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Exam practice
RIAM Preparatory music theory practice test
Timed practice for RIAM Preparatory Music Theory, set out in the board's own sections. Every answer comes with an explanation.
About the exam
Theory and Harmony Preparatory is a written theory exam from the Royal Irish Academy of Music (RIAM).
This practice test covers Preparatory: note and rest values, time signatures, note names on the stave and a short piece to read.
Listening on this test
Fifty questions with one answer each, as in the onscreen exam.
The sections
- Section 1 · Note and rest valuesThis section has 12 questions.
- Section 2 · Time signaturesThis section has 7 questions.
- Section 3 · Note namesThis section has 10 questions.
- Section 4 · ObservationThis section has 6 questions.
Timing
Exam mode runs a clock of 1 hour for the whole practice test.
The full practice test holds 35 questions.
Study mode has no clock. It checks each answer as you go.
Sample questions
Sample 1
Which single note lasts as long as two minims?
- A minim
- A crotchet
- A dotted minim
- A semibreve
The answer is D, A semibreve.
Each minim fills two crotchet beats, which makes four for the pair. The semibreve holds all four beats by itself.
Sample 2
In a bar of 2/4, the first beat is already filled. Which single note completes the bar?
- A minim
- A semibreve
- A crotchet
- A dotted minim
The answer is C, A crotchet.
In 2/4 only one beat remains after the first. A crotchet is exactly one beat long, so it fills the bar.
Questions and answers
How long is the RIAM Preparatory Music Theory practice test?
Exam mode gives 1 hour for the whole practice test. It holds 35 questions. Study mode has no clock.
What sections does the RIAM Preparatory Music Theory practice test cover?
It follows the board's order: Note and rest values, Time signatures, Note names and Observation.
Are the answers explained?
Yes. Each answer comes with an explanation of why it is correct.
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