2026 WAEC GCE MOCK EXAMINATION
MUSIC (AURAL)
A Practice Paper Prepared for Independent Study
This paper is an original practice examination prepared for revision purposes only. It follows the general structure of the WAEC GCE Music (Aural) syllabus but is not an actual past question paper and does not claim to predict or reproduce any WAEC examination. Because this is a text document, questions are presented using letter names and written descriptions rather than staff notation, and are intended to reinforce the aural concepts tested in the paper: intervals, scales and key signatures, time values and rhythm, and musical terms, signs, cadences and ornaments.
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Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Total Marks: 90 (Objective: 60 marks, Essay: 30 marks)
Instructions: Answer ALL questions in Section A and ALL questions in Section B.
SECTION A: OBJECTIVE TEST (60 MARKS)
PART I: INTERVALS
Assume all notes are given in ascending order. Choose the correct interval name from the options lettered A to D.
1. What is the interval from C to D (ascending)?
A. Major 2nd
B. Minor 2nd
C. Major 3rd
D. Perfect 4th
2. What is the interval from C to E (ascending)?
A. Minor 3rd
B. Major 3rd
C. Perfect 4th
D. Major 2nd
3. What is the interval from C to F (ascending)?
A. Major 3rd
B. Perfect 4th
C. Perfect 5th
D. Minor 3rd
4. What is the interval from C to G (ascending)?
A. Perfect 4th
B. Major 6th
C. Perfect 5th
D. Minor 6th
5. What is the interval from C to A (ascending)?
A. Minor 6th
B. Major 6th
C. Perfect 5th
D. Major 7th
6. What is the interval from C to B (ascending)?
A. Minor 7th
B. Major 6th
C. Major 7th
D. Perfect octave
7. What is the interval from C to the C above it (ascending)?
A. Perfect 5th
B. Major 7th
C. Minor 7th
D. Perfect octave
8. What is the interval from D to F (ascending)?
A. Major 3rd
B. Minor 3rd
C. Perfect 4th
D. Major 2nd
9. What is the interval from E to G (ascending)?
A. Minor 3rd
B. Major 3rd
C. Perfect 4th
D. Minor 2nd
10. What is the interval from G to D (ascending)?
A. Perfect 4th
B. Perfect 5th
C. Major 6th
D. Minor 6th
11. What is the interval from A to C (ascending)?
A. Major 3rd
B. Minor 3rd
C. Major 2nd
D. Perfect 4th
12. What is the interval from F to B (ascending)?
A. Perfect 4th
B. Augmented 4th
C. Perfect 5th
D. Diminished 5th
13. What is the interval from B to F (ascending)?
A. Diminished 5th
B. Perfect 5th
C. Augmented 4th
D. Perfect 4th
14. What is the interval from D to A (ascending)?
A. Perfect 4th
B. Major 6th
C. Perfect 5th
D. Minor 6th
15. What is the interval from E to C (ascending)?
A. Major 6th
B. Minor 6th
C. Major 3rd
D. Perfect 5th
PART II: SCALES AND KEY SIGNATURES
Choose the correct answer from the options lettered A to D.
