Here, you’ll find the answers, and explanations to the questions in Music Theory Sample Papers (2020), ABRSM Grade 5 Paper C.

Table of contents for Music Theory Grade 5 Sample Paper C

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

Section 2: Pitch
Question 2.1
Question 2.2
Question 2.3

Question 2.4

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

Section 4: Intervals
Question 4.1
Question 4.2

Question 4.3

Section 5: Chords
Question 5.1
Question 5.2
Question 5.3

Section 6: Terms, Signs and Instruments

Question 6.1

Question 6.2

Question 6.3

Section 7: Music in Context

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Section 1: Rhythm ABRSM Grade 5 Music Theory Exam Sample C

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 12/8 time:

Question 1.1 (b)

The time signature is 9/16 time:

Question 1.1 (c)

The time signature is 6/4 time:

Question 1.2

This question is on compound vs simple time.

In this question we are given 6/4 time (compound time), and asked to convert it to simple time. To convert it to compound time, it’ll be 2/2 time.

Next, we’ll need to convert all compound time to simple time. This means that we’ll need to convert all dotted crotchets beats to crotchet beats, or dotted minim beats to minim beats (more appropriate to look at them in terms of minim beats since we have 2/2 time, where we count beats in minims). To do so, we’ll remove all the duplet signs, and for group of notes equal to a dotted minim beat, we add a triplet sign above them.

Hence, the answer for question 1.2 is:

Question 1.3

a. In 9/8, there are 3 dotted crotchet beats in a bar.

b. In minim is equal to 16 demisemiquavers(s).

Question 1.4

In this question, students are tested on the grouping of notes in 6/8 time. To group notes in 6/8 time, they should be grouped 3 quaver beats by 3 quaver beats. If notes can be beamed together, those from the first 3 quaver beats should be beamed together; the 4th to 6th quaver beats should be beamed together.

The correct grouping of 6/8 time is this:

Question 1.5

The first box is incorrect.

Second box is incorrect.

Third box is correct.

Section 2: Pitch ABRSM Grade 5 Music Theory Exam Sample C

Question 2.1

In this question, you are given a note in tenor clef, and asked to give the name of the note. This note is A.

Question 2.2

This is an enharmonic question. The enharmonic equivalent of F is E#.

Question 2.3

This is a transposition question. In this question, students are asked to transpose a given bar of melody up a perfect 5th.

The key signature for this piece is A Major. When we transpose it up a perfect 5th, it should be E Major (with F#, C#, G# and D#). Since the transposed piece has the key signature of B Major, therefore, the key signature is incorrectly written.

Next, let’s look at how to transpose the other notes up a perfect 5th.

Here’s the answer to the transposition question (question 2.3) of the ABRSM Grade 5 Sample paper C:

Original	Transposed up a perfect 5th	Compared with given melody
Key signature (A Major) — F#, C#, G#	Key signature (E Major) — (F#, C#, G#, D#)	✗
C	G natural	✗
B	F# (no need to write #, as it is covered by the key signature)	✓
G natural	D natural	✗
E	B	✓

Question 2.4

For the pieces of melody given:

A, B and C are of the same pitch.

Hence, these are the answers:

(a) True

(b) False

(c) False

Section 3: Keys and Scales ABRSM – Grade 5 Music Theory Exam Sample C

Question 3.1

Here’s the correctly written key signature of D# minor:

Question 3.2

Here’s the correctly written key signature of G flat Major:

Question 3.3

In this section, we are asked to determine the key of a piece of melody. Here’s the answers:

(a) F minor

(b) E flat Major

(c) B flat Major

Question 3.4

In this question, students are asked what are the missing notes at X, and Y.

This is a question on scale of D flat major, descending scale. Here’s the answers:

X: C

Y: A flat

Question 3.5

In this question, students are asked to give a clef (treble, bass, alto or tenor clef), so that the resulting scale is in a minor key.

Here’s the answer:

(a) bass clef

(b) treble clef

(c) alto clef

Question 3.6

In this question, we are asked whether the chromatic scale is correctly written. Here’s the answers:

(a) False

(b) True

Question 3.7

This questions tests students on the technical names of notes. Here’s the answers:

(a) True

(b) True

(c) False

Section 4: Intervals – ABRSM Grade 5 Music Theory Exam Sample C

Question 4.1

(a) compound minor 7th

(b) diminished 5th

(c) major 6th

Question 4.2

(a) perfect

(b) minor

(c) augmented

Question 4.3

Section 5: Chords – ABRSM Grade 5 Music Theory Exam Sample C

Question 5.1

IV, I, II, V, I

Question 5.2

(a) plagal

(b) perfect

Question 5.3

Ia

Vb

IVb

Section 6: Terms and Signs – ABRSM Grade 5 Music Theory Exam Sample C

Section 6.1

This question is on terms and signs.

Here’s the answers:

Section 7: Music in Context – ABRSM Grade 5 Music Theory Exam Sample C

7.1 A, B and C are correctly written 1 octave higher.

7.2

(a) False

(b) True

(c) True

(d) False

(e) True

7.3 cello

7.4 14

7.5

(a) bar 8

(b) bar 3

More on Grade 5 ABRSM Online Music Theory Exam

• About the exam
• ABRSM Grade 5 Online Practice Paper – Video explanation
• ABRSM Grade 5 Music Theory Sample Papers Worked Solutions (2020)
  • Paper A
  • Paper B
  • Paper C
  • Paper D
• ABRSM Grade 5 Music Theory Sample Papers Worked Solutions (2021)
  • Paper A
  • Paper B
  • Paper C