AP Music Theory
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The AP Music Theory Exam will test your understanding of the musical concepts covered in the course units, including your ability to analyze performed and notated music and to sing melodies from a written score (sight sing).
Fri, May 12, 2023,
8 AM Local
This is the regularly scheduled date for the AP Music Theory Exam.
75 questions ~ 1hr 20mins 45% of Score
There are two types of multiple-choice questions on the exam:
Questions based on aural stimulus test your listening skill and knowledge about theory largely in the context of examples from actual musical scores. Some questions will cover identification of isolated pitch and rhythmic patterns, while others may test your skill in aural analysis of more complex musical excerpts. (41–43 questions, ~45 minutes)
Questions based on analysis of printed music scores emphasize knowledge of score analysis, including small-scale and large-scale harmonic procedures; melodic organization and developmental procedures; rhythmic/metric organization; texture; and formal devices and/or procedures. You may also see questions about musical terminology, notational skills, and basic compositional skills. (32–34 questions, 35 minutes)
7 questions ~ 1hr 10mins 45% of Score
The seven questions include:
2 questions ~ 10mins 10% of Score
You’ll be asked to sing and record two brief, primarily diatonic melodies (of about 4–8 bars).
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