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100+ Free AP Music Theory Practice Questions

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In a V7 to I resolution in a major key, the leading tone (the third of the V7 chord) should resolve in which direction?

A
B
C
D
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Key Facts: AP Music Theory Exam

75

multiple-choice questions in Section I (45% of the score)

College Board AP Music Theory CED

45/45/10

percent split: multiple choice / written free-response / sight-singing

College Board AP Music Theory CED

8

units of study from music fundamentals through modes and form

College Board AP Music Theory CED

1-5

AP score scale; a 3 or higher typically earns college credit

College Board

2

sight-singing melodies you sing and record (10% of the score)

College Board AP Music Theory CED

$99

approximate US exam fee for 2025-26, fee reductions available

College Board

The AP Music Theory exam has 75 multiple-choice questions in Section I (about 1 hour 20 minutes, 45% of the score), split into aural items based on recorded music and non-aural items reading notation. Section II adds seven written free-response questions (45%) including melodic and harmonic dictation, part-writing, and Roman-numeral analysis, plus two sight-singing performance tasks (10%). The exam is scored 1-5, and most colleges grant credit for a 3 or higher. It is administered each May and costs about $99 per exam in the US (source: College Board, AP Music Theory Course and Exam Description).

Sample AP Music Theory Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your AP Music Theory exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1On a piano keyboard, how many half steps are there between any note and the note one octave higher?
A.7
B.8
C.10
D.12
Explanation: An octave spans 12 equal half steps (semitones) in the standard 12-tone equal-tempered system. Counting from one C up to the next C, you pass through all twelve chromatic pitches before arriving at the octave.
2How many sharps are in the key signature of D major?
A.Two
B.One
C.Three
D.Four
Explanation: D major has two sharps: F-sharp and C-sharp. Following the circle of fifths, each step clockwise from C adds one sharp, and D is two fifths above C (C to G to D), so it has two sharps.
3In a 6/8 time signature, how is the meter best classified?
A.Simple duple
B.Simple triple
C.Compound triple
D.Compound duple
Explanation: In 6/8 the dotted-quarter note gets the beat, giving two main beats per measure, each divisible into three eighth notes. Two beats that each divide into three make it compound duple meter.
4Which clef places middle C on the second line from the bottom of the staff and is commonly used by violas?
A.Treble clef
B.Bass clef
C.Alto clef
D.Tenor clef
Explanation: The alto clef is a C clef centered on the middle line of the staff, so middle C sits on the third (middle) line. It is the standard clef for viola. The alto clef keeps most viola pitches on the staff without excessive ledger lines.
5What is the correct order of sharps as they appear in key signatures?
A.F, C, G, D, A, E, B
B.B, E, A, D, G, C, F
C.C, G, D, A, E, B, F
D.F, B, E, A, D, G, C
Explanation: Sharps are added in the order F, C, G, D, A, E, B (often remembered as 'Father Charles Goes Down And Ends Battle'). Each successive sharp is a perfect fifth above the previous one.
6A dotted half note in 4/4 time is held for how many beats?
A.Two beats
B.Four beats
C.Three beats
D.Six beats
Explanation: A half note equals two beats in 4/4, and a dot adds half of the note's value. Half of two beats is one beat, so a dotted half note lasts two plus one, totaling three beats.
7Which scale degree is called the 'dominant'?
A.The 4th scale degree
B.The 5th scale degree
C.The 6th scale degree
D.The 7th scale degree
Explanation: The fifth scale degree is the dominant, the most important pitch after the tonic. It has a strong pull back to the tonic and is the root of the dominant (V) chord that drives functional harmony.
8Starting on C, which sequence of whole and half steps produces a major scale?
A.W-W-H-W-W-W-H
B.W-H-W-W-H-W-W
C.H-W-W-W-H-W-W
D.W-W-W-H-W-W-H
Explanation: A major scale follows the pattern whole-whole-half-whole-whole-whole-half. Applied to C, this produces C-D-E-F-G-A-B-C, the C major scale with no sharps or flats.
9The Italian term 'allegro' indicates what about a passage of music?
A.It should be played quietly
B.It should gradually slow down
C.It should be played smoothly and connected
D.It should be played fast and lively
Explanation: Allegro is a tempo marking meaning fast and lively, generally faster than moderato but not as fast as presto. Tempo terms describe speed, distinct from dynamics or articulation.
10How many flats are in the key signature of E-flat major?
A.Two
B.Three
C.Four
D.Five
Explanation: E-flat major has three flats: B-flat, E-flat, and A-flat. Flats are added in the order B, E, A, D, G, C, F, and the major key whose name is the next-to-last flat is the key; the third flat is A-flat, confirming three flats for E-flat major.

