Associated Board of the Royal College of Music
ABRSM Music Theory grade Examinations
These exams start at grade 1 and progress up to grade 8. Under examination conditions you must show competency of several music theory topics.
here is the content of the first three grades:
GRADE 1
1 Note values of semibreve, minim, crotchet, quaver and semiquaver, and their equivalent rests. Tied notes. Single-dotted notes.
2 Simple time signatures of 2/4, 3/4, 4/4, bar-lines and the grouping of the notes listed above within these times.
3 The stave. Treble (G) and bass (F) clefs. Names of notes on the stave, including middle C in both clefs. Sharp, flat and natural signs, and their cancellation.
4 Construction of the major scale, including the position of the tones and semitones. Scales and key signatures of the major keys of C, G, D and F in both clefs, with their tonic triads (root position), degrees (number only), and intervals above the tonic (by number only). 5 Some frequently used terms and signs concerning tempo, dynamics, performance directions and articulation marks. Simple questions will be asked about a melody written in either treble or bass clef.
GRADE 2
As in Grade 1, with the addition of:
1 Simple time signatures of 2/2, 3/2, 4/2 and 3/8, and the grouping of notes and rests within these times. Triplets, and triplet note groups with rests.
2 Extension of the stave to include two ledger lines below and above each stave.
3 Relative major and minor keys. Construction of the minor scale (harmonic only). Scales and key signatures of the major keys of A, Bb and Eb, and the minor keys of A, E and D, with their tonic triads (root position), degrees (number only), and intervals above the tonic (by number only).
4 More terms and signs in common use.
GRADE 3
As in preceding grades, with the addition of:
1 Compound time signatures of 6/8, 9/8 and 12/8, and the grouping of notes and rests within these times. The demisemiquaver (32nd note) and its equivalent rest.
2 Extension of the stave beyond two ledger lines. Transposition at the octave from the treble clef to the bass clef, and vice versa.
3 Scales and key signatures of all major and minor keys up to and including four sharps and flats, including both harmonic and melodic forms of minor scales, with their tonic triads (root position), degrees (number only), and intervals above the tonic (number and type).
4 More terms and signs.