3.

Music Theory syllabus

Exam content

The following tables show the introduction of elements at each grade. These requirements are presented cumulatively,
i.e. once introduced, they apply to all subsequent grades.

Grades 1 to 5
Topic Grade
1 2 3 4 5
Clef • treble • alto • tenor
• bass
Time • 2/4 • 3/8 • 6/8 • 4/8 • 5/4
signatures • 3/4 • 2/2 • 9/8 • 6/4 • 7/4
• 4/4 • C • 12/8 • 9/4 • 5/8
• c • 3/2 • upbeat opening • 6/16 • 7/8
• 4/2 • 9/16
• 12/16
Pitches • treble clef: • treble clef: • treble clef: • alto clef: • alto clef:

• bass clef:
• bass clef: • enharmonic equivalent • tenor clef:
• bass clef: • double sharps
• double flats
• sharps, flats, naturals

Degrees of • degrees of scale within • degrees of scale • degrees of scale above • technical names:
scale one octave and above beyond one octave, or below the tonic tonic, supertonic,
the tonic: 1st–8th above the tonic mediant, subdominant,
dominant, submediant,
leading note
Keys • major keys of C, F, G, D • major keys of Bb, Eb, A • major keys of E, Ab • major keys of B, Db • major keys of F#, Gb
• minor keys of A, E, • minor keys of C#, F, B, • minor keys of G#, Bb • minor keys of D#, Eb
D and their relative G, C, F# • relative majors/minors • relative majors/minors of
majors • relative majors/minors of all keys set for this all keys set for this grade
• relative minors of of all keys set for this grade
C, F, G grade
Scales • all keys set for the • all keys set up to and • all keys set up to and • chromatic scale • all keys set up to and
grade including this grade including this grade • all keys set up to and including this grade
• ascending and • harmonic minor only • melodic and harmonic including this grade
descending both required
Time values • semiquaver; quaver; • dotted semibreve • demisemiquaver • breve • quintuplet; sextuplet
N.B. American crotchet; minim; • triplet semiquavers; • triplet • double-dotted notes
equivalents are semibreve triplet quavers; triplet demisemiquavers • semiquaver, quaver
shown at the
• dotted quaver; dotted crotchets; triplet • dotted semiquaver and crotchet duplets
beginning of
each relevant crotchet; dotted minim minims
section

Rests • semiquaver; quaver; • dotted quaver; dotted • demisemiquaver • breve

N.B. American crotchet; minim; crotchet • simple or compound • dotted minim (6/4 or
equivalents are semibreve time 9/4 time only)
shown at the
• whole-bar • dotted semiquaver
beginning of
each relevant
section

Intervals • melodic intervals • 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, • major 2nd, • any diatonic interval: • chromatic intervals:
• 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th and 8ve in all keys minor and major 3rd, minor 2nd, augmented 3rd,
7th and 8ve in all keys set up to and including perfect 4th, augmented 2nd, diminished 3rd,
set for the grade this grade perfect 5th, augmented 4th, augmented 6th,
• above the tonic only • above the tonic only minor and major 6th, diminished 4th, diminished 6th,
• semitones and tones minor and major 7th, augmented 5th, augmented 7th,
perfect 8ve in all keys diminished 5th, augmented 8ve,
set up to and including diminished 7th in all diminished 8ve
this grade keys set up to and • compound intervals:
• above the tonic only including this grade 9th or compound 2nd,
10th or compound 3rd,
11th or compound 4th,
12th or compound 5th,
13th or compound 6th,
14th or compound 7th,
15th or compound 8ve

16
 3. Music Theory syllabus

Topic Grade
1 2 3 4 5
Triads • tonic triads in all keys • tonic triads in all keys • tonic triads in all keys • tonic, subdominant,
set for this grade with set up to and including set up to and including dominant triads in
the tonic as the lowest this grade with the this grade with the all keys set up to and
note tonic as the lowest tonic as the lowest including this grade in
note note root position
Chords • primary triads (I, IV, V) • supertonic
in root position • first and second
inversions
• recognition of perfect,
plagal and imperfect
cadences
Transposition • notes written at the • octave transposition • octave transposition • transposition between
same pitch in treble between treble and between all clefs set all clefs set up to and
and bass clefs bass clefs, up to three up to and including this including this grade
ledger lines grade, up to four ledger • instruments in F, Bb
lines or A
• interval of transposition
given
• with or without key
signature
Grouping • grouping and beaming • grouping and beaming • grouping and beaming
of all notes set for this of all notes and rests of all notes and rests
grade set up to and including set up to and including
this grade in simple this grade in simple or
time compound time
Ornaments • recognising signs for • recognising written-
trill, (upper) turn, out ornaments
upper mordent, lower
mordent, acciaccatura,
grace note(s),
appoggiatura
Instruments • string: violin, viola • harp; piccolo; cor anglais;
cello, double bass piano
• woodwind: flute, oboe, • triangle; tambourine;
clarinet, bassoon castanets; tam-tam;
• brass: trumpet, horn, xylophone; marimba;
trombone, tuba glockenspiel;
• percussion: timpani, vibraphone; celesta;
side drum, bass drum, tubular bells (definite
cymbals or indefinite pitch
• knowledge of clefs used only)
and broad understanding • single reed; double reed
of range and family • transposing/non-
• percussion: definite or transposing
indefinite pitch
Instrumental • pizzicato (pizz.)/arco; • una corda; tre corde;
directions up bow; down bow; pedalling signs; con/
slur; con/senza sord./ senza pedale; mano
sordini; avec/sans sinistra (m.s.); mano
sourdines; sul G destra (m.d.);
• arpeggiation
Voices • standard voice-types:
soprano, mezzo-
soprano, alto, tenor,
baritone and bass
• broad understanding
of range

