About the exams

Musical Knowledge (Grades 15 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 candidates 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

(cumulative*)
Grade 1 Note length name
Explain time signatures
Note durations
Musical terms and signs
Parts of the instrument
Grade 2
Metronome marks
Musical Style (simple)
What is the name of this note? Quaver
What does 4 mean? Four crotchet beats in a bar
What is this value of this note? Half a beat
What is the meaning of da capo? Go back to the start
What is this part called? The Batter Head
72 crotchet beats
Explain the sign d = 72
per minute
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

Grade 3 How do you best produce this
Kit Techniques Candidate demonstrates
cross stick sound?
What sticking should be used to
Sticking Pattern Paradiddle
approach this passage/idea?
Grade 4 Here [candidate indicates],
Show me the most challenging because of the co-ordination
Technical challenges
part of this piece and tell me why between hands and feet/
independence
Grade 5 Candidate identifies style of
Comment on the style of
Musical style (advanced) piece and gives examples of
this piece
stylistic features

* Tests may also include requirements from preceding grades.

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