MUSIC THEORY

PRACTICE PAPERS

GRADE 5 - PAPER B
This practice paper is for the ABRSM Grade 5 syllabus.
It contains 7 questions. You should answer them all.
You are allowed 2 hours to complete this paper which is out of 100.

Total marks: /100

Copyright Hello Music Theory 2018

 GRADE 5 PRACTICE PAPER B

Question 1. Take a look at the extracts of music and answer the questions. 15



a) i) The passage is in 7/8 and begins on the first beat of the bar, but is missing bar lines. Add them in. (8)

ii) Describe the largest interval (minor 3rd, perfect 5th etc) in the extract. …………………………. (2)

iii) The passage above is in the key of C minor. What other key has the same key signature? (2)

………………………………………………………

iv) Write as a semibreve (whole note) an enharmonic equivalent of the note marked with X. (3)

Question 2. Describe fully ( e.g perfect 4th, minor 6th etc ) the intervals of the notes in 10
brackets ( ) and marked with the capital letters A - E.

A B C D E

A ……………………………………………………… D ………………………………………………………

B ……………………………………………………… E ………………………………………………………

C ………………………………………………………

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 GRADE 5 PRACTICE PAPER B

Question 3. Look at the extract of music written for oboe and piano below and answer the questions.

a) i) Give the meaning of the following terms or symbols: 10

……………………………………………………………………………. (2)

……………………………………………………………………………. (2)

……………………………………………………………………………. (2)

ii) What does the term rall. mean and what is another term that means the same thing?

definition: ………………………………………………………………… (2)

other term: ……………………………………………………………….. (2)

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 GRADE 5 PRACTICE PAPER B

b) i) Circle and mark with the appropriate letter one example of the following intervals as 10
shown in the example. Also, name which bar number the each interval is in.

1
A In the Oboe a melodic interval of a major 3rd. Bar:………

B In the Oboe a melodic interval of a minor 7th. Bar:……… (2)

C In the Oboe a melodic interval of a diminished 4th. Bar:……… (2)

D In the left hand of the piano a melodic interval of a compound perfect 5th. Bar:……… (2)

ii) Tick one of the boxes that best describes each term/sign. (4)

leggiero means: con motto means:

playfully with meaning

lightly without mute

smoothly with movement

expressively play with a mute

c) i) What family of instruments does the Oboe belong to and what is the lowest sounding 10
instrument in that same family.?

family: …………………………………………………………………… (2)

lowest sounding instrument: …………………………………………………………………… (2)

ii) What is another music family of instruments and what is the lowest sounding instrument in that family?

family: …………………………………………………………………… (2)

lowest sounding instrument: …………………………………………………………………… (2)

iii) Rewrite the first chord in the 5th bar of the left hand so that it’s at the same pitch but using the alto C (4)
2
clef instead.

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 GRADE 5 PRACTICE PAPER B

Question 4. This is a piece of music written for a cornet in A. Write it out at concert pitch ( a 10
minor 3rd lower ). You don’t need to use a key signature, but you should include all the
sharps, flats and natural signs as appropriate.

Question 5. 10

a) Using semibreves ( whole notes ) write one octave ascending of the chromatic scale beginning on the (5)
note shown below. Remember to add in any necessary sharps, flats or natural signs.

b) Write the correct key signature and one octave ascending of the major scale with 6 sharps as it’s key (5)
signature. Use semibreves (whole notes) beginning on the tonic and add in any necessary sharps, flats
or natural signs.

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 GRADE 5 PRACTICE PAPER B

Question 6. Look at the piece of music written for bassoon and answer the questions. 15

X Y

a) This melody is in Eb Major. Indicate what the technical note names ( tonic, subdominant etc ) of the notes
marked with the letters X and Y are.

X (bar 3) …………………………………………… (2)

Y (bar 4) …………………………………………… (2)

b) Tick one of the boxes that best describes each term/sign. (4)

con amore means: cantabile means:

with movement sweetly

with feeling detached

with love smoothly

with expression in a singing style

c) i) Answer true or false to the following statements below.

A bassoonist might be asked to play con sord. ………………….. (2)

The bassoon is a double reed instrument. ………………….. (2)

The bassoon is the lowest sounding instrument in the brass family. ………………….. (2)

ii) How many bars contain all the notes of the tonic triad? ……………….. (1)

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 GRADE 5 PRACTICE PAPER B

Question 7. Suggest suitable chord progressions for the two cadences in the extract below. 10
You should indicate which chord by placing a roman numeral ( I, II, IV or V ) in the boxes
below the staves. You should only use one chord per box.

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