17
 si h s s

Topic Grade
1 2 3 4 5
Terms Italian terms Italian terms Italian terms Italian terms Italian terms
t i it t tt s i t
ti i it i
i t i t i tt
tt ssi t t
s or ss i
t i i s i it
t i s ssi or i s t s
s or s s ss ) i t
or • fp t i st s i
s or t is si
s i s s t h tt si
i i or i stissi st i
t i i ist i s i
• f t is t it i s s
• ff tissi s h t t t s
i i ss s i st i s tt
t t s
• mf t t s s t
t i s s French terms German terms
• mp i i ss si i or si i s
• p i s st t s st h t
• pp i issi st s it s t ssi
t or it t or it t i hi
it or it or it t ist t ist t t s h
or it s it t i
st t or st i i
Signs s st t
i i s i st t
s st tissi
ti t t
st t
t
s ti sts
t t ts
i i ti s
t s
ti
 3. Music Theory syllabus

Grades 6 to 8

ts s t s t is ss i st ts
i ti s i i th ist t th s i t ss ss

Topic Grade
6 7 8
Keys i s ti t t s
ti t t s
s s ith t si t s
Figured bass
§ b #
§ b #
§ b #
§ b #
§
§ b
# th i si i ss
i t s § # § b
th i i i ti
i s
#
Harmonic h s th
usage i s i i ish th
h i t siti
ssi i si s
i t i s th
h s th i
i si s
it th

Chord h s i i ish th
h i t siti t th
h s
identification th i s i si s t i h
and recognition ssi i t i s th
h s th i th i i si s
t ti i si s h ti h s
it th

ii ii
Harmonic s t i t i t s ti i ti i ti h i i
feature t s s si s t h
recognition i ts t i i t i i i
h i s s i ti i ti h i i t
ti
Melodic i s s si t s h i h t t t t s
feature i it ti t i t i st ts t s s ti i t
recognition i ti s i i st ts t t th ts
t t th ts i i si
h i h t t
s ti t s i th s t
Rhythmic i it ti
feature h th i ti s
recognition s ti
t ti i i ti
Notes of t ssi t s t ssi t s
melodic ii t i t i ii t h ti
decoration i t
usage t ti i ti
h i t h
Notes of t t ssi t
melodic ii t i t i
decoration h ti
identification i t
and recognition t ti i ti
h i t h
t s
Melodic si i i ti ti ith i si i i
composition t i st s i t or si i i t st si th
ti t t s h i ith ti
i ht t t si th i
t st i ht si th
Stylistic i i ti h st i st ti t t h th t t i t ti
completion or t t ti i ss h i s s si s t s t t ti s t
i i ss t i ti ti t t
t i ti i ss st ti t t t i i si th
or si i i si t s i i ti
ti
 si h s s

Topic Grade
6 7 8
Score reading Question 4 Question 4 Question 4
and analysis s i t s si s i st t i i th t i st s
i i st t i s s
st i t t Question 5
s i st t t s si Question 5 s t st ss i
i i s t t ss s t st ss i si t s
si t s i i
Question 5 t i ss ssi st i s
s h st or s or
h s ith h st t t st s
s i si t s i
h s ti i i st i s

Instruments t s si i st ts i b or i t t s si i st ts i or b ss i t i s i
is h t t t ss i t h s iti i or t t sti s
ss ss i s
t s si i st ts i i ssi si t s siti ssi tt s
ss ss s i st t si siti h st
s i st t si ish ish h t i s i
h t i
Instrumental t s si s ti t i st t h i s st i i st t th i st t
features t h i s t iss i s i st t t s t h i s h i
t a2 I/II tutti unis. div. h tt t i i th i hi s t
it h muta G in A it h s i§ sib #
st i s st i
ti
si s it ti s t tt s
Intervals h i or i i t si t ss s and i i ss and ss
i t t and t t t s si i st ts i t
i i ish i t s i i i i t s i i bh or b
i t s i t
h ti s it t is
i i th s t s si i st ts
t i i tt s si i st ts
th s i ss or i
Composer/ i i s i i i s i
period/style siti th h i s th siti i h i s
i s h i t th i s
i
i s s h h th t t
s itt
Ornaments is ti iti ts
itt t or si s
ti t i t t
t t i t
t s i t
Voices st i t s s
Phrase i i ti h s st t h t t
structure
General i t s hi h sh h i
features t t i s i st
t i ti i t i i ti t
s i i si i iti s i s