Taking a music theory graded exam can be a great way for students to get recognition for the hard work they have put into developing their knowledge of musical language. However, in the digital age, the traditional format of a music theory exam isn't always something students find easy to engage with. Perhaps it's time to explore Trinity's Digital Music Theory exams? Read on to find out what they offer...
1. A user-friendly platform that utilises industry-leading notation software
When designing our Digital Music Theory exams, it was vital to ensure that the platform being used would be intuitive and easy-to-use. Many of the questions posed are multiple choice or require short text responses so will feel similar to the online learning platforms many students will have used before.
However, to be able to demonstrate a well-rounded understanding of music theory, candidates shouldn't only be able to answer questions about what they see on the page but also be able to respond using stave notation. Our platform has been developed with Flat.io notation software embedded into it, meaning candidates are able to mark a digital score with notes, clefs, rests, dynamics and accents in a similar way to how they would on a written paper, and almost identically to how they might use other composition software in school, for example.
There are lots of opportunities for candidates to familiarise themselves with the exam format and software used in advance of taking their exam, and we highly recommend them doing so. Our Digital Music Theory guide to question types page does exactly what it says on the tin - walks candidates through the different types of questions they might be asked in their exam. They can also try out the notation software in advance on our free online practice area or on the Flat.io website.
Free practice tests now available!
There is now a free practice test available for each of the digital theory grades. This full test experience, minus the proctoring, serves to familiarise the candidate with the full exam process and provide a set of model answers at the end to act as a guide to the expectations of the test questions.
Book a free practice test here!
2. All of the same academic benefits as a paper music theory exam
From the earliest planning stages, an objective when designing the Digital Music Theory exams was that they must assess the same knowledge as our paper-based exams. We wanted to retain the integrity of the musical approach which sits at the heart of our theory exams, no matter what format the test is sat in. This has numerous benefits to our candidates. It means:
- all of our theory candidate, right through from Grades 1-8, gain a solid foundation in music literacy - the conventions of Western music notation, melody, rhythm, harmony and composition - music history, form and instrumental capabilities
- digital candidates can work through the same music theory workbooks and past papers in order to prepare for their exams
- where Grade 5 Theory is a prerequisite to take a Grade 6-8 performance exam with an exam board, Trinity's Grade 5 Theory can be used regardless of whether it was a paper-based or digital exam
- Grades 6-8 Digital Music Theory exams still come with UCAS points, which can contribute to a student's university entry.
10% discount on all Music Theory ebooks!
You can claim a 10% discount on all Music Theory ebooks when you purchase from the Trinity Shop. Simply enter the code TheoryBlog10 at the checkout*.
*One use per customer
3. Flexibility to take the exam when the candidate is ready
There is no avoiding the fact that written paper exams need to be booked well ahead of the exam itself, which means that candidates often have to commit to this before they are confident that they will be ready. Digital exams, with their online booking system and platform, remove the necessity for booking in advance. At the point that the candidate feels happy that they are ready, the exam can be booked online. Once the candidate has received their confirmation email and log in details to the digital theory exam portal, they have 28 days in which to complete their exam. They choose the day, they choose the time.
4. Flexibility to take the exam at a place convenient to the candidate
Digital theory grades can be taken anyway in the country, removing the need for candidates to travel to an exam centre and enabling them to sit the exam in a classroom at school or from the comfort of their own own. Candidates will need access to a quiet room (ideally with a door that can be closed) with a computer (laptop or desktop), internet connection, Google Chrome browser, microphone and webcam, but no additional or special software needs to be installed. Proctoring, or invigilation, is delivered throughout to ensure the integrity and security of the exam environment so it is important to follow the guidance in our Candidate's Guide to make sure the exam is set up correctly.
Top tip for teachers in schools: if you have a group of students preparing for the theory exams at the same time, why not consider organising a theory exam session in an IT suite? The combination of proctoring and random question generation makes it an ideal solution for ensuring students take their exam in a secure, controlled environment whilst minimising the impact on scheduling and room availability.
5. Accessibility options provided through reasonable adjustments and Google Chrome
Reasonable adjustments are available to candidates with SEND for all of our exams, and Digital Theory exams are no exception. If your student would like to apply for a reasonable adjustment, such as extra time to complete their exam, please see the details on our website. Digital Theory candidates can also utilise the accessibility features available on the Google Chrome browser throughout their exam. This means that, if a candidate typically uses a screen-reader or high-contrast colour for computer work, our digital theory exam platform will be able to support this when used on Google Chrome, as recommended.
6. Results released quickly and available to view online
After the exam has been submitted, it takes approximately 2 weeks for it to be marked. Once marking is complete, the result will be available to view on the candidate's dashboard on the exam platform. Assuming the candidate has passed, their digital certificate will follow shortly afterwards.
Want to know more?
We have lots of information about Digital Music Theory exams on our website, including a dedicated FAQs page. You can also find a broader overview of Digital Theory grades in our blog Introducing Trinity's digital music theory exams, or why not watch back our webinar on demand?
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