16. How many sharps are in the key signature of D major?
A. 1
B. 2
C. 3
D. 4
17. How many flats are in the key signature of B flat major?
A. 1
B. 2
C. 3
D. 4
18. What is the key signature of G major?
A. 1 sharp (F sharp)
B. 2 sharps
C. 1 flat
D. No sharps or flats
19. What is the key signature of F major?
A. 1 sharp
B. 1 flat (B flat)
C. 2 flats
D. No sharps or flats
20. The relative minor of C major is:
A. A minor
B. E minor
C. D minor
D. G minor
21. The relative major of D minor is:
A. C major
B. F major
C. G major
D. B flat major
22. In the key of C major, the dominant note is:
A. F
B. G
C. A
D. D
23. In the key of C major, the subdominant note is:
A. F
B. G
C. A
D. E
24. The seventh degree of a major scale is called the:
A. Mediant
B. Submediant
C. Leading note
D. Supertonic
25. The second degree of a major scale is called the:
A. Supertonic
B. Mediant
C. Subdominant
D. Dominant
26. A major scale that begins and ends on A, with three sharps, is:
A. A major
B. A minor
C. A harmonic minor
D. A melodic minor
27. The tonic note of the key of E flat major is:
A. E
B. E flat
C. G
D. B flat
28. How many sharps are in the key signature of A major?
A. 2
B. 3
C. 4
D. 5
29. How many flats are in the key signature of E flat major?
A. 1
B. 2
C. 3
D. 4
30. A scale with no sharps or flats in its key signature is:
A. G major
B. F major
C. C major
D. D major
PART III: TIME VALUES, TIME SIGNATURES AND RHYTHM
Choose the correct answer from the options lettered A to D.
31. A crotchet is equal in value to how many quavers?
A. 1
B. 2
C. 3
D. 4
32. A minim is equal in value to how many crotchets?
A. 1
B. 2
C. 3
D. 4
33. A semibreve is equal in value to how many crotchets?
A. 2
B. 3
C. 4
D. 6
34. In 4/4 time, how many crotchet beats are there in one bar?
A. 2
B. 3
C. 4
D. 6
35. In 3/4 time, how many crotchet beats are there in one bar?
A. 2
B. 3
C. 4
D. 6
36. In 6/8 time, how many quaver beats are there in one bar?
A. 4
B. 6
C. 8
D. 3
37. 6/8 time is an example of:
A. Simple duple time
B. Simple triple time
C. Compound duple time
D. Compound quadruple time
38. 4/4 time is an example of:
A. Simple duple time
B. Simple quadruple time
C. Compound duple time
D. Simple triple time
39. A dotted crotchet is equal in value to:
A. Two quavers
B. Three quavers
C. Four quavers
D. One quaver
40. How many crotchet rests are equal in value to one semibreve rest?
A. 2
B. 3
C. 4
D. 6
41. A tie joins two notes of the same pitch to:
A. Create a new pitch
B. Add their time values together
C. Shorten the note
D. Change the key
42. A dot placed after a note:
A. Halves its value
B. Doubles its value
C. Adds half its value again
D. Adds a new pitch
43. In simple time, each beat divides into:
A. Two equal parts
B. Three equal parts
C. Four equal parts
D. Five equal parts
44. In compound time, each beat divides into:
A. Two equal parts
B. Three equal parts
C. Four equal parts
D. Six equal parts
45. 2/4 time is an example of:
A. Simple duple time
B. Simple triple time
C. Compound duple time
D. Simple quadruple time
PART IV: MUSICAL TERMS, SIGNS, CADENCES AND ORNAMENTS
Choose the correct answer from the options lettered A to D.
46. The Italian term “Allegro” means:
A. Slowly
B. Fast and lively
C. Very soft
D. Gradually louder
47. The Italian term “Adagio” means:
A. Slow
B. Fast
C. Loud
D. Gradually softer
48. The sign “p” in music stands for:
A. Piano (soft)
B. Presto
C. Pizzicato
D. Perfect
49. The sign “f” in music stands for:
A. Fast
B. Forte (loud)
C. Fine
D. Fermata
50. “Crescendo” means:
A. Gradually getting softer
B. Gradually getting louder
C. Suddenly loud
D. Suddenly soft
51. “Diminuendo” means:
A. Gradually getting louder
B. Gradually getting softer
C. Suddenly soft
D. Staying at the same volume
52. “Da capo” is an instruction to:
A. Repeat from the beginning
B. Repeat from the sign
C. Go to the end
D. Slow down gradually
53. A “fermata” (pause sign) instructs the performer to:
A. Play faster
B. Hold the note longer than its written value
C. Play softer
D. Repeat the passage
54. A cadence formed by the dominant chord moving to the tonic chord is called a:
A. Plagal cadence
B. Perfect cadence
C. Imperfect cadence
D. Interrupted cadence
55. A cadence formed by the subdominant chord moving to the tonic chord is called a:
A. Perfect cadence
B. Plagal cadence
C. Imperfect cadence
D. Interrupted cadence
56. A cadence that ends on the dominant chord is called a(n):
A. Perfect cadence
B. Plagal cadence
C. Imperfect cadence
D. Interrupted cadence
57. An ornament consisting of the rapid alternation of a note with the note above it is called a:
A. Mordent
B. Trill
C. Turn
D. Acciaccatura
58. An ornament in which a note is quickly touched before moving to the main note is called an:
A. Trill
B. Turn
C. Acciaccatura
D. Mordent
59. The term “legato” instructs the performer to play:
A. Smoothly and connected
B. Short and detached
C. Very loudly
D. Very softly
60. The term “staccato” instructs the performer to play:
A. Smoothly and connected
B. Short and detached
C. Gradually louder
D. Gradually softer
SECTION B: ESSAY / THEORY QUESTIONS (30 MARKS)
Answer ALL six questions. Each question carries 5 marks.
