Music Test Information

Please refer to our Key Dates page for the timetabled dates. 

Children who wish to sit the Musical Aptitude Test must live within one of our Local Priority Areas. Registration takes place when children are in Year 5 and is open between mid-May and mid-June. We are unable to consider any registration requests after the closing date for registration. The test takes place in early September when children are starting Year 6.

Our Musical Aptitude Tests do not require a child to have any knowledge of music theory, have received formal music training or have accomplished a certain grade level. Please do not send in any supporting material/certificates of aptitude/ability as we are unable to take these into consideration.   Emails with exact timings and further details will be sent out before the end of the summer term.

There are no practice samples available for our music test.

Musical Aptitude Test 1:

This is a written test, taken with other children, and is approximately 30 minutes in duration. The test is based entirely on aural responses.

There are 60 questions of four types: Pitch, Melody, Texture and Rhythm.

Pitch: for these questions, candidates listen to two sounds and have to indicate whether the second sound is the same as the first, or whether it is higher or lower. Some of the pitches are less than a semitone apart ie very close together. 20 questions.

Melody: for these questions, candidates listen to two tunes consisting of five notes. Candidates have to decide whether the second tune is the same as the first or if one of the notes has been altered. If there is a change, candidates will be expected to identify which note has been altered, by giving the number of the note. 10 questions.

Texture: for these questions, candidates listen to a number of notes played together at the same time (a chord). Candidates need to decide whether or not each chord has two, three or four notes. 20 questions.

Rhythm: for these questions, candidates listen to two patterns of notes and have to decide whether the second pattern is the same as, or different from, the first, and where any difference occurs. Each rhythm will be four beats (or pulses) in length. 10 questions.

Musical Aptitude Test 2:  

Children achieving 50 marks or above will be invited to attend Musical Aptitude Test 2 which is an individual test.  Each child is allocated a 5 minute slot to perform on their preferred instrument/s (voice included).  There is a totally free choice of piece(s) and children can perform on more than one instrument if they prefer within their 5 minute slot.  It is not possible for candidates to bring their own accompanist, however we can provide an accompanist if required.  There is also provision to play a cd backing track.  

Access Arrangements

Illness on test date:

Children that are indisposed on the test day (a medical certificate will be required where possible) or have religious reasons for being unable to attend (proof will be required) will be offered one further date to attend. Notification must be within 12 hours of the tests taking place.

A child may only take the Entrance Tests for admission to Year 7 once.

Letters with results of the first Musical Aptitude test will be sent by post within two weeks of the tests taking place.  Children achieving less than 50 are not invited to progress beyond this stage.

Test Results

We will write in October to parents of candidates with the ranked position of the candidate and the lowest ranked position we have been able to offer to in the last few years.  These letters do not constitute an offer of a place at the School but are given for information purposes only and may be helpful to parents when making their child’s school application. Parents who wish to apply for a place at Dame Alice Owen’s School must include it as one of their preferences when making their child’s secondary transfer application via their home Local Authority.

We would appreciate if you could refer to our comprehensive FAQs list before contacting the school with any further queries, as you may find the answer to your question here. This will enable our Admissions Officer and general office staff to deal with priority calls – thank you for your consideration.