ABRSM How to Easily Pass the Grade 5 Theory Exam?
How to Easily Pass the ABRSM Grade 5 Theory Exam
- 1 How to Easily Pass the ABRSM Grade 5 Theory Exam
- 1.0.1 What happens when you reach the highest ABRSM level in the U.S.?
- 1.0.2 What is ABRSM Grade 5 Theory?
- 1.0.3 Understanding the Content of the ABRSM Theory Exam
- 1.0.4 Get Music Theory Test Samples
- 1.0.5 Download the ABRSM Official App
- 1.0.6 Purchase the ABRSM Official Textbooks
- 1.0.7 Incorporate Efficient Study Methods
- 1.0.8 What Might Be the Most Challenging?
- 1.0.9 Don’t Forget Last-Minute Preparations!
- 1.0.10 Summary
Hello everyone! This is Maegami from the blog Megami no Maegami. I also teach piano in New York, and today I’m sharing information about the ABRSM, the Royal Schools of Music exams from the UK.
maegami
It’s a lot easier than you think!
What happens when you reach the highest ABRSM level in the U.S.?
What is ABRSM Grade 5 Theory?
The ABRSM Grade 5 Theory exam is a prerequisite for advancing to Grade 6 performance exams. Since Grade 6 involves more difficult pieces, a solid understanding of music theory is essential to learn and interpret complex works from different eras.
Understanding the Content of the ABRSM Theory Exam
In Grade 5, the following topics will be covered:
- Understanding music symbols and terms
- Chord structure and identification (triads)
- Understanding key signatures and tonality (major and minor)
- Simple composition and rhythm completion
Get Music Theory Test Samples
First, purchase some music theory test samples. It’s recommended to get around three sets, as practicing with these will help you get used to the types of questions that will appear on the exam. You can write on the first set to get a better understanding. Going through them multiple times will help you memorize what’s being tested. It’s not efficient to dive straight into textbooks right away, so I don’t recommend that approach.
Download the ABRSM Official App
As mentioned earlier, jumping straight into studying from a Grade 5 textbook might be difficult, as it skips over content from Grades 1–4. You can certainly study with textbooks for those earlier grades, but it’s an outdated method, especially if you’re busy with school or work. This could take more than six months.
For those who want to save time, try downloading a paid app (about $3) to study in a game-like format. The app features characters like Pam and a cat, with quizzes and jokes. However, be aware that it uses British English, so for example, “quarter note” is referred to as “crotchet” in the UK. The app also teaches you all the terms used in music theory.
It’s also great for anyone wanting to learn music theory!
Purchase the ABRSM Official Textbooks
Using ABRSM’s official workbooks will help you familiarize yourself with the format of the exam. The two books I recommend are:
Incorporate Efficient Study Methods
- Short but focused study sessions: Aim for 20–30 minutes per day to study a little each day.
- Practice with past papers: Solve past exam papers several times to get a feel for the exam’s style.
- Use online videos: Watch free explanatory videos on YouTube to get extra help.
What Might Be the Most Challenging?
For me, the most difficult part of the exam is rhythm. Make sure you study rhythm thoroughly. Also, don’t neglect music terms. You can easily lose points here, so make sure to memorize these terms to ensure you score well.
Don’t Forget Last-Minute Preparations!
One week before the exam, focus on reviewing the following:
- Basic knowledge of key signatures and chord progressions
- Memorize music terms and symbols (like “rit.” or “poco”)
- Revisit any troublesome question types
Summary
The key to passing the ABRSM Grade 5 Theory exam is to work backwards. First, get an overview of the whole exam by looking at test samples. Then, start focusing on your weaker areas. Additionally, the official app makes learning music theory fun, helping you build your foundational knowledge.
