Please select ‘Fit to Page’ if you print this document

Music Theory Grade 5 2020 Sample Paper

Exam duration: 2 hours maximum Total marks (out of 75):

The following sample exam paper is a printed representation of how this exam will appear
online. The structure of the questions, the knowledge required and the topics covered will be
the same. However, in order to suit an online platform, the wording of the questions and the
method of answering them may be different.

 © 2020 by The Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music 1

 1 Rhythm ⁄10

1.1 Circle the correct time signature for each of these bars. (3)

œœ jj bœ œ œ jj ‰ ‰
& œ œ
& œ œœj bbœœ œœ œœ œ œœ œj ‰‰ ‰‰ 9 4 7
(a) & œ œœœ 8 4 8
œ™™
œ™™
? # œ™™ œ œ œ œ œ œ ≈##œœ œœ
œ 5 9 4
? ## œ œœ œ œœ œ œ ≈#œ œ
(b) ? ##
# œ
3
œœ ≈ 4 8 4
3

6 7 5
3

& œœ ##œœ #œ œœ #œ œœ œœ œ œœ 8 8 8
(c)
& œ # œ ##œœ œ #œ œ œ œœ œ
& #œ 3
b œ
bœ œ Œ™
œ œ œ œ œ J œ
3

? b 12
3

? b 128 œ J
œ œ œ œ b Jœ œ Œ ™ œ œ œ œ b œJ œ
8
? bis12
1.2 Here
œ J
œ œ œ œtime: 
8a bar in Jcompound J ?Ϊ b 8
12
J œ Œ ™ (1)
b œ theœ bar above correctly rewritten in simple time? Tick ( ) one box.
? b cof œœthe following
œ œ œ showsœ b Jœ œ Œ ™
? b c œ 3 J œ œ œ b Jœ 3œ Œ ™ œ œ
Which
J
œ bœ œ
? b c 3 J œ œ œ J 3 Œ™ b c
œ 3 ?
J œ œ œ J Œ™
3
3 3
bœ
? b c œœ œ œ œ œ b Jœ œœ Œ
3 3 3 3

? b c œ 3 JœJ œ œ œ b œJ 3œ Œ œ œ bœ œ
?
J œ J
? œ œ œ J 3 Œ bc œ œ Œ
b c 3 J 3œ
3

3 3

œ œ œ œ œ b œJ œ
3 3 3 3

?
5? b c6 œ 7œ J œ 48œ œ bb49œJœ œ 104 Œ 114 124
Œ œ œ œ œ œ b œJ œ
4
4 4
b c œ 3 Jœ
4 4 3œ ?
?b c 3 œ œ œ J 3 Œ b c J Œ
J
4 5 6 3 7 8 9 3 10 11 3
12 3
8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8
1.3 Complete the following two sentences by adding a number to each. (2)

4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
16 16
(a) In 16 there16are …………
16 dotted-quaver
16 16 16
beats in16a bar.

(b) A breve is equal to ………… crotchet(s).

4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2

A
  BRSM Grade 5 Sample Paper 2
 œœ œ œ œœ œœ œœ œœ bœ œ
1.4 Tick ( ) one box to show which bar is grouped correctly. (1)

? 9 œ œ œ œ œ œ bbœœ œœ œœ ˙™
? 44499 œ œœ
? œ ˙™
˙™

9 œœ œ œ œœ œœ œœ œœ bœ œ
? œ œ w
? 44499 œ œ œœ œ œ œ bbœœ œœ w
? w

9 œœ œ œ œœ œœ œœ œœ bœ œ
? œ œ œ œ œ œ bbœœ œœ œœ ˙™ ˙™
? 44499 œ œœ
? œ ˙™

1.5 Tick ( ) or cross ( ) each box to show whether the rests are correct or incorrect. (3)

3 j‰ ≈ 3 œ œ œ #œ œœ
& 4 #œ ™ œ#œr ≈ ‰ œ œ œ œœ Œ ≈

A
  BRSM Grade 5 Sample Paper 3 Turn the page
 w
2 Pitch & ⁄10

2.1 Tick ( ) one box to show the name of this note. (1)
w #w
B G     B 

   F 
&
   A 
&
w

bw

w #w
& & &
2.2 Tick ( ) one box to show the correct enharmonic equivalent of this note. (1)

bw w

w #w
& & & &
                        

bw

w

#w &
& &
2.3 Here is a bar written for the clarinet in A. (5)

##b w6 œ

w
& 8 œ bœJ œ J &
&
## 6
& 8 bœ œ œJ
This barwhas
# # œ beenJtransposed down a minor 3rd to be at concert pitch. There are some mistakes.
j ( ) underneath the key signature and each note to show whether each is
a tick (6 ) or cross
& # or# 8incorrect.
& nœ nœ œJ
Put

