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Trinity · Grade 1

Trinity Grade 1 aural test: practice and tips

Trinity's Grade 1 aural is an optional supporting test worth 10 marks, taken instead of one of the other supporting tests. The examiner plays a four-bar melody in a major key, now in 2/4 or 3/4, and asks four questions about it. You clap and answer in words; there's no singing.

Aural test

Clap the pulse; say forte or piano and legato or staccato; was the last note higher or lower than the first; where was the change?

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The tests at Grade 1

Aural test

Clap the pulse; say forte or piano and legato or staccato; was the last note higher or lower than the first; where was the change?

Pulse: the melody is played three times; clap the beat on the third, leaning on the strong beats. Dynamics and articulation: from one hearing, say forte or piano, and legato or staccato. Pitch: the first two bars are played again — is the last note higher or lower than the first? Change: the melody is played twice, the second time with one change to the rhythm or to a note, and you say where it happened. Our trainer marks your clapping through the microphone and offers bar numbers for the change question.

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Tips for Grade 1

  • In 3/4 the pattern is strong–light–light; in 2/4 it's strong–light. Clap a little louder on 'one'.
  • For higher or lower, keep the first note in your head while the music plays, then compare.
  • Spotting a change: on the first playing, sing along in your head so you have something to compare with.
  • A changed rhythm feels bumpy; a changed note sounds out of place.
  • Treat each playing as one job: first the pulse, then the dynamics and touch, then the notes.

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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 10, with where you lose marks.

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Questions people ask

How many marks is Trinity Grade 1 aural worth?

10 out of 100. Pieces carry 66 marks, technical work 14 and the two supporting tests 20 between them. For the aural test, 6–7 is a Pass, 8 a Merit and 9–10 a Distinction, and you don't need to pass every section to pass the exam overall.

What's new at Grade 1 compared with Initial?

The melody may be in 3/4 as well as 2/4; dynamics and articulation are asked after a single hearing; the pitch question compares the last note of the opening two bars with the first; and there's a new question where you spot a change. The tune is still four bars in a major key.

Can I take aural instead of sight reading?

Yes. At Grade 1 you choose any two of the four supporting tests — sight reading, aural, improvisation and musical knowledge — so you could take aural with improvisation or musical knowledge and skip sight reading altogether. From Grade 6, sight reading becomes compulsory.

Is the same aural test used for every instrument?

Yes, and for singers too: Trinity's Singing syllabus uses the same aural requirements, and singers aren't asked to sing in the aural test either. Drum kit candidates may take a separate version instead, called Unpitched Aural.

Independent practice. We are not affiliated with Trinity College London; 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.