DETAILS OF THE ACADEMIC AND MUSIC TESTS

THE ACADEMIC TEST

There will be two tests, Mathematics and Verbal Reasoning that will take approximately 45 minutes to one hour each with a short break in between the tests. Parents must leave the test centre once they have registered the children and return to collect them afterwards at the time given by the centre. Please provide your child with two pencils and a rubber. Any refreshment for the break should be neatly packed.

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THE MUSIC TEST

The only equipment required will be a pencil and an eraser. The test will consist of 60 questions of four types: Pitch, Melody, Rhythm and Texture.

Pitch: For these questions candidates listen to two sounds and have to indicate whether the second sound is the same as the first, or whether it is higher or lower. There are 20 of these questions and some of the pitches are less than a semitone apart.

Melody: For these questions candidates listen to two tunes consisting of five notes. Candidates have to decide whether the second tune is the same as the first or if one of the notes has been altered. If there is a change, candidates will be expected to identify which note has been altered by giving the note number. There are 10 questions.

Rhythm: For these questions candidates listen to two patterns of notes and have to decide whether the second pattern is the same as, or different from, the first and where any difference occurs. Each rhythm will be four beats (or pulses) in length. There are 10 questions.

Texture: For these questions candidates listen to a number of notes played together at the same time. Candidates need to decide whether or not each chord has 2, 3 or 4 notes. There are 20 questions.

A limited number of applicants will be invited back to perform a single piece on their chosen instrument or vocally. This will be a free choice of piece, which should last no longer than three minutes. As there is a free choice of instrument and piece, it will give candidates of all abilities and all cultures equal opportunity to succeed.

Those applicants invited back will be given an individual appointment during the school day, on or after Monday 24th September.

All parents must log on to the registration site to view the results of Stage 1 of the music test.

The marks will be posted shortly after completion of the first music test and before the Music Audition week commences. Parents must check the secure website for information throughout the testing process.

DATA PROTECTION NOTICE: The information provided for the purposes of registration for the South West Herts Schools Consortium tests is treated as confidential. It is processed by the Consortium for the purposes of the South West Herts Schools Consortium testing process only and will be kept for a period of 12 months from registration, after which it will be deleted and will not be held centrally by the Consortium. Data held by the Consortium Schools individually will be subject to that school’s Data Protection Policy and Privacy Notices, issued by that School, available on its website and updated from time to time, and in line with current Data Protection laws.