About the exams
Musical Knowledge (Grades 1–5 only)
The examiner will ask candidates five questions in the exam, which test their understanding of the
pieces played, their knowledge of the notation and their instrument.
The examiner will first ask candidates to choose their favourite piece from the ones performed in the
exam and will then ask some of the questions on that piece. The examiner will then choose one of the
other pieces performed to complete the questions.
The printed score should be free of annotations which would act as an aid in the candidate’s response
to any of the questions asked in this section of the exam. The examiner will usually point to part of the
score when asking the questions.
Sample questions and answers for Drum Kit are included in the table below. Where English note values
are specified (e.g. quaver, minim), American terms may alternatively be used (e.g. eighth note, half note).
Grade
Parameters
Sample question
Sample answer
Note length name
What is the name of this note?
Quaver
Explain time signatures
What does 4 mean?
Four crotchet beats in a bar
Note durations
What is this value of this note?
Half a beat
Musical terms and signs
What is the meaning of da capo?
Go back to the start
Parts of the instrument
What is this part called?
The Batter Head
Metronome marks
Explain the sign d = 72
72 crotchet beats
per minute
Musical Style (simple)
What is the style of this groove?
1 feel
Rudiments
What rudiment is played here?
Flam
Basic posture
Show me your basic stick grip.
Candidate demonstrates
Kit Techniques
How do you best produce this
cross stick sound?
Candidate demonstrates
Sticking Pattern
What sticking should be used to
approach this passage/idea?
Paradiddle
Technical challenges
Here [candidate indicates],
Show me the most challenging
because of the co-ordination
part of this piece and tell me why between hands and feet/
independence
Musical style (advanced)
Comment on the style of
this piece
(cumulative*)
Grade 1
Grade 2
Grade 3
Grade 4
Grade 5
* Tests may also include requirements from preceding grades.
24
Candidate identifies style of
piece and gives examples of
stylistic features