Many graduate music programs require new students to take a diagnostic exam in music theory. Many institutions offer practice exams on their websites. Since these exams represent the expectation of knowledge and abilities acquired by the end of an undergraduate course in music theory, they can be useful as study guides or for gauging one’s own level of attainment. More links will be added to this list in the future.

  1. https://www.wmich.edu/musicgradexamprep/

  2. https://umshare.miami.edu/web/wda/frost/graduatestudies/MTC Common Practice Sample.pdf

  3. https://umshare.miami.edu/web/wda/frost/graduatestudies/Sample Aural Portion.pdf

  4. https://peabody.jhu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/GADMA-Sample.pdf

  5. https://www.bgsu.edu/content/dam/BGSU/musical-arts/documents/student-resources/GraduateStudentFiles/theorysamplequestions.pdf

  6. https://files.webservices.illinois.edu/5030/entrance_exam_musicology_study_guide_for_jan_2016.pdf

  7. https://www.umass.edu/music/sites/default/files/assets/music/practice_diagnostic_theory_exam_general_version_2_2016.pdf

  8. https://wwwp.oakland.edu/Assets/upload/docs/MTD/Graduate-Study/Grad-Music-History-&-Theory-Study-Guide-2015.pdf

  9. http://www.csueastbay.edu/music/files/docs/exams/graduate-exam.pdf

  10. https://music.ku.edu/graduate-music-theory-diagnostic-exam-practice-examples

  11. https://www.uh.edu/~tkoozin/theory/diagnostic-exams.html

  12. https://www.umass.edu/music/diagnostic-exams-graduate-study

  13. https://vpa.uncg.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/practice-exam-10-12-21.pdf

  14. https://uca.edu/music/files/2021/04/Graduate-Diagnostic-Theory-History-Study-Guide.pdf