Music Practical Exam Preparation

Junior Cycle music will consist of a practical examination and a written examination. The practical examination will be allocated 30% of the marks available. The written examination will be allocated 70% of the marks available.

Practical examination:

The practical examination will take place in third year. Students will perform three musical songs/pieces. Solo and group performing may be freely mixed. The songs/pieces may also be presented on a variety of instruments or through a combination of voice and instruments. Technical control, fluency and musicality will be assessed. The standard required will reflect what can be attained in three years class-based tuition.

Students will also take an unprepared test. They will choose from aural memory (rhythmic or melodic), sight-reading (instrumental/vocal/rhythmic) or improvisation. Aural memory and sight-reading tests will be four bars long. In the case of improvisation, students will be required to improvise for at least four bars.

The practical examination will be allocated 30% of the marks available and will be marked by the State Examinations Commission (SEC).

In total there are 400 marks available for the Leaving Certificate Music Exam. The Written Paper is worth 200 marks (50%) of this and takes place in June. The Core Practical exam is worth 100 marks (25%) of this and is usually examined around Easter time.

Students then take an Elective from Composition, Aural or Performance. Most students take the Performing Elective which is then done with the Core Practical and this is then worth an extra 100 marks (25%).

This brings the total marks for Performance to 200 marks (50%)