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

Table of contents for Music Theory Grade 5 Sample 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

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 D

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 7/4 time:

Question 1.1 (b)

The time signature is 9/8 time:

Question 1.1 (c)

The time signature is 4/4 time:

Question 1.2

This question is on compound vs simple time.

In this question we are given 4/4 time (simple time), and asked to convert it to compound time. To convert it to compound time, it’ll be 12/8 time.

Next, we’ll need to convert all simple time to compound time. This means that we’ll need to convert all crotchet beats to dotted crotchet beats. To do so, we’ll remove all the triplet signs, and for group of notes equal to a crotchet beat, we add a duplet sign above them.

Hence, the answer for question 1.2 is:

Question 1.3

a. In 9/4, there are 3 dotted minim beats in a bar.

b. A dotted semiquaver is equal to 10 demisemiquavers(s).

Question 1.4

In this question, students are tested on the grouping of notes in 4/2 time. To group notes in 4/2 time, they should be grouped 1 minim beat by 1 minim beat.

The correct grouping of 4/2 time is this:

Question 1.5

The first box is correct.

Second box is incorrect.

Third box is incorrect.

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

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 D.

Question 2.2

This is an enharmonic question. The enharmonic equivalent of B double sharp is C#.

Question 2.3

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

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

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

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

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

Question 2.4

For the pieces of melody given:

A, and C are of the same pitch.

B is one octave lower than A and C.

Hence, these are the answers:

(a) True

(b) True

(c) False

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

Question 3.1

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

Question 3.2

Here’s the correctly written key signature of D 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) A Major

(b) D minor

(c) D# minor

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 F# melodic minor, ascending scale. Since this is the melodic minor and ascending, we will sharpen the 6th and 7th note. Here’s the answers:

X: G#

Y: D#

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) alto clef

(b) bass clef

(c) treble 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) False

(c) False

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

Question 4.1

(a) major 13th

(b) compound minor 3rd

(c) augmented 4th

Question 4.2

(a) perfect

(b) minor

(c) augmented

Question 4.3

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

Question 5.1

I, V, II, V, I

Question 5.2

(a) imperfect

(b) plagal

Question 5.3

Ib

IVa

IIb

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

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 D

7.1 Only C is correctly written 1 octave lower.

7.2

(a) True

(b) True

(c) False

(d) False

(e) True

7.3 bassoon

7.4 2

7.5

(a) bar 5

(b) 16

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