Career upgrade: Learn practical AI skills for better jobs and higher pay.
Level up
PracticeVideosBlogFlashcardsEspañol
All Practice Exams

100+ Free IB Music SL Practice Questions

Pass your IB Diploma Programme Music Standard Level exam on the first try — instant access, no signup required.

✓ No registration✓ No credit card✓ No hidden fees✓ Start practicing immediately
100+ Questions
100% Free
1 / 100
Question 1
Score: 0/0

Josquin des Prez was a leading composer in what era?

A
B
C
D
to track
Same family resources

Explore More IB Diploma Programme

Continue into nearby exams from the same family. Each card keeps practice questions, study guides, flashcards, videos, and articles in one place.

IB Biology HL

Practice Questions

IB Biology SL

Practice Questions

IB Business Management HL

Practice Questions

IB Business Management SL

Practice Questions

IB Chemistry HL

Practice Questions

IB Chemistry SL

Practice Questions
2026 Statistics

Key Facts: IB Music SL Exam

1-7

IB grading scale

International Baccalaureate Organization

2024

First assessment of new syllabus

IBO Music Subject Brief

150 hours

Recommended teaching hours (SL)

IB Music Guide

100

Free practice questions here

OpenExamPrep

IB Music SL is graded 1-7 on three coursework portfolios with no written exam. Multiple-choice practice supports the music theory, history, and world music knowledge needed for the Exploring Music in Context written portfolio.

Sample IB Music SL Practice Questions

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

1Which note sits on the bottom line of the treble clef stave?
A.E
B.F
C.G
D.D
Explanation: The five lines of the treble clef from bottom to top spell E-G-B-D-F (Every Good Boy Deserves Fruit). The bottom line is therefore E.
2What note is on the middle line of the bass clef stave?
A.D
B.B
C.F
D.A
Explanation: Bass clef lines from bottom to top are G-B-D-F-A. The middle (third) line is D.
3How many sharps are in the key signature of E major?
A.4
B.3
C.5
D.2
Explanation: E major has four sharps: F#, C#, G#, D#. The circle of fifths confirms this: G(1), D(2), A(3), E(4).
4Which key has four flats in its key signature?
A.A-flat major
B.E-flat major
C.D-flat major
D.F major
Explanation: A-flat major has four flats: Bb, Eb, Ab, Db. Its relative minor F minor shares the same signature.
5Which time signature is an example of compound duple metre?
A.6/8
B.3/4
C.4/4
D.9/8
Explanation: 6/8 has two main beats, each subdivided into three quavers. Two beats = duple; three subdivisions = compound. So 6/8 is compound duple.
6How many semiquavers fit into one semibreve?
A.16
B.8
C.4
D.32
Explanation: A semibreve = 2 minims = 4 crotchets = 8 quavers = 16 semiquavers. Each subdivision doubles the number of notes.
7What rest has the same duration as a crotchet?
A.Quarter rest
B.Half rest
C.Whole rest
D.Eighth rest
Explanation: A crotchet is also called a quarter note, and its rest equivalent is the quarter rest (which looks like a squiggle in modern notation).
8The interval from C to G (ascending) is a:
A.Perfect 5th
B.Perfect 4th
C.Major 6th
D.Augmented 5th
Explanation: C-D-E-F-G spans five letter names, so it is a 5th. C-G appears in the C major scale unaltered, making it a perfect 5th (7 semitones).
9What is the quality of the interval from D to F (ascending)?
A.Minor 3rd
B.Major 3rd
C.Perfect 4th
D.Diminished 3rd
Explanation: D to F spans three letter names (D-E-F) so it is a 3rd. The distance is 3 semitones (D-Eb-E-F), which is a minor 3rd.
10Which notes form a D major triad in root position?
A.D, F#, A
B.D, F, A
C.D, F#, A#
D.D, G, B
Explanation: A major triad is built from a major 3rd and a perfect 5th above the root. D major = D (root) + F# (major 3rd) + A (perfect 5th).

About the IB Music SL Exam

IB Music SL (new syllabus first assessment 2024) is a coursework-only Group 6 Arts subject in the IB Diploma Programme. Students complete three portfolios — Exploring Music in Context, Experimenting with Music, and Presenting Music — drawing on music theory, world music traditions, Western art music history, performance and composition.

Questions

100 scored questions

Time Limit

Coursework portfolios completed across the two-year DP course

Passing Score

Grade 4 or higher on the 1-7 IB scale is considered a pass

Exam Fee

USD 119 registration + USD 134 per subject (approximate IB fees) (International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO))

IB Music SL Exam Content Outline

30%

Music Theory and Notation

Clefs, key signatures, time signatures, note values, intervals, chords, cadences, dynamics, tempo, articulation, ornaments, texture and scales

25%

Western Art Music History

Medieval through 20th-century — Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Debussy, Stravinsky and the development of musical style

25%

World Music Traditions

Indian classical, African, Chinese, Japanese, Indonesian gamelan, Caribbean, Latin American, Celtic and Middle Eastern musical practices

15%

Popular Music and Jazz

12-bar blues, swing, bebop, rock origins and subgenres, pop song forms, hip-hop, R&B, electronic music and film scoring

5%

Instruments and Ensembles

Orchestral families, transposing instruments, chamber groupings, vocal ranges and aural instrument identification

How to Pass the IB Music SL Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: Grade 4 or higher on the 1-7 IB scale is considered a pass
  • Exam length: 100 questions
  • Time limit: Coursework portfolios completed across the two-year DP course
  • Exam fee: USD 119 registration + USD 134 per subject (approximate IB fees)

Keys to Passing

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

IB Music SL Study Tips from Top Performers

1Listen widely across the three areas of inquiry — personal, local, and global — to build a contextual ear for the Exploration portfolio
2Keep a structured musical journal of every piece you study, with notation snippets and analytical observations
3Practise score reading daily; the Exploration written work demands confident analysis of unfamiliar extracts
4Record audio drafts early for the Experimentation and Presenting portfolios — the highest marks reward iteration

Frequently Asked Questions

Does IB Music SL have a written exam?

No. Under the new syllabus (first assessment 2024) IB Music SL is assessed entirely through three coursework portfolios — Exploring Music in Context, Experimenting with Music, and Presenting Music. There is no end-of-course written paper.

How is IB Music SL graded?

IB Music SL is graded on the IB 1-7 scale. A grade of 4 is generally considered a pass. The three portfolio components are weighted 30 / 30 / 40 percent.

What is the difference between IB Music SL and HL?

Both SL and HL share the three portfolio components, but HL adds The Contemporary Music Maker — a multimedia presentation showing real-world music collaboration. HL also has more contact hours (240 vs 150).

Do I need prior music training for IB Music SL?

Prior music study is strongly recommended. Students should already be able to read notation, perform on at least one instrument or voice, and have basic theory knowledge before starting the two-year course.