🎓 ABRSM Music Theory Grades 1–5: Complete Revision Checklist

🎼 1. Key Signatures & Scales

Grade	Major Keys	Minor Keys	Scale Knowledge
1	C, G, D, F	A, E, D	Tonics, scales, tones/semitones
2	A, E, B♭	G, B, E	Key signatures, relative minors
3	B, A♭	C♯, C, F	All scales with up to 4 sharps/flats
4	All major/minor up to 5 sharps/flats		Harmonic minor
5	All keys up to 6 sharps/flats	All related minors	Harmonic & melodic minor

✅ Know relative major/minor pairs
✅ Be able to write and recognise key signatures

Grade	Interval Types Introduced
1	2nds, 3rds, 4ths, 5ths, 6ths, 7ths, octaves (number only)
2	Quality: major & perfect
3	Minor & augmented intervals
4	Diminished intervals
5	Inversions and recognition from both notes

✅ Recognise by number and quality
✅ Be able to write intervals above or below a note

Grade	Chords Introduced	Cadences
3	I, IV, V (tonic, subdominant, dominant)	Perfect and imperfect
4	VI chords	Plagal cadences
5	Root position & inversions (Ib, V7)	All four cadences incl. interrupted

✅ Identify chords from key and scale degree
✅ Understand function in harmony

Grade	Simple Time	Compound Time	Other Concepts
1	2/4, 3/4, 4/4	—	Note/rest values
2	3/2	—	Beaming rules
3	2/2 (alla breve), 6/8	Intro to compound	Dotted notes
4	Compare simple/compound	9/8, 12/8	Rhythmic grouping
5	5/8, 7/8, 5/4	Full understanding	Time conversion, irregular meter

✅ Write bars with correct rhythmic grouping
✅ Convert between time signatures

Grade	Focus
1	p, f, staccato, legato, common terms (allegro, adagio)
2	pp, ff, tenuto, fermata, espressivo, a tempo
3	dolce, marcato, cantabile, expressive markings
4	Style & character: giocoso, pesante, subito
5	Advanced terms: rubato, tranquillo, meno mosso, historical context

✅ Recognise Italian terms in context
✅ Know how expressive markings affect performance

Grade	Concepts Covered
1–5	Clefs (treble & bass), barlines, ties, slurs, repeat signs, first/second time bars
3–5	Orchestral instrument families, score reading, transposing instruments

✅ Understand how to read music fluently
✅ Know orchestral layout (Grade 5)

Grade	Skills
3–5	Spotting mistakes in melody/harmony
4–5	Simple form analysis (binary/ternary), melodic dictation
5	Identifying cadences, modulations, and keys in context

✅ Practise by analysing short pieces
✅ Listen and identify musical features