Here, you’ll find the answers and step-by-step explanation for Music Theory Sample Papers ABRSM Grade 1 Paper D.

Table of contents for Music Theory Sample Papers, ABRSM Grade 1 Paper D

Click on the question below to go directly to it explanation.

Section 1: Rhythm
Question 1.1
Question 1.2
Question 1.3
Question 1.4
Question 1.5
Question 1.6

Section 2: Pitch
Question 2.1
Question 2.2
Question 2.3

Section 3: Keys and Scales
Question 3.1
Question 3.2
Question 3.3
Question 3.4
Question 3.5
Question 3.6
Question 3.7
Question 3.8

Section 4: Intervals
Question 4.1
Question 4.2

Section 5: Tonic Triads
Question 5.1
Question 5.2
Question 5.3

Section 6: Terms and Signs

Section 7: Music in Context

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Section 1: Rhythm of ABRSM Grade 1 Music Theory Exam

Question 1.1: Time Signature

In this section, students are expected to determine the time signature for a given bar of music.

Question 1.1 (a)

The time signature is 2/4 time.

Question 1.1 (b)

The time signature is 4/4 time.

Question 1.1 (c)

The time signature is 3/4 time.

Question 1.2

In this section, students are expected to draw a bar line for a given piece of music.

Question 1.2(a)

Question 1.2(b)

Question 1.2(c)

Question 1.2(d)

Question 1.2(e)

Question 1.3

a. How many crotchets are there in a dotted minim?

Answer: 3

b. How many quavers are there in a crotchet?

Answer: 2

Question 1.4

In 4/4 time, we group the notes one crotchet beat by one crotchet beat whenever semiquaver(s) are involved.

If there are no semiquavers involved, we can group the notes minim beat by minim beat (i.e. first 2 crotchet beats can be grouped, then 3rd and 4th crotchet beats can be grouped together).

Hence, the correct way of grouping the notes is the option 1:

Question 1.5

First box is incorrect. It should be a quaver rest instead of a semiquaver rest.

Second box is correct.

Third box is correct.

Question 1.6

If a crotchet has a note value of 1, then

• a semibreve will have a note value of 4,
•  a minim will have a note value of 2,
• a quaver will have a note value of 1/2,
• a semiquaver will have a note value of 1/4

Arranging the notes from shortest to longest note value, we have:

semiquaver, quaver, minim, semibreve

Section 2: Pitch ABRSM Grade 1 Music Theory Exam

Question 2.1

In this question, you are asked what the notes are. Apart from knowing the notes on the music stave, students are also required to indicate any accidentals ( either from key signature or explicitly written beside the note)

Answers:

a. C#

b. G

c. D

d. B flat

e. F#

f. B

g. D

Question 2.2

In this question, you are asked to determine which is the higher note of the 2. For such a question, remember that for the same note, sharp is the highest, followed by natural, then flat.

Here’s the answer for question 2.2.

a. C# is higher ( than C flat)

b. E natural is higher (than E flat)

c. F# is higher ( than F)

d. B natural is higher ( than B flat)

Question 2.3

In this question, you are required to determine the clef to get the note stated.

Here’s the answer for question 2.3

a. treble clef

b. treble clef

c. Bass clef

d. treble clef

Section 3: Keys and Scales ABRSM Grade 1 Music Theory Exam

Question 3.1

Here’s the key signature of D Major in bass clef:

Question 3.2

Here’s the key signature of G Major in treble clef:

Question 3.3

Here, we are required to tick 3 boxes where accidentals are needed to form a melody in D Major.

As D Major has F# and C#, we look for F and C in the melody. These are the notes that will require accidentals.

A tick should be placed here:

• Bar 1 second note

• Bar 2 second note

• Bar 3 second note

Question 3.4

Given C Major ascending scale, we are asked to find 2 pairs of notes that are a semitone apart.

The 2 pairs of notes that are a semitone apart are:

• E to F
• B to C

Question 3.5

Question 3.5 are true/ false questions on keys and scales.

Here’s the answer:

a. False

b. False

c. True

d. True

Question 3.6

In question 3.6, you are given 3 scales ( either asecending or descending), and you are required to determine which one is the correctly written one.

This question is on G Major ascending scale. 

The given scale starts and ends with G – so option 3 is out.

G Major has F#, which is what is shown for option 1. Hence, the option 1 is a correctly written scale. 

Question 3.7

In question 3.7, you are asked whether a given scale is correctly written.

In this question, you are asked whether the scale written is D Major descending. As D Major has F# and C#, and the key signature in the scale shows so. Hence it is a correctly written D Major descending scale.

Answer: true

Question 3.8

In this question you are asked to find 2 notes which are the incorrectly written in the scale.

For this question, you are given F Major descending scale. F Major has B flat. Looking at the given scale, there is no B flat. Also, the last note should be F (instead of G). Hence, a cross should be placed at the 4th box from the left and the 7th box (or last box on the right).

Section 4: Intervals ABRSM Grade 1 Music Theory Exam

Question 4.1

Question 4.1 Intervals

Question 4.2

In this question, students are asked to select the correct interval for each pair of notes.

Here’s the answer:

a. 7th

b. 6th

c. 3rd

d. 2nd

e. 5th

Section 5: Tonic Triads ABRSM Grade 1 Music Theory Exam

Question 5.1

Question 5.1 is a true/ false question. You will be given a chord and asked whether it is the tonic triad for a given key.

Here’s the answer:

a. False

b. False

c. True

Question 5.2

In question 5.2, you are required to add an additional note to complete the tonic triad.

Here’s the answer:

Question 5.3

In question 5.3, a tonic triad is treble or base clef is written, and students need to determine that is a tonic triad of which key.

Here’s the answer for question 5.3:

a. G Major

b. F Major

c. D Major

d. C Major

Section 6: Terms and Signs ABRSM Grade 1 Music Theory Exam

This question is on terms and signs.

Here’s the answers:

Section 7: Music in Context ABRSM Grade 1 Music Theory Exam

7.1 False

Reason: In order to get gradually louder, there should be 𝆒 or cresc. or crsecendo near the beginning of the melody. However, these are not seen.

7.2  Bar 6

Tonic triad of D Major is made up of D, F# and A. Bar 3 is made up of the notes D, F#, A and D which contain the 3 notes, D, F# and A needed to make the tonic triad of D Major 

7.3 

a. Answer: semiquaver

Reason: Among dotted crotchet, semiquaver, quaver and minim, the one with the shortest note value is the semiquaver, then the quaver, followed by the dotted crotchet, and then the minim (which has the longest note value).

However, there are no semiquavers in the melody.

Quavers appear in 3, 4, 6 and 7 of the melody.

Hence, the shortest note value in this piece of melody is the semiquaver.

b. Bar 5

c. C#

More on Grade 1 ABRSM Online Music Theory Exam

• About the exam
• ABRSM Grade 1 Online Practice Paper – Video explanation
• ABRSM Grade 1 Music Theory Sample Papers Worked Solutions:
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  • Paper C
  • Paper D
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