The Music Stem / Music theory practice tests / Trinity Grade 3 Music Theory
Exam practice
Trinity Grade 3 music theory practice test
Timed practice for Trinity Grade 3 Music Theory, set out in the board's own sections. Every answer comes with an explanation.
About the exam
Theory of Music Grade 3 is a written theory exam from Trinity College London.
This practice test covers Grade 3: scales in compound time, correcting notation, transposition, chords for SATB, a bass line and analysis.
The sections
- Section 1 · GeneralKeys, compound time, intervals, instruments and terms.This section has 26 questions.
- Section 2 · Scales, arpeggios and broken chordsMelodic minor scales, arpeggios, inversions and dominant triads.This section has 12 questions.
- Section 3 · Correcting notationBeaming by the beat, rests, ties, the anacrusis and notes on three ledger lines.This section has 8 questions.
- Section 4 · TranspositionMoving a tune an octave between the treble and bass clefs.This section has 7 questions.
- Section 5 · Chords for SATBTonic chords for soprano, alto, tenor and bass.This section has 6 questions.
- Section 6 · Adding a bass lineKeys, chords I and V, the perfect cadence and the motion of two parts.This section has 5 questions.
- Section 7 · AnalysisQuestions about a short piece in eight bars.This section has 9 questions.
Timing
Exam mode runs a clock of 2 hours for the whole practice test.
The full practice test holds 73 questions.
Study mode has no clock. It checks each answer as you go.
Grade bands as a guide
The board's paper has 100 marks. Trinity College London sets Pass at 60 (60%), Merit at 75 (75%) and Distinction at 87 (87%).
Your practice score is a guide to these bands only.
Source: Trinity College London Theory of Music Syllabus, Grades 1-8 from 2009 (online edition, April 2026), checked October 18, 2026.
Sample questions
Sample 1
Write the scale of G melodic minor, one octave ascending. Enter its notes from the lower G up to the upper G.
The answer is G A B♭ C D E F♯ G.
The melodic minor raises its 6th and 7th degrees on the way up. In G minor, E♭ rises to E and F rises to F♯.
Sample 2
In 6/8, how should six quavers that fill a bar be beamed?
- In three groups of two
- In one group of six
- In two groups of three
- Each on its own, with a flag
The answer is C, In two groups of three.
Quavers are beamed by the beat, and in 6/8 the beat is a dotted crotchet holding three quavers.
Sample 3
The tonic chord of B♭ major is set for SATB in root position. Which note does the bass sing?
- B♭
- D
- F
- B
The answer is A, B♭.
In root position the root of the chord is in the bass. The root of the tonic chord of B♭ major is B♭.
Questions and answers
How long is the Trinity Grade 3 Music Theory practice test?
Exam mode gives 2 hours for the whole practice test. It holds 73 questions. Study mode has no clock.
What sections does the Trinity Grade 3 Music Theory practice test cover?
It follows the board's order in seven sections, from General to Analysis.
Are the answers explained?
Yes. Each answer comes with an explanation of why it is correct.
Start the practice test →More Trinity practice tests
See a mistake on this page? Write to info@themusicstem.com or read how to report an error.