ABRSM Grade 5 Theory Syllabus

To progress beyond Grade 5 on any ABRSM practical instrument or singing exam, students must first pass the ABRSM Grade 5 Theory exam. This ensures they have a solid understanding of how music works, both in notation and in practice.

My one-to-one tuition covers the entire Grade 5 syllabus, including:

1. Music Notation Fundamentals

  • The stave and different clefs: treble, bass, alto and tenor

  • Note values (crotchet, quaver, minim, semibreve, etc.) and rests

  • Ties, dots and beams

  • Bars, bar-lines and repeat signs

2. Rhythm and Metre

  • Simple and compound time signatures

  • Duple, triple, and quadruple time

  • Grouping notes and rests correctly within the beat

3. Scales and Keys

  • All major and minor scales up to six sharps or flats

  • Harmonic and melodic minor forms

  • Key signatures and how they relate to scales

  • Using the circle of fifths as a tool to understand how keys are connected and to quickly recall key signatures

  • Transposition – rewriting a simple melody up or down an octave, a major or minor second, or a perfect fifth

4. Intervals and Harmony

  • Naming and recognising intervals

  • Triads (major, minor, diminished, augmented)

  • Cadences (perfect, imperfect, plagal, interrupted)

5. Musical Terms and Signs

  • Italian, French, and German terms used for:

    • Tempo (e.g. allegro, andante)

    • Dynamics (e.g. forte, piano, crescendo, diminuendo)

    • Articulation (e.g. staccato, legato)

    • Ornaments (e.g. trills, mordents, turns)

6. Melodic Awareness

While the Grade 5 Theory exam no longer requires students to compose or complete a melody, an awareness of how melody works remains important.

  • Recognising phrase structure

  • Understanding how melody interacts with harmony

  • Practising with short melodic examples as enrichment

7. Reading Extracts

  • Answering questions on short musical extracts (clefs, rhythm, harmony, terms and signs)

Preparing for the Exam

The Grade 5 Theory exam is designed not just to test knowledge, but also to encourage clear thinking and confidence with written music. My teaching approach begins with the big picture, before moving into detail and practice with past papers, so students are fully ready on exam day.

Every student’s journey through the syllabus is different. Book a free consultation and I’ll guide you through the best approach for your child.

Plan Your Child's Next Step