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AuralRoom

Trinity · Grade 2

Trinity Grade 2 aural test: the four questions, practised

Grade 2 aural uses a four-bar melody that can now be in a minor key, in 2/4 or 3/4. The dynamics question becomes a short description, because the volume changes during the tune, and the spot-the-change question asks what changed as well as where. It's an optional supporting test, marked out of 10 for the whole test.

Aural test

Clap the pulse; describe the changing dynamics; legato or staccato; last note higher or lower; where was the change, and was it rhythm or pitch?

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The tests at Grade 2

Aural test

Clap the pulse; describe the changing dynamics; legato or staccato; last note higher or lower; where was the change, and was it rhythm or pitch?

Pulse: clap the beat on the third hearing, with stronger first beats. Dynamics and articulation: from one hearing, describe how the dynamics change — for example, 'it started quietly and got louder' — and say legato or staccato. Pitch: is the last note of the melody higher or lower than the first? Change: after two playings, the second with one change, say where it was and whether the rhythm or a note changed. Our trainer marks your spoken or typed description of the dynamics against what was really played, and the other answers as choices.

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Tips for Grade 2

  • Describe dynamics in two parts: how it began and how it changed ('soft at first, then a crescendo to forte').
  • Italian or English both work in our trainer: crescendo or 'getting louder', diminuendo or 'getting quieter'.
  • Rhythm or pitch? If the tune stumbled, it was rhythm; if a note sounded wrong, it was pitch.
  • Clap 3/4 with a waltz feel — STRONG, light, light — and 2/4 like a march.
  • Keep the first note in your head through the whole melody so you can compare the last note with it.

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A full Grade 2 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

What should I say about the dynamics at Grade 2?

Say what happens across the tune: where it's loud or quiet and how it changes, such as 'it starts piano and gets louder towards the end'. Musical terms help, but accuracy matters most. In our trainer, plain English and Italian terms both count, and you see what you missed.

Can the Grade 2 melody be in a minor key?

Yes. From Grade 2 the melody may be major or minor, although you aren't asked which until Grade 3. A minor key can make the pitch questions feel less familiar, so make sure some of your practice tunes are minor too.

How many times will I hear the melody?

Several times: three for the pulse question (you clap on the third), once for dynamics and articulation, once for the higher-or-lower question, and twice for the change question. Each hearing has a job, so listen for the thing you'll be asked about next.

Do I fail the aural test if I get one question wrong?

No. Trinity gives one holistic mark for the whole test, based on how well you hear across all the questions and how promptly and confidently you answer. A single slip won't sink it; 6–7 out of 10 is a Pass, 8 a Merit and 9–10 a Distinction.

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.