature of E flat major.

Answer: Three flats: B flat, E flat, A flat (written in that order on the stave).

Grade 4 Sample Questions

Question 11: Ornaments

What is the name of the ornament that consists of a small note printed before a main note, played as quickly as possible?

Answer: An acciaccatura (or grace note). It is written as a small quaver with a line through the stem.

Question 12: Double Sharps

In the key of G sharp minor (harmonic), what accidental is needed on the leading note?

Answer: F double sharp (Fx). The 7th note of G sharp minor is F sharp, and raising it by a semitone in the harmonic minor gives F double sharp.

Question 13: Writing a Rhythm

Add a time signature to the beginning of this rhythm: crotchet, crotchet, minim, crotchet, crotchet, minim.

Answer: 4/4 (or C for common time). Each bar contains 4 crotchet beats: crotchet + crotchet + minim = 4 beats per bar.

Grade 5 Sample Questions

Question 14: Intervals (Advanced)

What is the interval from D to A flat?

Answer: A diminished 5th. Count: D(1), E(2), F(3), G(4), A(5) — so it is a 5th. In the key of D major, the 5th is A natural (a perfect 5th). A flat is one semitone lower than A natural, making it a diminished 5th.

Question 15: Cadences

The last two chords of a phrase in C major are G major followed by A minor. What type of cadence is this?

Answer: An interrupted cadence. The progression is V (G major) to vi (A minor). The listener expects chord I (C major) after chord V, so the move to vi creates a surprise — hence "interrupted."

Question 16: Transposition for Instruments

A clarinet in B flat plays a written C. What pitch sounds at concert pitch?

Answer: B flat. A B flat clarinet sounds a major 2nd lower than written. Written C sounds as B flat.

Question 17: Technical Names

In the key of A major, what is the technical name for the note E?

Answer: The dominant. E is the 5th degree of the A major scale.

Question 18: Chords

Name the chord formed by the notes F, A, and C in the key of F major.

Answer: Chord I (tonic triad) in root position. F is the tonic of F major, and the triad built on F consists of F, A, and C.

Question 19: Scales

Write the descending form of the melodic minor scale of D minor, starting from the upper tonic.

Answer: D, C, B flat, A, G, F, E, D. The melodic minor descending uses the natural minor form — both the 6th and 7th degrees are lowered (B flat and C natural instead of B natural and C sharp).

Question 20: Musical Terms

What does andante con moto mean?

Answer: At a walking pace, with movement. Andante means at a walking pace (moderately slow), and con moto means with movement (slightly faster than plain andante).

How Did You Do?

Count your correct answers and see where you stand:

What to Do Next

These sample questions give you a taste of what ABRSM Music Theory exams cover, but twenty questions are not enough to prepare for a full exam. Grade 5, for example, draws from nine major topic areas, and the exam contains many more questions than we can cover in a single blog post.

To prepare effectively, you need:

• Hundreds of practice questions across every topic area
• Immediate feedback so you know whether your answer is correct
• Explanations that help you understand why the correct answer is right
• Spaced repetition that brings back questions you found difficult at optimal intervals

This is exactly what our practice platform provides. Start practising with free music theory questions and build the knowledge and confidence you need to pass your exam.

The Science Behind Practice Questions

Why are practice questions so much more effective than simply reading a textbook? The answer lies in a cognitive science principle called the testing effect.

When you try to retrieve information from memory — as you do when answering a question — you strengthen the neural pathways associated with that knowledge. This makes the information easier to recall in the future. Simply re-reading the same information does not produce the same strengthening effect.

Our platform uses spaced repetition (the FSRS algorithm) to schedule questions at optimal intervals. Questions you find easy are shown less frequently; questions you find difficult come back sooner. This ensures you spend your revision time where it matters most.

Start Practising Today

Whether you are preparing for Grade 1 or Grade 5, the most effective thing you can do right now is start answering practice questions. Every question you answer — and every mistake you learn from — brings you closer to passing your exam.

Try free music theory practice questions and take the first step towards exam success.