I’ve had a little time off whilst in Australia this Summer and my inbox is absolutely heaving with questions from parents about the upcoming Music Aptitude Test. I have been tutoring children for this secondary school entrance exam for 15 years now and offer training test materials to download and 1-to-1 lessons on Zoom.
I have collected all of the questions from my inbox into one post for ease of viewing. I do hope you find this a useful resource. There is also a Frequently Asked Questions page. Please note I am not able to individually respond to emails but in the unlikely event you cannot find the answer on the FAQ page, please book a phone call or Zoom lesson with us and we will answer all of your queries.
Wishing you all the best for the return to school next week!
Will using the training materials exhaustively and memorising the answers help you?
The training materials are useful to use with your teacher to help familiarise you with the style of test you will hear on the day. However there is no need to memorise the answers as the test you hear on the day will be a different set of questions. There is absolutely no way we can sell you the exact same test. We do not have any contact with the music departments of every single school in the UK that uses the Music Aptitude Test nor would they let us see the test in advance.
How many goes do they get at each question?
You get one go at each question.
Will they repeat the questions if my son misses it.
No, the test plays as an audio file and there will be no repeats of questions. For this reason, we do recommend trying out the training test materials and pausing them in-between each question for 20-30 seconds so you get used to the flow of the test.
Will there be other children in the room when they do the Music Aptitude Test for SW Herts?
Yes there will usually be many other children in the room with you as everyone sits the test on the same day.
Are we allowed to come in with our son?
No.
Is the test to determine if the child has perfect pitch?
No.
Does perfect pitch help?
It doesn’t necessarily help because it’s more about aural awareness but it may give you an advantage in the texture section. However if you do not naturally have perfect pitch, it is something that would take a lot of time to acquire. Many professional musicians do not have perfect pitch so it would not hinder your musical career to not have this skill. We don’t consider it relevant for the Music Aptitude Test.
Do they take into consideration my grade 1-3 distinctions at Coopers Coborn?
No. Most schools do not even ask for exam results on the application form nor ask you this on audition day.
When will we get the results? Same day?
Each school varies. Please see their admissions page for information.
Are they allowed to bring some snacks or personal objects?
A bottle of water and pencil but see the school prospectus for information. Snacks would not be conducive to an exam setting unless there is a medical need for this which will need to be approved in advance.
Are they allowed to sing out loud the chord notes during the test?
Singing the notes of a chord is useful as part of your training but it should be done in your head by the time you go to the exam.
Does listening to radio 3 help?
We encourage our students to listen to all sorts of musical genres in a more active way. Whatever music you listen to, ask yourself the same questions: what instruments can you hear, what is the time signature, can you hear any tempo changes, what about harmonies, how would you describe the mood and emotion etc.
My child is extremely anxious, is there anything we can do to help them overcome their fear?
Early preparation is the key to feeling relaxed on the test day. Last minute preparation causes panic for both student and parent(s) as the tricky texture often throws the student as it is very difficult at the first try. Do also make sure you have prepared thoroughly for Round 2 and can play your pieces to a very good standard. Perform your pieces to a neighbour or an audience of people you do not know that well to help you combat nerves that you will feel on audition day. I do not recommend going into the audition never having performed in public before.
Will they have to answer any sight-reading or theory question on the day?
Kingsdale Foundation School states that there are optional sight-reading tests although last year they didn’t even offer this option to two of my students that were ready and willing to do these tests. No reason was stated for this but it may have been because the test was so busy that they didn’t have time to offer this component.
Do you have any information around Round 2 of the audition for Dame Alice Owen?
Here is information about Round 2 of the audition.
If you would like any assistance you can book a 1-to-1 lesson with us online:
Our web stats are booming so don’t delay in booking a slot for a 1-to-1 lesson as we fit these around our school teaching commitments so there are no other slots available other than what is listed online.
Helping you prepare for the 2025 Music Aptitude Tests 