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How to get a H1 in the Leaving Cert Music Exam

By Sarah E. - 2 minute read

For some students, a subject where you spend a lot of time either playing or listening to music can be a great choice. In this blog, Sarah goes through her top tips and tricks on getting a H1 in this subject.

Be Confident

When you are performing in front of your class mates, it's important to be confident. We all have shy moments, but the more preparation and practise you do, the easier it will be at the time of your practical exam.

Download your set works

By having them on your phone and listening to them occasionally, you will quickly become quite familiar with them.

Composing

  • Number your bars 1-16 immediately.

  • Draw you double bar lines before you start the melody also.

  • Check for an upbeat- these can be easily forgotten about.

  • When choosing an instrument for your melody, make sure you take into account the ranges of each instrument.

  • Write out your chord boxes on the spare paper as this will help when choosing cadences.

The Practical

Before you enter the exam:

  • If you're singing for the exam, warm up your voice! Check out this video on some great vocal exercises 

  • For instrumentalists, make sure your fingers/hands are warmed up also. From what I can remember, practical season tends to be cold and so make sure you’ve warmed up your hands by playing scales and/or wearing gloves!

During the exam:

  • SMILE. Examiners are always lovely and are not there to take marks from you but simply give you marks. Remember, your practical exam is like a mini private concert for the examiner so, relax.

Attempt every part of every question 

Even if you know very little, write it down.  If you make a mistake and have a better answer, put a line through it and try again. Don’t Tippex it out! If you think your answer is wrong, but don’t have anything better, then leave it there.

Use the resources

There are loads here on Studyclix. Practising past questions will help you be more prepared! Read through all the available resources on examinations.ie – there are past papers, marking schemes, past aural tests, sight tests, improvisation tests and so on. These are invaluable.

Use time to your advantage

Take advantage of the fact that you get to spread the workload throughout the year, completing 50% of your marks long before the written exam. Additionally, take advantage of the fact that it’s one of your last exams, so there’s a good chance you’ll have a few days exam-free beforehand to study. 

Bonus

For more tips and tricks, read our Music Paper Guide below.

Read guide here

And our Composing guide here.

Read composing guide here

Lastly...

This is probably your last subject to sit an exam in before you finish school! Make the most of it.

Best of Luck!

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