œ
correct

#### 6 j 3
& 8 nœ nœ œJ & 4 bœ œ™ œ
œ œ œ

3 ? 43 bœ œ ™ œ

& 4 bœ œ™ œ œ œ
œ œ
2.4 Compare bars A, B and C, then circle true or false for each of the three statements. (3)

3
A &4
? 43 bœ œ ™ œ B 3 b œ œ™ œ
œ œ
  bœ œ™ œ œ œ
B
      œ œ C
      4

? 43 bœ œ ™ œ
A and B are at the same pitch
(a) true3   
B4 œ™œ
bœ false œ œ
œ œ
B is one octave lower than C
(b) true   false

B 43 bœ œ™ œ œ œ
C is one octave higher than A
(c) true   false

A
  BRSM Grade 5 Sample Paper 4
 ## ?## # # B ### # b
& # & b b bbb
B ## ### ## ## ?### #
3 Keys and Scales & # # ⁄15
?# # # # B #### bbbsignature
bbb ? bb
3.1 Tick ( # ) one box to show# the &key
correctly written of B major.b b bb (1)

B ## ### ## ## ?### # # B #####

& #
B ## #
# b ? bb b b
# & b b bb b bb
B bb b b
bb
## ## ?### # B #### b bb b b
& ( ) one
3.2 Tick &
# signature of Eb minor. b
# box to show the #correctly written key (1)

bb b b ? bbbbbb
& b b
B bb b b
bb B b bbb b b
?## #
# B #### # b ? bbb
# & b b b bb bbb
? bbb B bb b b B b bbb b b
b b b b
3.3 Circle thebcorrect key of each of these three melodies. (3)

B ##### b ? bb b b B bb b b
& b b bbb b bb
(a) b G minor D major G major F# major
B bb b b B b bbb b b
bb
b ? bb b b B bb b b B b bBbminor
& b b bbb
(b)
bb bb D major bb b F# minor A major

B b bbb b b
? bbb B bb b b B b bbb b b
(c) A major G# minor B major E major
bbb bb

3.4 Tick ( ) one box for X and one box for Y to show which notes are needed (2)

B bb b b B b bbb b b
to complete the scale of Bb harmonic minor.
bb
bw X Y
w bw bw w bw
&

B b bbb b b
X Ab B § A Aº

Y G Gb Gº Fb

A
  BRSM Grade 5 Sample Paper 5 Turn the page
 w bw #w w
w w w w
3.5 Circle one clef for each scale, to form minor scales. w (3)
bw #w
w w w w w
(a)
w w w bw ##ww w
#w
            
w w #w
#w #w w w #w
(b)
#w #w w w #w #w #w #w             
#w #w
            
w w # w # w
(c)
#w #w bw w w bw w
w
w w bw w w
bw w w
w w bw w w
3.6 Circle true or false for each statement. bw w w (2)

(a) This is the correctly written chromatic scale beginning on C true   false

w #w w #w w w
B w #w w #w w w #w
w #w w #w w #w w w
B w #w w #w w

? bw w bw
(b) This is the correctly written chromatic scale beginning on Eb
w bw
true   false
w bw w w bw w bw b w
? bw w bw w bw w bw w w bw w bw b w

& #w
3.7 Circle true or false for each statement. (3)

& #w
&
(a) #w This is the leading note in B major true   false

? w
? w
?
(b)
w This is the subdominant in A minor true   false

? w
(c)
? w
This is the submediant in F# minor true   false
? w

A
  BRSM Grade 5 Sample Paper 6
4 Intervals   ⁄10

4.1 Tick ( ) one box to name each interval. (3)

(a)  (b)  (c) 

major 10th diminished 5th compound minor 2nd 

compound perfect 4th perfect 5th  major 2nd 
augmented 11th augmented 4th  major 9th
compound diminished 4th    major 4th minor 10th

4.2 Circle the type of each interval. (3)

(a) perfect major minor diminished augmented

(b) perfect major minor diminished augmented

(c) perfect major minor diminished augmented

4.3 Write notes to form the named intervals. Your note should be higher than the given note. (4)

(a) (b)

compound perfect 5th minor 7th

(c) (d)

augmented 12th minor 3rd

A
  BRSM Grade 5 Sample Paper 7 Turn the page
5 Chords ⁄10

5.1 Indicate suitable chords for the two cadences in the following melody by writing either I, II, IV or V (5)
in each of the five boxes underneath the staves.