1. Write out, in letter names, the ascending notes of the D major scale, and state its key signature (number and names of sharps or flats).
2. Explain the difference between simple time and compound time, giving one example of a time signature for each.
3. Define the following musical terms: (i) Allegro (ii) Legato (iii) Crescendo (iv) Da capo (v) Fermata.
4. Using C major as your example, explain what is meant by the tonic, the dominant and the subdominant notes of a scale.
5. Distinguish between a perfect cadence and a plagal cadence, stating the chords, in Roman numerals, involved in each.
6. Explain the difference between a trill and a mordent as musical ornaments.
MARKING GUIDE
Section A: Objective Answers
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
| A | B | B | C | B | C | D | B | A | B |
| 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 |
| B | B | A | C | B | B | B | A | B | A |
| 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 |
| B | B | A | C | A | A | B | B | C | C |
| 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 |
| B | B | C | C | B | B | C | B | B | C |
| 41 | 42 | 43 | 44 | 45 | 46 | 47 | 48 | 49 | 50 |
| B | C | A | B | A | B | A | A | B | B |
| 51 | 52 | 53 | 54 | 55 | 56 | 57 | 58 | 59 | 60 |
| B | A | B | B | B | C | B | C | A | B |
Section B: Essay Guide (Expected Answers)
1. D major scale ascending: D, E, F sharp, G, A, B, C sharp, D. Key signature: 2 sharps (F sharp and C sharp). Award marks for the correct sequence of letter names and the correct key signature.
2. Simple time: each beat divides naturally into two equal parts (e.g. 3/4, where each crotchet beat divides into two quavers). Compound time: each beat divides naturally into three equal parts (e.g. 6/8, where each dotted crotchet beat divides into three quavers). Award marks for a correct definition of each and one valid time signature example for each.
3. Allegro: a fast and lively tempo. Legato: performed smoothly, with notes connected. Crescendo: gradually getting louder. Da capo: an instruction to repeat the piece from the beginning. Fermata: a sign instructing the performer to hold a note or rest longer than its written value. Award marks for each correct definition.
4. In the key of C major: the tonic is C, the first degree of the scale and its home note; the dominant is G, the fifth degree of the scale; the subdominant is F, the fourth degree of the scale. Award marks for correctly naming each note and its scale degree.
5. A perfect cadence is formed by the dominant chord (V) moving to the tonic chord (I), and gives a strong sense of finality, often ending a piece. A plagal cadence is formed by the subdominant chord (IV) moving to the tonic chord (I), sometimes called the Amen cadence. Award marks for correct Roman numerals and a correct description of each cadence.
6. A trill is the rapid, repeated alternation between a written note and the note immediately above it, sustained for the written duration of the note. A mordent is a single, quick alternation between a written note and the note above or below it, before returning to the main note. Award marks for a correct description of each ornament and how they differ.
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