Sample Grade 1 Theory Paper

Paper 1
 Boxes for
Section 1 (20 marks) examiner’s
use only

Put a tick (P ) in the box next to the correct answer.

Example
Name this note:

  A * D * C *
P
This shows that you think C is the correct answer.

1.1 Name this note:

  G * B * E *

1.2 Name this note:

 
F * D * B *

1.3 Name the notes to find the hidden word:

  
  BEEF * BEAD * BADE *

1.4 How many crotchet beats are there in a semibreve? 2 * 4 * 6 *

1.5 Add the total number of crotchet beats in these note values.

 +  +

=
3 * 6 * 5 *

2
Put a tick (P ) in the box next to the correct answer. Boxes for
examiner’s
use only
1.6 For how many crotchet beats does this rest last?


3 * 2 * 4 *

1.7 Which is the correct time signature?

 
  
3 * 2 * 4 *

1.8 To raise the pitch of this note by a semitone, which accidental would you put just
before it?

 # * b * § *

1.9 Which pair of notes has a distance of a semitone between them?

      

G and B * B and A * E and F *

1.10 Which note is the tonic in the key of C major? C * D * G *

1.11 Here is the scale of C major. Where are the semitones?

      
 
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8(1)

Between the 3rd & 4th and 7th & 8th degrees *
Between the 3rd & 4th degrees *
Between the 1st & 2nd and 7th & 8th degrees *

3
Put a tick (P ) in the box next to the correct answer. Boxes for
examiner’s
use only
1.12 Which major key has the following key signature?

F major * G major * C major *

1.13 Which chord symbol fits above this tonic triad?

 

 G * F * C *

1.14 Which symbol does not fit with this tonic triad?
 
  G * I * C *

1.15 Name this interval:

 
 4th * 3rd * 5th *

1.16 Name this interval:

 
 3rd * 5th * octave *

1.17 The following is:

   
   

a scale * an arpeggio * an ostinato *

1.18 Which notes would you find in the tonic triad in the key of C major?

CEG * FAC * FGA *

4
Put a tick (P ) in the box next to the correct answer. Boxes for
examiner’s
use only


1.19 What does mean?

Play the note with an accent *

Play the note smoothly *
Play the note softly *

1.20 What does Andante mean?

At a moderate pace *
At a walking pace *
Fast *

Section 2 (20 marks)

Write the following, using key signatures.


2.1 
A one-octave C major scale in semibreves going down. Mark the semitones with a
bracket ( or ) and an s for semitone.

2.2 A one-octave arpeggio of G major in semibreves going up then down.

5
 Boxes for
Section 3 (15 marks) examiner’s
use only

3.1 Circle five different mistakes in the following music, then write it out correctly.

Section 4 (15 marks)

4.1 Answer the following rhythm.

         

Section 5 (10 marks)

5.1 Here is an ostinato. Write two more repeats of the pattern.


   

6
 Boxes for
Section 6 (20 marks) examiner’s
use only

Look at the following piece and answer the questions below.

Moderato
  
1
      
p legato
*
  
3 *
  
      

 
6
         
crescendo f

6.1 In which major key is this piece?

__________________________________________________________________________

6.2 Write a chord symbol above the last note of this piece to show that the tonic triad
should accompany it.
6.3 Circle the one-octave arpeggio hidden in this piece.

6.4 Does the arpeggio go up or down?

__________________________________________________________________________

6.5 Name the interval between the two notes marked with asterisks (*) in bars 4 and 5.
__________________________________________________________________________

6.6 The tonic is written in two registers in this piece. Put a box ( *
) around an example
of a low and high tonic.

6.7 What does the curved line above the quavers in bar 5 mean?
__________________________________________________________________________

6.8 What does Moderato mean?

__________________________________________________________________________

6.9 What does the dynamic marking in bar 8 mean?

__________________________________________________________________________

6.10 Is the distance between the last two notes a tone or a semitone?
__________________________________________________________________________

7
Sample Grade 1 Theory Paper

Paper 2
 Boxes for
Section 1 (20 marks) examiner’s
use only

Put a tick (P ) in the box next to the correct answer.