#3 œ œ œ ˙
& 4œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
œ œ œ

# œ œ
& œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ ˙

5.2 Tick ( ) one box to name each cadence. (2)

° ° ###6# 6 ˙ ™˙ ™ ° ° 4 4œ œ œ œ œ ˙ ˙
D major F major
jj jj
œ œ œ
&& 8 8œœ œœ œ œ œœ œœ œ œœ &&b 4b 4œ œ œ œœ œ œ ˙ ˙
˙™˙™
JjJj JJ
˙˙ ™˙ ™
(a) 
œ œ œ œ œ œ œj j (b) 
œ™œ™ œ jœj
™˙ ™

œ ˙˙ ˙˙
¢ ¢ b 4 ™œ ™
??###68# 6 ??b 44 4œ
¢¢ 8œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
JJ JJ
œJ œ
J
imperfect    plagal    perfect  perfect    plagal    imperfect 

{
5.3 Tick ( ) one box to name each of the three marked chords. The key is C minor. (3)

A B
C
b 4 j j œœ œ œ œœ œ œ
œ n œœ ™ œ
& b b 4 œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ œ™ œ
œ œ œ œ œœ œ œ œ
œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œœ œ nœœ œ
? bb 44 œj œœœ
etc.
œ œ
b œ
(a) Chord A Va Ic IVb Ib

(b) Chord B Ic Vb IVb IVc

(c) Chord C Ic IIa Vb Va

A
  BRSM Grade 5 Sample Paper 8
6 Terms, Signs and Instruments   ⁄10

6.1 
Tick ( ) one box for each term/sign. (3)

morendo means:  largamente means: mesto means: 

dying away majestic rather slow 

gradually getting louder broadly less
playful, merry very slow, solemn  calm
agitated   expressive sad

6.2 Tick ( ) one box to name each of the two written-out ornaments, which are marked with brackets. (2)

3 œ œœœœœœœœœœ
(a) &4
55
appoggiatura      upper turn      trill      upper mordent 

(b) &4 œ
3 œ œ#œ œ œ œ

acciaccatura      upper turn      trill      lower mordent 

6.3 Circle true or false for each of the following five statements. (5)

(a) The flute usually plays at a higher pitch than the bassoon true   false

(b) The trumpet is a woodwind instrument true   false

(c) Cymbals produce sounds of definite pitch true   false

(d) The horn uses a double reed true   false

(e) A mezzo-soprano voice has a lower range than a soprano voice true   false

A
  BRSM Grade 5 Sample Paper 9 Turn the page
7 Music in Context ⁄10

{
Study this music for piano and then answer the questions that follow.

### 2 œœ œ œ œ œœ œ œ œ 2 œ œ œ œ œ. œ œ 3 œ œ
Vivace
.
. œ. œ. œ. œ. œ. œ. œ
1 4

& 4 œœœ œ œ œ
.
œœ- œ. œ. œ. .
- - œ. œ. œ. œ. œ
pp leggiero

? ### 42 œj ‰ œ œ j ‰ œœ
œ. œ j ‰
œ. œ.

{
œ œœ- >œ.
### 5 œœ œ œ œœ œ œ 6 œ. œ. œ. œ. 7 œj ‰ #œœ
8

Œ
& œ.
f
.
œ . .
p cresc. molto
# œ œ
sf

? ### œ œœ œœ œœ. œœ. ‰ Œ œ œ œ œ œBœ##œ œ œœ œ Œœ. œ œ

J >.

œ œ œ .
#
B #
#
œ œ œ œ ? ### œ œ œ œ œ. œ œ
7.1 Compare the following bars to the right-hand part of bar 2 of the melody, then tick ( ) (1)
the one correct statement.
A B C
# # œ œ ? ### œ œ œ œ œ. œ œ
B # œ œ œ. œ œ B ## œ œ
# œ œ œ. œ œ
     

Only A is correctly written one octave lower

? # # œ œ œ . B ###lower
œ œ one octave
œ œ written
Only B# and C are correctly œ œ œ
œ œ. œ œ
A, B and C are correctly written one octave lower

Only A and B are correctly written one octave lower

B ### œ œ
œ œ œ. œ œ

A
  BRSM Grade 5 Sample Paper 10
7.2 Circle true or false for each of the following five statements about the melody. (5)

(a) The beginning of the music should be played lightly true   false

(b) The music ends on the subdominant chord of F# minor true   false

(c) The largest melodic interval in the left-hand part of bar 7 is a major 3rd true   false

(d) The highest note in the music is a C# true   false

(e) The music gets quieter in bar 7 true   false

7.3 Which instrument is best suited to play the right-hand phrase in bars 3–4 (marked ) so that (1)
it sounds at the same pitch? Tick ( ) one box.

bassoon     oboe     trombone     double bass 

7.4 How many times does the mediant note in the key of F# minor appear in the left-hand part? (1)
Tick ( ) one box.

4    5    6    8 

7.5 Complete the following two sentences by adding a number to each. (2)

(a) Bar 3 has the same rhythm and articulation as bar ………… .

(b) There is a diminuendo in bar ………… .

A
  BRSM Grade 5 Sample Paper 11
End of exam