AP MUSIC THEORY

AP Music Theory - Exam Overview
 

             The AP Music Theory Exam will test your understanding of the musical concepts covered in the course units, including your ability to analyze performed and notated music and to sing melodies from a written score (sight sing).

 

 

Exam Duration
2hrs 40mins

 

 

Exam Components

Section 1: Multiple Choice - 75 questions | 1hr 20mins | 45% of Score

There are two types of multiple-choice questions on the exam:

• There are 10–12 individual questions and 13 sets made up of 4–6 questions each.

• All stimulus materials throughout the exam represent a variety of historical style periods, including baroque, classical, romantic, late 19th or 20th century, and contemporary (world music, jazz, or pop). Both instrumental and vocal music are represented.

 

             Questions based on aural stimulus test your listening skill and knowledge about theory largely in the context of examples from actual musical scores. Some questions will cover identification of isolated pitch and rhythmic patterns, while others may test your skill in aural analysis of more complex musical excerpts. (41–43 questions, ~45 minutes) 

 

             Questions based on analysis of printed music scores emphasize knowledge of score analysis, including small-scale and large-scale harmonic procedures; melodic organization and developmental procedures; rhythmic/metric organization; texture; and formal devices and/or procedures. You may also see questions about musical terminology, notational skills, and basic compositional skills. (32–34 questions, 35 minutes)

 

Section 2A: Free Response: Written - 7 questions | 1hr 10mins | 45% of Score

The seven questions include:

• 2 melodic dictation questions

• 2 harmonic dictation questions

• 1 question about part writing from figured bass

• 1 question about part writing from Roman numerals

• 1 question about harmonization of a melody

 

Section 2B: Free Response: Sight-Singing - 2 questions | 10mins | 10% of Score

You’ll be asked to sing and record two brief, primarily diatonic melodies (of about 4–8 bars).

• You will have 75 seconds to examine and practice each melody and 30 seconds to perform it.

• You may sing the melody beginning with the given starting pitch or another pitch in a range that is more comfortable.

 

 

AP Music Theory Exam – Scoring 

             For the first section (multiple-choice), for every question you answer correctly, you will get one point each. There is no negative marking. It means that even if your answer is wrong or left blank, no points are deducted. 

             Next is the Free-response Section 2A (written) and Section 2B (sight-singing). Its scoring system is a bit complicated. Rather than being graded by AI, it is reviewed by AP graders. Section 2A (Written) is scored based on these guidelines, while Section 2B (Sight-singing) is scored according to these guidelines.

             For more information about AP Music Theory exam and scoring, you can visit the College Board’s website.

 

 

AP Music Theory Exam – Credit 

          Credit counts depend on the policy that your desired college or university has for Advanced Placement exams. 
 

 

AP Music Theory Exam - Study Resources

• College Board Classroom Resources

• Barron’s AP Music Theory
• musictheory.net
• Sight Reading Factory 
• Teoria
• G Major Music Theory: Contextual Listening
• Virtual Piano

• Auralia/Musition 

• tonesavvy 

 

 

Best Ways to Prepare for the AP Music Theory Exam

 

1. Assess Your Skills

             Start by taking a practice test to check your understanding of the material. The test materials consist of both a written test and digital sound files. Once you have taken some kind of diagnostic test, score it to identify the areas you already understand and those in need of improvement.

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2. Study the Material

            The Music Theory AP course teaches the mastery of pitches, intervals, scales and keys, chords, meter, and rhythm. You will need to apply this mastery toward complex and creative tasks such as:

 

• melodic and harmonic dictation

• composition of a bass line for a given melody, implying appropriate harmony

• realization of a figured bass

• realization of a Roman numeral progression

• sight singing of simple melodies

 

              You will also need to apply your knowledge to the analysis of melody, harmony, rhythm, texture, and form in repertoire drawn mostly from the Western European Common Practice style, but also including jazz, 20th-century works, and world music.

 

3. Refine Listening Skills

              You will also need to refine your aural skills. Listen to musical works attentively and analytically, while developing your musical memory and ability to articulate responses to formal, stylistic, and aesthetic qualities of the musical pieces. 

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4. Practice Your Performance

             This will include singing, keyboard, and whatever your primary instrument of choice is. You should especially focus on sight singing, as this is always a part of the free response section.

 

5. Ask an Expert

             For a more specific idea of where to focus your studying, you should consider using a commercial study guide. Because the AP Music Theory course remains one of the less popular courses amongst students, there are not many choices of high-quality commercial study guides. One solid option though is Barron’s AP Music Theory. This study guide consistently receives high reviews for its effective summary of the material and test-taking strategies specific to the AP Music Theory exam.

 

6. Look Online

             There are also a number of free study resources available online, for example, musictheory.net. Many AP teachers have posted complete study guides, review sheets, and test questions.

 

7. Consider Using an App

             Finally, another convenient way to study is to use an ear-training app. These provide an easy way to quiz yourself on the go. Make sure you read reviews before choosing one – their quality varies widely. Some student-recommended apps and softwares include Auralia and EarMaster.