Example
Name this note:

  A * D * C *
P
This shows that you think C is the correct answer.

1.1 Name this note:

  D * G * E *

1.2 Name this note:

 * G * B *

F

1.3 Name the notes to find the hidden word:


  
DAD * BEG * BED *

1.4 How many crotchet beats are there in a semibreve? 2 * 3 * 4 *

1.5 Add the total number of crotchet beats in these note values.

 +  
=
2 * 4 * 6 *

2
Put a tick (P ) in the box next to the correct answer. Boxes for
examiner’s
use only
1.6 For how many crotchet beats does this rest last?


1 * 2 * 4 *

1.7 Which is the correct time signature?

 
  
3 * 2 * 4 *

1.8 To return the last note to the pitch of the first note, which accidental would you put
just before it?

  
 # * b * § *

1.9 Which pair of notes has a distance of a semitone between them?

      

F and G * B and C * A and G *

1.10 Which note is the tonic in the key of G major? F * G * D *

1.11 Here is the scale of F major. Where are the semitones?

   
    
(1)8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Between the 1st & 2nd and 4th & 5th degrees *
Between the 3rd & 4th degrees *
Between the 3rd & 4th and 7th & 8th degrees *
3
Put a tick (P ) in the box next to the correct answer. Boxes for
examiner’s
use only
1.12 Which major key has the following key signature?

 G major * F major * C major *

1.13 Which symbol does not fit with this tonic triad?

 

I * F * G *

1.14 Which note needs to be added to make a tonic triad in the key of C major?

 

D * C * E *

1.15 Name this interval:


  4th * 3rd * 5th *

1.16 Name this interval:

 
octave * 3rd * 2nd *

1.17 The circle of 5ths is:

a map of the keys used in music *
an arpeggio *
a key signature *

1.18 Which notes would you find in the tonic triad in the key of F major?

BCD * FAC * GBD *

4
Put a tick (P ) in the box next to the correct answer. Boxes for
examiner’s
   use only
1.19 What does mean?

Play the notes getting gradually louder *

Slur – play the notes smoothly *
Play the notes with an accent *

1.20 What does diminuendo mean?

At a moderate pace *
Loud *
Getting gradually softer *

Section 2 (20 marks)

Write the following, using key signatures.

 
2.1 A one-octave G major scale in semibreves going down. Mark the semitones with a
bracket ( or ) and an s for semitone.

2.2 A one-octave arpeggio of F major in semibreves going up then down.

5
 Boxes for
Section 3 (15 marks) examiner’s
use only

3.1 Circle five different mistakes in the following music, then write it out correctly.

 
            

Andante

Section 4 (15 marks)

4.1 Answer the following rhythm.

     

Section 5 (10 marks)

5.1 Here is an ostinato. Write two more repeats of the pattern.

  
    

6
 Boxes for
Section 6 (20 marks) examiner’s
use only

Look at the following piece and answer the questions below.

Allegro
 * 
1

 
*
     
mf legato

 
3

          
crescendo

    
6

   
f
6.1 In which major key is this piece?

__________________________________________________________________________

6.2 Write a chord symbol above the last note of this piece to show that the tonic triad
should accompany it.
6.3 The rest in bar 4 lasts for how many crotchet beats?
__________________________________________________________________________

6.4  (  ) above the place where you can see a one-octave scale in the
Put a bracket
key of the piece.
6.5 Is this scale going up or down?

__________________________________________________________________________

6.6 Comment on the rhythm in bar 1 and bar 5?

__________________________________________________________________________

6.7 Name the interval between the two notes marked with asterisks (*).
__________________________________________________________________________

6.8 What does Allegro mean?

__________________________________________________________________________

6.9 What does legato mean?

__________________________________________________________________________

6.10 Write the lowest and highest notes in this piece as semibreves.