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ABRSM · Grade 1

ABRSM Grade 1 aural tests: what to expect and how to practise

Grade 1 aural has four tests: clapping the pulse and naming the time, singing three short echoes, spotting a changed note, and answering two questions about a piece. Each is done by ear and takes only a minute or two. The section is worth 18 of the 150 marks, given for your overall response rather than test by test.

A — Pulse and time

Clap the beat (louder on the strong beats), then say whether it is in two or three time.

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The tests at Grade 1

A — Pulse and time

Clap the beat (louder on the strong beats), then say whether it is in two or three time.

The examiner plays a short piece and you join in clapping the beat as soon as you can, making the strong beats louder. Then you say whether the music is in two time or three time; the time signature itself is not needed. The examiner listens for a steady pulse, accents in the right places and a correct answer. Tip: find a strong beat and count from it — if the next strong beat comes after 'one, two', it is two time; after 'one, two, three', three time.

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B — Echo singing

Sing back three two-bar phrases as echoes (major key, doh to me).

The examiner plays the key-chord and the starting note (the key note, doh), counts in two bars and then plays three two-bar phrases in a major key, one at a time. You sing each phrase straight back as an echo, without stopping. The notes stay between doh and me, so the shapes are small. The examiner listens for accurate pitch and rhythm and for keeping in time. Tip: catch the shape first — up, down, or up and back — then fill in the steps.

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C — Spot the change

A phrase is played twice; say whether the changed note was near the beginning or near the end.

After the key-chord, the key note and a two-bar count-in, the examiner plays a two-bar phrase in a major key twice. In the second playing one note is different, and you say whether the change came near the beginning or near the end. The examiner wants a confident, correct answer; both versions can be played again if you need them, though needing a repeat can affect the mark. Tip: on the first playing, sing the tune silently in your head so the odd note stands out the second time.

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D — Musical features

Talk about the dynamics, then the articulation, of a short piece.

The examiner names the two features, then plays a short piece. The first question is about the dynamics — loud or quiet, and whether any change was sudden or gradual — and the second is about the articulation: smooth or detached. A strong answer says what you heard and where: 'it started quietly and gradually got louder'. Tip: as the piece plays, keep a running commentary in your head — 'quiet… getting louder… smooth' — so both answers are ready. See the Grade 1 musical features answers.

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Test D answers explained: what to say about the musical features at Grade 1.

Tips for Grade 1

  • Clap the pulse with the strong beats louder to marches (two time) and waltzes (three time) until the difference feels physical.
  • For echo singing, start on doh and keep to doh, re and me; singing on 'la' makes repeated notes easy to hear.
  • Practise spotting changes at home: someone plays a short tune twice, changing one note, and you point to the beginning or the end.
  • Collect the features words in pairs: loud and quiet (forte and piano), getting louder and getting quieter (crescendo and diminuendo), smooth and detached (legato and staccato).
  • Run all four tests in order once a week so the switch between clapping, singing and talking becomes routine.

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A full Grade 1 mock, marked

The examiner runs every test in order, plays as many times as the board does and gives an estimated mark out of 18, with where you lose marks.

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Questions people ask

How many marks is the ABRSM Grade 1 aural worth?

18 of the 150 marks — about 12% of the exam. The examiner marks the section as a whole: as a guide, 12 out of 18 is pass level, 15 merit and 17 distinction. You do not need to pass every section to pass overall; the exam pass mark is 100 out of 150.

Do I have to name the time signature in test A?

No. At Grade 1 you only say whether the music is in two time or three time; there is no need to say 2/4 or 3/4, although that is fine if you are sure. The clapping matters too, so keep it steady with the strong beats clearly louder.

What if I can't hear where the note changed in test C?

Give your best answer — beginning or end — rather than saying nothing. If you really need it, the examiner can play both versions again, though that may affect the assessment. In practice, sing the first version in your head while the second one plays; the changed note then sticks out.

Can I answer the musical features questions in plain English?

Yes. 'It got louder' is as good as 'crescendo', and 'smooth' is as good as 'legato'. What matters is that the answer is accurate and specific: say what you heard and where it happened in the piece. Italian terms are welcome if you use them correctly.

How can I practise the Grade 1 aural at home?

Short daily sessions of five to ten minutes work well. Free daily practice runs every Grade 1 test without signing up, listening to your clapping and singing through the microphone and marking spoken or typed answers. A free mini-mock gives an estimated mark out of 18; full mocks are in the paid plans.

Independent practice. We are not affiliated with ABRSM; the tests here are generated by our engine from the published format, not taken from the board's books. Mock marks are estimates — the examiner's judgement is final.