 

8. Practice Multiple Choice Questions

             Test it out by practicing multiple-choice questions. You can find these in most study guides or through online searches, study.com is a good place to start. You could also try taking the multiple-choice section of another practice exam.
 

Aural Multiple-Choice Questions

             Keep in mind that the questions based on aural stimuli will test your listening skills and knowledge about theory largely in the context of examples from actual music literature. These questions will ask you to identify pitch and isolated rhythmic patterns, detect errors in pitch and rhythm, or identify “processes and materials in the context of music literature representing a broad spectrum of genres, media, and styles.” This includes melodic, harmonic, and tonal organization, meter and rhythmic patterns, instrumentation, texture, and formal procedures.    

 

Non-aural Multiple-Choice Questions 

            Questions not based on aural stimuli emphasize score analysis. These skills include small scale and large-scale harmonic procedures, melodic organization and developmental procedures, rhythmic or metric organization, texture, or formal devices and procedures. These questions might also cover music terminology, notational skills, and basic composition.      

           

             The College Board Course Description includes many practice multiple choice questions along with explanations of their answers. There are additional questions available in commercial study guides. As you go through these, try to keep track of which areas are still tripping you up, and go back over this theory again. Focus on understanding what each question is asking and keep a running list of any concepts that are still unfamiliar.

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 9. Practice Free Response Section

            The free response section of the Music Theory AP is unlike most other AP exams in its emphasis on aural skills and your own sight singing performance. It can be most closely compared to foreign language exams rather than other theory courses. 

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Task Verbs

             Pay close attention to the task verbs used in the free-response questions. Each one directs you to complete a specific type of response. Here are the task verbs you’ll see on the exam:

• Complete: Use music notation to compose the remainder of a bass line.

• Continue logically: Proceed according to conventions of 18th-century voice-leading procedures.

• Notate: Transcribe using music notation.

• Realize: Complete the music notation for a chord progression in four parts following conventions of 18th-century voice-leading procedures.

• Sing or Perform: Vocalize by singing (humming or whistling is also acceptable).

• Transpose: Sing in a key other than the written key.

• Write: Use appropriate notation to indicate chords and their inversions and/or complete a chord progression in four-part harmony, following 18th-century voice-leading procedures.

 

10. Take Another Practice Test

            Take a practice test to evaluate your progress again. You should see a steady progression of knowledge, and it’s likely that you will see patterns identifying which areas have improved the most and which areas still need improvement.

 

Reminders Before exam day:

• Check with the school or center where the exam is being administered to find out what room the exam is being administered in.

• Plan to arrive well before your exam’s scheduled starting time.

 

 

What to Bring on Exam Day

Be sure to bring these:

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• No. 2 pencils for your multiple-choice answer sheet. (Students outside the U.S.: bring HB or No. 2 pencils.)

• Pens with black or dark blue ink for completing areas on the exam booklet covers and for free-response questions in most exams.

• An acceptable calculator if your AP Exam allows the use of a calculator.

• If you don’t attend the school where you’re taking the exam: a current government-issued or school-issued photo ID. (Additional ID may be required by authorized test centers outside the United States.)

• Your College Board SSD Accommodations Letter if you are taking an exam with approved testing accommodations.

• A watch that does not have internet access, does not beep or make noise, and does not have an alarm.

• A ruler or straightedge only if you are taking an AP Physics Exam. Protractors are not allowed.

 

Don't bring these:

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   •  Electronic equipment including phones, smartwatches, fitness trackers, wearable technology, cameras, recording or listening devices, or any other type of electronic or communication device.​

              • Computers that meet AP Program criteria are allowed for the AP Chinese and
                  AP Japanese Language and Culture Exams.

•       • Digital recording devices that meet AP Program criteria are allowed only for the AP                         French, AP German, AP Italian, and AP Spanish Language and Culture Exams,
             and the AP Music Theory Exam.
   

• Books, reference guides, notes, compasses, protractors, mechanical pencils, pencils that are not No. 2, correction fluid, dictionaries, highlighters, or colored pencils.

• Scratch paper: Students are prohibited from bringing scratch paper to the AP Exam. For AP Chinese and AP Japanese Exams, scratch paper will be provided.

• Watches that beep, make a noise, or have an alarm.

• Computers or calculators that are not approved.

• Reference guides, keyboard maps, or other typing instructions.

• Ear plugs.

• Clothing or shoes with subject-related information.

• Food or drink.

• Clipboards.

 

             A student observed with any of these prohibited items during testing or breaks may be dismissed from the exam, the device may be confiscated, the student’s score may be canceled, and no retest may be permitted.

Follow any specific health and safety protocols for the exam room that your school may have in place. AP policies allow you to bring hand sanitizer to the room, but it must be placed under the desk, not on the desk. You may use any other PPE (such as masks) following your school’s current requirements.

 

 

Conclusion

             This is all you need to know about the AP Music Theory Exam and how to prepare for it. You can follow these tips or you can make your own exam-day strategies – whichever will make you more confident, and we are sure you will ace the test as long as you put your 100% dedication and preparation for it. Good luck!