About the AP Music Theory Exam

AP Music Theory is a College Board course and exam covering the fundamentals of Western tonal music: pitch, scales, key signatures, rhythm and meter, intervals, chords, harmony and voice leading, melody, modes, and form, plus aural (listening) skills. The exam has a 75-question multiple-choice Section I (aural and non-aural items) worth 45% of the score, and a Section II of seven written free-response questions (45%) plus two sight-singing tasks (10%).

Questions

75 scored questions

Time Limit

About 2 hours 40 minutes (Section I ~1h 20m; Section II ~1h 20m)

Passing Score

Scored 1-5; a 3 or higher typically earns college credit

Exam Fee

About $99 per exam in the US (2025-26) (College Board)

AP Music Theory Exam Content Outline

~15%

Unit 1: Music Fundamentals I

Pitch and registers, clefs, major scales, the circle of fifths and key signatures, simple and compound meter, rhythmic notation, and expressive markings.

~12%

Unit 2: Music Fundamentals II

Minor scales (natural, harmonic, melodic), minor key signatures, relative and parallel keys, intervals and quality, scale degrees, timbre, and texture.

~12%

Unit 3: Music Fundamentals III

Triad and seventh-chord qualities, inversions and figured bass, and chord identification in notated and keyboard formats.

~15%

Unit 4: Harmony and Voice Leading I

Roman numeral analysis, chord function, cadence types (authentic, half, plagal, deceptive), and phrase and period structure.

~13%

Unit 5: Harmony and Voice Leading II

Functional progressions, predominant chords, four-part voice-leading rules, parallel-motion errors, and melody harmonization.

~10%

Unit 6: Harmony and Voice Leading III

Non-chord tones (passing, neighbor, suspension, appoggiatura, anticipation, pedal), motives, and melodic sequences.

~10%

Unit 7: Harmony and Voice Leading IV

Secondary dominant and secondary leading-tone chords, tonicization, and their voice leading and chromatic alterations.

~13%

Unit 8: Modes and Form

The seven diatonic modes, phrase relationships and period types, and common formal sections such as verse, chorus, bridge, and coda.

How to Pass the AP Music Theory Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: Scored 1-5; a 3 or higher typically earns college credit
  • Exam length: 75 questions
  • Time limit: About 2 hours 40 minutes (Section I ~1h 20m; Section II ~1h 20m)
  • Exam fee: About $99 per exam in the US (2025-26)

Keys to Passing

  • Complete 500+ practice questions
  • Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
  • Focus on highest-weighted sections
  • Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

AP Music Theory Study Tips from Top Performers

1Drill interval and chord-quality identification until it is instant; the multiple-choice section rewards speed at reading notation.
2Memorize the circle of fifths so you can name any major or minor key signature without counting accidentals.
3Practice four-part part-writing rules - no parallel fifths or octaves, resolve the leading tone, and double the right chord members.
4Train your ear daily with cadence, interval, and chord-quality recognition; aural items are a large share of Section I.
5Learn the figured-bass and Roman-numeral systems thoroughly, including inversions like 6, 6/4, and 6/5 for seventh chords.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many questions are on the AP Music Theory exam?

Section I has 75 multiple-choice questions answered in about 1 hour 20 minutes, worth 45% of the score. The questions split into aural items (based on recorded music) and non-aural items that test reading and analyzing notation.

What is on Section II of the AP Music Theory exam?

Section II has seven free-response questions worth 45% (melodic dictation, harmonic dictation, part-writing from a figured bass or Roman numerals, and composition), plus two sight-singing tasks worth 10% in which you sing short melodies that are recorded.

How is the AP Music Theory exam scored?

The exam is scored on the AP 1-5 scale. Section I is 45%, the written free-response is 45%, and sight-singing is 10%. Most colleges grant credit or placement for a score of 3 or higher.

What topics does AP Music Theory cover?

It covers eight units: music fundamentals (pitch, scales, key signatures, rhythm, meter, intervals, chords), harmony and voice leading (Roman numerals, cadences, progressions, non-chord tones, secondary function), and modes and form. Aural skills are tested throughout.

When is the AP Music Theory exam given and what does it cost?

AP exams are administered each May. The AP Music Theory exam costs about $99 per exam in the US for 2025-26, with fee reductions available for eligible students.

Do these practice questions include aural (listening) items?

Because audio cannot be played here, our practice bank describes aural concepts in text - for example, how to recognize a cadence type, interval, or texture by ear - so you can study the underlying knowledge that the aural section tests.