Here, you’ll find the answers, and explanations to the questions in Music Theory Sample Papers (2021), ABRSM Grade 5 Paper A.

Table of contents for Music Theory Grade 5 Sample Paper A

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 A

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 6/8 time:

Question 1.1 (b)

The time signature is 5/4 time:

Question 1.1 (c)

The time signature is 9/16 time:

Question 1.2

This question is on compound vs simple time.

In this question we are given 3/4 time (simple time), and asked to convert it to compound time. To convert it to compound time, it’ll be 9/8 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 double- dotted crotchet is equal to 7 semiquavers(s).

Question 1.4

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

The correct grouping of 4/4 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 A

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 D double sharp is B#.

Question 2.3

This is a transposition question. In this question, students are asked to transpose a given bar of melody down a major 2nd.

The key signature for this piece is E Major. When we transpose it down a major 2nd, it should be D Major (with F# and C#). Since the transposed piece has the key signature of D Major, therefore, the key signature is correctly written.

Next, let’s look at how to transpose the other notes down a major 2nd.

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

Original	Transposed down a major 2nd	Compared with given melody
Key signature (E Major) — F#, C#, G#, D#	Key signature (D Major) — F#, C#	✓
F	E flat	✗
E	D	✗
B#	A#	✓
C#	B	✓

Question 2.4

For the pieces of melody given:

B, and C are of the same pitch.

A is one octave higher than B and C.

Hence, these are the answers:

(a) False

(b) True

(c) True

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

Question 3.1

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

Question 3.2

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

Question 3.3

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

(a) E flat Major

(b) C# minor

(c) F# 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 G flat, descending scale. Here’s the answers:

X: F

Y: C 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) tenor 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) False

Question 3.7

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

(a) False

(b) True

(c) False

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

Question 4.1

(a) compound perfect 5th

(b) major 6th

(c) augmented 4th

Question 4.2

(a) minor

(b) diminished

(c) minor

Question 4.3

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

Question 5.1

IV, V, II, IV, I

Question 5.2

(a) imperfect

(b) perfect

Question 5.3

Ib

IIb

Ic

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

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 A

7.1 Only A and B are correctly written 1 octave higher.

7.2

(a) True

(b) False

(c) False

(d) True

(e) True

7.3 flute

7.4 6

7.5

(a) bar 3

(b) 2

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