THE SHORT ANSWER
See how the subject fits together
Performing, composing and listening are all part of the course. Your chosen elective and prescribed works determine the detailed programme.
A revision map, not a prediction of which questions will appear. Official sources and scope
This guide uses the syllabus for the 2027 examination. Curriculum Online also lists a replacement for a later cohort; do not switch to it simply because it appears first on the subject page.
MORE THAN A TOPIC LIST
How is Music assessed?
- Practical, written and aural assessment across performing, composing and listening.
This describes the syllabus assessment components. Use the SEC instructions for your year for timing, question choices, materials and submission arrangements. Read the official assessment section. (opens in a new tab)
Check your selected programme
Check the prescribed works for your examination year and your chosen elective with your teacher. This guide does not predict which set-work extracts will appear.
YOUR SUBJECT, YOUR CHECKLIST
What should I revise?
Choose the checklist for your level. Topic groups are a starting map, not every syllabus outcome. Optional cards only apply if they are part of your programme.
Prepare the performance and written requirements for your own level and chosen elective. Higher Level extensions should not be assumed to apply to Ordinary Level.
Saved in this browser, separately for each subject and level. A tick is not a mastery score.
Performance
Technique, interpretation and presentation.
Try a practice prompt
COLLEGEROUTE PRACTICE PROMPT
Which short passage needs the most focused practice?
Slow it down, isolate the difficulty and rebuild it in context.
Melody writing
Shape, rhythm, phrasing and development.
Try a practice prompt
COLLEGEROUTE PRACTICE PROMPT
Does a melody have a clear direction and ending?
Sing or play it back; notation that looks tidy may still sound unconvincing.
Harmony
Chord relationships and supporting a melody.
Try a practice prompt
COLLEGEROUTE PRACTICE PROMPT
Which harmonic choice supports a phrase ending?
Check the relationship between the melody and the underlying harmony.
Prescribed works
Recognising and explaining features of the selected works.
Try a practice prompt
COLLEGEROUTE PRACTICE PROMPT
What helps identify a passage when heard rather than seen?
Connect the sound to instrumentation, texture, rhythm and structure.
Irish music
Musical features and traditions in the programme.
Try a practice prompt
COLLEGEROUTE PRACTICE PROMPT
How can you support a description with something you actually hear?
Use a precise musical feature rather than a general cultural label.
Aural & unfamiliar listening
Recognising musical information in an extract.
Try a practice prompt
COLLEGEROUTE PRACTICE PROMPT
What changes when a musical idea returns?
Listen once for the overall shape and again for the feature being asked about.
The prompts are original study exercises, not quotations from SEC papers or predictions of examination questions. Check the official topic scope.
TURN TOPICS INTO PRACTICE
A useful next revision session
- Keep regular short performance sessions throughout revision.
- Pair written composition with listening or playback.
- Practise unfamiliar extracts alongside prescribed works.
After practising, write down the exact point that stopped you. Revisit that step, then try again without the notes. A tick should record work you have done, not confidence alone.
Before you narrow your revision
Does a topic’s absence last year mean it is due this year?
No. This guide does not infer question probabilities from previous papers. Use past papers to practise skills and interpret instructions, not to exclude valid syllabus content.
Should I complete every optional card?
No. Check your class’s selected programme and your level. A chosen text, elective or prescribed topic is not interchangeable with another student’s programme. Use the full official syllabus for detailed outcomes.
Are the practice prompts real exam questions?
No. They are short, original CollegeRoute study prompts designed to help you apply the topic. They do not carry an official SEC mark allocation or predict examination wording.
Sources and scope
Checked 8 September 2026. Intended for the 2027 examination cohort.
- Curriculum Online: Music (opens in a new tab). Official subject information, specifications and associated guidance.
- Music: official syllabus / specification (PDF) (opens in a new tab). Used sections: Performing, Composing, Listening and level/elective arrangements.
- State Examinations Commission (opens in a new tab): examination-year instructions, official papers and marking schemes.
These are editorial revision groups, not a transcription of every learning outcome. The practice prompts and study tips are independent CollegeRoute suggestions. Your teacher’s programme, prescribed material and current official instructions remain the reference for exact requirements.