GCSE and IGCSE Music

Who takes these exams

Secondary school students take GCSE or IGCSE Music as one subject among several.

What the parts assess

All four versions have three parts:

• Performing. Students perform their own choice of music. IGCSE assesses solo and ensemble performing as coursework, which is work done and marked during the course.
• Composing. Students write their own music. IGCSE asks for two contrasting pieces as coursework.
• Listening and appraising. AQA sets a written listening exam called Understanding Music. Cambridge sets a Listening paper. OCR and Eduqas call this part appraising.

Cambridge also offers a version graded 9 to 1. Its code is 0978. It has the same content as 0410 and is offered only in some regions.

What the exams lead to

The listening exam trains the same hearing that aural tests at auditions check. The composing part gives students finished pieces they can build on for a composition portfolio.

How it compares with graded exams

Graded exams such as ABRSM or Trinity test one skill at a time and move up by grade. GCSE and IGCSE combine performing, composing and listening in one school course.

Practice on The Music Stem

Opus AtelierIt supports the composing part. It runs from a first melody to a finished recording.Open →StemLabIt takes a song apart by its instruments. It trains the close listening the written exam asks for.Open →

• Listening practice is available for AQA GCSE Music (8271), OCR GCSE Music (J536), Eduqas GCSE Music and Cambridge IGCSE Music (0410).