What is the Music Aptitude Test? The test is used by state secondary schools in the UK to select a percentage of their intake on a music scholarship programme. The Standard Test covers Pitch, Texture, Rhythm and Melody and is designed to test a young person’s natural music aptitude. The MAT is used in Stage 1 of the test.
The Enhanced Test includes supplementary questions and graphic scores to cover the 7-section Music Aptitude Test in the style of the test used for Ashmole Academy. Ashmole hold their MAT earlier than most other UK schools. This usually takes place in June of Year 5.
I have been tutoring students for the Music Aptitude Test entry to local state schools such as Kingsdale, Haberdashers Askes, Prendergast, Ladywell Hilly Fields, Norwood School and many more for nearly 15 years. Since I started switching to online tutoring, this has allowed me to reach a wider audience of students hoping to gain entry to popular UK schools such as Dame Alice Owen, Bristol Cathedral Choir School and Mill Hill County just to name a few using this selective entry criteria.
My own daughter sat the tests too so I understand the pressure regarding these tests that can often help you bypass the catchment area criteria.
Many of the schools imply no musical knowledge is required to sit the test. Whilst this is indeed true of the Round One musical aptitude test, this is rarely true of the second round where you have to perform on an instrument or sing.
Last week I met a student for a one hour online lesson. At the time of booking they said the student is Grade 1 level on the piano. When I met them in the lesson they were only able to play 5 notes in the right hand in a beginner hand position. Unfortunately this level of playing would not usually be awarded a Music Scholarship even if the schools say no musical experience is required. There are so few places available each year so the likelihood of the space going to a student that is at a beginner level is extremely unlikely.
The whole process is indeed rather mystifying but in my experience it is only really students playing less common instruments at lower grades or more common instruments at higher grades that achieve the scholarship. I always encourage my piano students to take up a lesser played second instrument to complement their piano studies. Schools tend to prioritise students playing instruments that can be played in an ensemble or singers for the choir.
If you would like any guidance or help with the scholarship process please book a 1-to-1 session with me or Mirna and we can answer all of your questions:
The start of the new year is the ideal time to start preparing for the Music Aptitude Tests for 2023 state school admissions. For student currently in Year 5, you will sit the MAT test in the Autumn of 2022 so there’s plenty of time to brush up on the style of tests used by schools in England. Our training test materials offer you a wide variety of tests that are similar in style to those you will hear at Round One of the aptitude test.
Music Aptitude Test Training
The music aptitude test is used by state secondary schools to select around 10% of their intake on a music scholarship programme. Some schools use electronic beeps instead of traditional instruments so that students that have already had formal music training are not at a significant advantage.
