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AMEB · Grade 2 · Syllabus & study guide

AMEB Grade 2 Music Theory — Complete Syllabus & Study Guide

11 topics33 questions75 min53 marks

The AMEB Grade 2 music theory exam tests how confidently you read, write and understand notation at this level. A typical paper runs about 33 questions in 75 minutes for 53 marks, mixing identification, writing and matching tasks — the same shape as the real exam.

This guide lists every one of the 11 syllabus topics for Grade 2, each with a one-line summary and a suggested practice dose, plus the exact paper structure, a free full-length mock test, and a step-by-step study plan. Everything linked here is free to use.

Compared with AMEB Grade 1, the genuinely new material at Grade 2 is: D major and A major, A, E and D minor, New notes and figures in simple time, 6/8 time, Two new rests, Form, Accents in simple couplets. Everything else consolidates and extends earlier grades — so shore up old ground first, then attack the new topics.

What's in the exam

Our free mock paper mirrors the question-type distribution of a real AMEB Grade 2 paper. Section by section:

  1. Note identification — 7 × 1 mark (7 marks)
  2. Rhythm tapping — 4 × 2 marks (8 marks)
  3. Key signatures — 4 × 2 marks (8 marks)
  4. Intervals — 6 × 2 marks (12 marks)
  5. Note placement — 3 × 2 marks (6 marks)
  6. Matching pairs — 3 × 2 marks (6 marks)
  7. Flashcards — 6 × 1 mark (6 marks)
53 marks total, 75 minutes. See the full mock paper →

Syllabus topics

Work through these in order — each topic builds on the one before it. The count in brackets is the practice dose we recommend per sitting.

  1. 1
    D major and A major
    Two- and three-sharp major key signatures and scales. (~12 practice questions)
  2. 2
    A, E and D minor
    Natural, harmonic and melodic forms of three relative-minor keys. (~12 practice questions)
  3. 3
    Intervals
    Major, minor and perfect interval qualities up to an octave. (~15 practice questions)
  4. 4
    Chords
    Tonic, subdominant and dominant triads in major and minor keys. (~12 practice questions)
  5. 5
    New notes and figures in simple time
    Dotted notes, semiquavers, and tied notes within simple time signatures. (~12 practice questions)
  6. 6
    6/8 time
    Compound duple — two dotted-crotchet beats per bar. (~10 practice questions)
  7. 7
    Two new rests
    The semiquaver rest and the dotted-crotchet rest. (~10 practice questions)
  8. 8
    Transposition
    Transposing a short melody up or down an octave, treble ↔ bass. (~8 practice questions)
  9. 9
    Form
    Phrase structure: question / answer phrases, repetition and contrast. (~10 practice questions)
  10. 10
    Accents in simple couplets
    Setting word stress to strong / weak beats in 2/4 and 3/4. (~10 practice questions)
  11. 11
    Terminology
    New tempo, dynamics and articulation terms introduced at Grade 2. (~12 practice questions)

How to prepare

  1. Work through the topics in order — start at topic 1 and move down the list above in order. Pair each topic with the free reference pages on intervals, key signatures, scales and triads.
  2. Learn the vocabulary — Italian terms and signs are the easiest marks to lose. Keep the music theory glossary open and review a handful of terms a day until they all stick.
  3. Sit the free mock under timed conditions — once you have covered the topics, sit the free AMEB Grade 2 mock test under timed conditions — 33 questions, 75 minutes, instant scoring, no signup.
  4. Review mistakes and re-sit — go back to the topics you dropped marks on, drill them, then re-sit from the AMEB Grade 2 mock paper page. Aim for a stable 80%+ before exam day.

Frequently asked questions

What is in the AMEB Grade 2 music theory exam?
The AMEB Grade 2 theory paper covers 11 syllabus topics: D major and A major, A, E and D minor, Intervals, Chords and 7 more topics. A typical paper has around 33 questions and lasts 75 minutes.
How many questions is the AMEB Grade 2 theory paper?
Around 33 questions, mixing identification, writing and matching tasks across the syllabus topics.
How long is the AMEB Grade 2 theory exam?
75 minutes.
Is AMEB Grade 2 music theory hard?
Manageable with steady practice. The grade covers 11 topics; the genuinely new material versus Grade 1 is D major and A major, A, E and D minor, New notes and figures in simple time, 6/8 time, Two new rests, Form, Accents in simple couplets — everything else consolidates earlier grades.
Where can I take a free AMEB Grade 2 theory mock test?
Theory Practice hosts a free AMEB Grade 2 mock paper with instant scoring at https://theorypractice.app/mocks/AMEB/2 — no signup required.

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