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RCM · Preparatory A

RCM Prep A ear tests: what's asked and how to practice

Prep A is the first piano level of the RCM Certificate Program, and its ear tests are short: a rhythm to clap back, a chord to call major or minor, and a four-note tune to play back. Together they're worth 10 of the exam's 100 marks — clapback 4, chords 2 and playback 4. Our trainer plays each test on a piano sound and listens through your microphone, so you get feedback straight away.

Clapback

Listen twice to the rhythm of a short melody (2 measures, 3/4 or 4/4), then clap or tap it back.

Free · no sign-up · uses your microphone to hear your claps

The tests at Preparatory A

Clapback

4 marks

Listen twice to the rhythm of a short melody (2 measures, 3/4 or 4/4), then clap or tap it back.

In the exam, the examiner tells you the time signature — 3/4 or 4/4 — counts one measure, then plays a short melody twice. It's about two measures long and uses whole, dotted half, half and quarter notes and pairs of eighths. You copy its rhythm by clapping or tapping; singing it on one note is allowed too. Our trainer plays a fresh rhythm twice, then checks each clap against it at your own tempo. Use the first hearing to find the beat and the second to lock in the details.

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Chords

2 marks

Hear the first five notes of a scale and its tonic chord: is the chord major or minor?

The examiner plays the first five notes of a major or minor scale, going up, and then that scale's tonic chord with all its notes together, once. You say whether the chord is major or minor — the only two choices at Prep A. Our trainer does the same: five scale notes, then the chord, then you choose. The clue is the third note of the scale on the way up. In major it sounds bright and open; in minor it's a half step lower and darker, and the chord matches it.

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Playback

4 marks

After the key chord, sing back a four-note melody made from the first three notes of the scale (played twice).

The examiner names the key — C or G major — plays the tonic chord once and then a tune of about four notes, twice. The tune uses only the first three notes of the scale (do, re and mi) and starts on do or mi; the first note isn't played for you. Piano students then play it back. In our trainer you sing or hum it instead, and the pitch tracker checks each note in any octave. Before you begin, find the first note in the chord: do is its bottom note, mi the middle one.

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Tips for Preparatory A

  • Tap a steady beat on your knee while singing a nursery song, then clap the words instead: the beat is the pulse, the words are the rhythm — and clapback wants the rhythm.
  • Sing do–re–mi–re–do in C major most days. Prep A tunes live inside those three notes, so knowing their sound makes playback much easier.
  • A whole note is one clap and three beats of waiting: count them quietly so the next clap lands on time.
  • Ask someone to play major and minor chords on the piano while you face away, and name each one before you turn around.
  • Short, frequent practice suits this age best: a couple of items from each test on most days.

Free daily practice · no sign-up

A full Preparatory A mock, marked

The examiner runs every test in order, plays as many times as the board does and gives an estimated mark out of 10, with where you lose marks.

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Questions people ask

How many marks are the Prep A ear tests worth?

Ten of the exam's 100 marks: clapback 4, chords 2 and playback 4. The rest go to repertoire (66), technical requirements (14) and sight reading (10), and 60 overall is a pass. Our mock uses the same 4–2–4 split to give an estimated mark out of 10 — a guide to where marks are being lost, not a prediction.

What's the difference between Prep A and Prep B ear tests?

Very little. Clapback and chords are identical, and the marks are the same. The only change is in playback: Prep B adds A minor to C and G major, so the three-note tune can come from a minor scale. If Prep A feels comfortable, try a few Prep B playbacks for variety.

Does my child have to name the time signature?

No. The examiner says whether the clapback is in 3/4 or 4/4 before counting a measure, and no RCM level from Preparatory to Level 10 asks the candidate to identify a time signature. Practice time is better spent on keeping a steady beat and holding long notes for their full value.

Why does the trainer ask for singing when the exam asks for playing?

Our trainer listens through the microphone and is built to follow a singing voice; recognizing notes played on any instrument is a different problem. Singing also trains the step that matters most — hearing the tune clearly in your head. Once your child sings a playback tune correctly, ask them to find the same notes on the piano.

How many rhythms, chords or tunes will the examiner ask?

RCM doesn't publish how many items each test contains or how the marks are divided within a test. Our full mock gives one item per test in exam order and turns the results into an estimate using RCM's marks. For everyday practice, aim to get each test right several times in a row.

Independent practice. We are not affiliated with RCM (The Royal Conservatory); 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.