How is Leaving Certificate Music assessed?

Through three essential activities — Performing, Composing and Listening — each worth 25%, plus a further 25% elective so one activity can total 50%. Modes include a practical performing exam, a listening paper and a composing paper (and optional composing portfolio for the composing elective).

What is on the Listening paper?

Questions on four prescribed set works (studied in detail), Irish music, and general aural skills (melody, rhythm, timbre, form, and at Higher Level texture and cadences). Papers use audio extracts and score-based constructed responses, not multiple choice.

Which prescribed works apply for 2026?

Prescribed works alternate in three-year groups. Group B is examined in 2026, 2027 and 2028: Mozart Piano Concerto No. 23 in A major K.488; Berlioz Symphonie Fantastique (Movements II and IV); Raymond Deane Seachanges (with Danse Macabre); and the Beatles Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band album. Confirm the official list for your year of entry.

What is on the Composing paper?

Melody writing (typically eight bars at Ordinary Level and sixteen at Higher Level from a given opening, text or dance/form stimulus) and harmony exercises (cadential writing, bass and chord indications, or Higher Level supportive bass, backing chords or countermelody).

Is this practice bank a substitute for the practical exam?

No. These are original multiple-choice questions for concept knowledge. Performing (including technology options), live aural skills and original composition still require authenticated SEC assessment.

Are these official State Examinations Commission questions?

No. They are original OpenExamPrep single-best-answer questions modelled on the NCCA syllabus and SEC assessment structure. Always also practise official past papers, unprepared tests and marking schemes from the SEC archive.

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2026 Statistics

Key Facts: LC Music Exam

3 activities

Performing, Composing and Listening are each 25% of Leaving Certificate Music

NCCA Leaving Certificate Music Syllabus

50%

One activity can reach 50% via Ordinary Level choice or Higher Level elective

NCCA Leaving Certificate Music Syllabus

4 works

Four prescribed works alternate in Group A / Group B three-year cycles

NCCA syllabus Appendix F / SEC prescribed material notices

Group B

2026–2028 set works include Mozart K.488, Berlioz Symphonie Fantastique II & IV, Deane Seachanges, Beatles Sgt. Pepper

SEC / Oide prescribed works guidance

~90 min

Listening and composing papers are each commonly about 90 minutes

SEC examination practice / school guidance materials

HL elective

Higher Level elective performing programmes are longer (session up to about 25 minutes including unprepared test)

SEC Leaving Certificate Music information notes

Tech edits

Music technology requires multi-part score input and multiple different audible edits

SEC Music information notes (Technology examination format)

100

Free original MCQs here for concept knowledge only — not a practical or aural substitute

OpenExamPrep

Leaving Certificate Music is assessed through Performing, Composing and Listening (25% each) plus a 25% elective so one activity can reach 50%. Components include a practical exam, a listening paper (set works, Irish music, aural skills) and a composing paper (melody and harmony). This 100-question bank is original MCQ concept practice only — not a substitute for practical, aural or composition assessment.

Sample LC Music Practice Questions

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

1Leaving Certificate Music is organised around which three essential activities?

A.Performing, composing and listening

B.Sight-reading, history and orchestra only

C.Theory paper, oral interview and portfolio only

D.Dance, drama and visual art

Explanation: The NCCA Leaving Certificate Music syllabus centres on three essential activities — performing, composing and listening — each carrying a 25% weighting before the elective.

2What percentage weighting does each of the three essential Music activities carry before the elective?

A.10%

B.25%

C.33%

D.50%

Explanation: Each essential activity (performing, composing, listening) is allocated 25%. A further 25% elective allows one activity to reach 50%.

3At Higher Level, how is the remaining 25% after the three essential activities allocated?

A.As a Higher Level elective in performing, composing or listening

B.As a compulsory fourth activity called music history only

C.As an automatic bonus for completing Junior Cycle Music

D.As a separate CAO interview mark

Explanation: Higher Level candidates undertake additional studies as a Higher Level elective in one of the three activities, bringing that activity to 50% of total marks.

4Which body administers the Leaving Certificate Music examinations?

A.State Examinations Commission (SEC)

B.Royal Irish Academy of Music only

C.European Music Board

D.Local county council education office only

Explanation: Leaving Certificate examinations, including Music practicals and written/aural papers, are administered by the State Examinations Commission (SEC).

5Ordinary Level candidates may choose one of the three activities to represent what percentage of total marks?

A.15%

B.25% only with no choice

C.50%

D.100%

Explanation: At Ordinary Level, candidates choose one activity (performing, composing or listening) to represent 50% of total marks, with the other two at 25% each.

6Which staves must students be able to use when notating composing work?

A.Treble and bass staves

B.Alto clef only

C.Percussion stave only

D.Graphic scores only with no pitch staves

Explanation: Composing requirements include conceiving and notating music using both treble and bass staves, alongside other rudiments listed in the syllabus.

7Which common simple time signatures are required for Ordinary Level composing literacy?

A.5/4, 7/8 and 11/8 only

B.2/4, 3/4 and 4/4

C.12/16 only

D.Cut time and 9/16 only

Explanation: The syllabus requires common time signatures 2/4, 3/4 and 4/4 (with Higher Level also requiring compound duple 6/8).

8Up to how many sharps and flats in major and minor keys must Ordinary Level candidates handle for composing literacy?

A.None — open key only

B.Two sharps and two flats

C.Seven sharps only

D.All 24 keys with no limit stated

Explanation: Ordinary Level composing literacy covers major and minor keys up to two sharps and two flats; Higher Level extends to four sharps and four flats.

9What is the typical length of a melody-writing exercise at Ordinary Level?

A.Two bars

B.Eight bars

C.Thirty-two bars only

D.An entire multi-movement sonata

Explanation: Ordinary Level melody writing is eight bars; Higher Level melody writing is sixteen bars, from a given opening, text, or dance/metre/form stimulus.

10Which cadence typically ends on the tonic chord (I or i) after the dominant (V), giving a strong sense of closure?

A.Interrupted cadence

B.Perfect cadence

C.Phrygian half cadence only

D.Deceptive cadence only as synonym for plagal

Explanation: A perfect cadence (V–I or V–i) provides a strong sense of finality and is a core aural and composing skill.

About the LC Music Practice Questions

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Key Facts: LC Music Exam

Sample LC Music Practice Questions

About the LC Music Practice Questions