ABRSM theory grade 5 2017 A – full exam paper workout

Reaching ABRSM Theory Grade 5 is a significant milestone for any music student. It is the last of the so-called “lower grades” and the gateway for the higher ones, it presents few challenges but nothing that can’t be overcome with consistent work and study.

My Two Best Tips

For any written exam, not just music theory, I have come up with the two single, most important tips:

• Read the question carefully. I know that during the exam the clock is ticking and the pressure is on, but please do not skip reading the question slowly and thoroughly: an ungodly amount of mistakes could have been avoided if the student just paused and read the question with more attention.
• Are you ready for the question? If the question seems outside of your current level of competence, then you are not ready for it, and you need to go back to the drawing board.

To help you in your learning process, I’ve recorded a full walkthrough of a past paper where I solve every question in real-time.

Video Chapters: Quick Navigation

If you are working through your own papers, use these timestamps to see how I tackle specific sections:

• [00:01:10] — Time Signatures (Question 1)
• [00:04:02] — The Tenor Clef & Transposition
• [00:05:38] — Enharmonic Equivalents & Breves
• [00:06:40] — Harmonic Analysis & Chord Inversions
• [00:09:15] — Intervals (Harmonic and Melodic)
• [00:13:55] — Transposing for Clarinet in B-flat
• [00:24:50] — Italian Terms & Performance Directions
• [00:30:15] — Technical Names of Notes (Leading Note, Mediant, etc.)
• [00:36:00] — Melodic Minor Scales
• [00:37:00] — Chromatic Scales

Few Pointers in Grade 5

• Rhythm & Time Signatures: Grade 5 introduces irregular time signatures like 5/8 and 7/8. Add up time values, notice grouping and beaming. Understanding how notes are beamed together is often the key to visualizing beats and subdivisions.
• Transposition: This is a tricky one: always check your work both vertically (against the original note) and horizontally (checking the intervals).
• C Clefs: The Alto and Tenor clefs feel daunting at first. Practice anchoring yourself to known landmarks such as Middle C and work out the skips, intervals, distances.

How to Approach an Exam Paper

Don’t just set a timer and dive in. Instead, try an analytical approach. Take one question—for example, the orchestral instruments section—and research every term you don’t know. It is better to truly understand one question than to skim through five.

Happy Studying!