Level 5 Theory is the first written exam in the Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM) program. A student needs it, along with the Level 5 practical exam, to earn the Level 5 certificate. This page explains what the exam covers, how to write it, and how to prepare.
Quick facts
| Length in person | 1 hour |
| Length online | 1 hour |
| Needed for | The Level 5 comprehensive certificate |
| Exams needed before it | None |
| Older exam it replaced | Basic Rudiments |
| Pass mark | 60 out of 100 |
RCM’s theory syllabus has levels from Preparatory to Level 4 too. Those levels have no required exam. Teachers cover that material in lessons.
What the exam covers
The list below follows the RCM Theory Syllabus, 2016 Edition.
Keys. Major and minor keys with up to four sharps or four flats.
Notes. Notes up to four ledger lines above and below the staff. Ledger lines are the short lines that extend the staff. Students also rewrite a tune an octave higher or lower, or in the other clef.
Rhythm. Note and rest values from the breve to the sixteenth note. Dotted notes. Triplets. Strong and weak beats. The pickup, which the syllabus calls an anacrusis.
Intervals. Half steps and whole steps. Major, minor, and perfect intervals up to an octave, measured above the first note of a major key. An interval is the distance between two notes.
Scales. Major scales. Minor scales in three forms: natural, harmonic, and melodic. Relative and parallel keys. The names of the scale degrees, such as tonic and dominant.
Chords. Triads built on the first, fourth, and fifth notes of the key, in root position and inversions. The dominant 7th chord in root position. Chord symbols.
Melody writing. The student gets a four-measure phrase and writes a four-measure answer to it.
Analysis. Naming the key of a short piece. Marking phrases that are the same, similar, or different.
Music history. The unit is called Voices in Song. It has three pieces.
- Handel, the “Hallelujah Chorus” from Messiah
- Mozart, the Queen of the Night aria from The Magic Flute
- Harold Arlen, “Over the Rainbow” from The Wizard of Oz
Students name the composer and the kind of piece. They say who performs it and how the music fits the words. RCM says the listening questions are short ones, such as fill in the blank and true or false.
Terms and signs. Italian words for speed, volume, and mood. Signs such as the fermata, the tie, repeat signs, and pedal marks.
Two ways to write the exam
In person. RCM holds written theory exams on set days in each exam session. In Canada, the next theory days are December 11 and 12, 2026, and May 14 and 15, 2027. Each session has a registration deadline. See RCM exam dates and deadlines.
Online. RCM offers the Level 5 to 8 theory exams online, on demand. A student can write on any day. There are two versions.
| Version | What it includes | How the mark works |
|---|---|---|
| Online Theory Study Guide with Exam | Lessons on eight units, practice tests, eight unit tests, and the final exam. Access lasts 12 months. | Unit tests count for 40 percent. The final exam counts for 60 percent. |
| Online Theory Exam Only | The final exam. Access lasts 120 days. | The exam counts for 100 percent. |
The online exam is a closed-book exam. RCM’s rules say no notes and no piano. A keyboard diagram is allowed. The final exam has to be finished in one sitting.
If the mark may be used for a high school credit, RCM recommends a proctor for the online exam. A proctor is an adult who watches the exam. RCM says the proctor cannot be a relative or the student’s own music teacher. Confirm with the school that it accepts an online exam. For the credit rules, read RCM high school credits by province.
What it costs
These are the fees on RCM’s pages on November 14, 2026. Fees change. Check RCM’s page before you register.
| Exam | Fee |
|---|---|
| Level 5 Theory, in person, Canada | $149 |
| Level 5 Theory, in person, United States | $139 US |
| Online Theory Exam Only, Level 5 | $149 |
| Online Theory Study Guide with Exam | $225 |
For every level, see RCM exam fees.
How long it takes to prepare
RCM estimates 35 hours to finish its Level 5 online study guide. At two hours a week, that is about four months. Ask the teacher how they pace it beside the Level 5 practical work.
How a parent can help
Start early in the year. Theory learned beside the piano pieces makes more sense than theory crammed at the end.
Get the workbook. RCM’s own workbook series is called Celebrate Theory. There is one book for Level 5.
Work the weak spots first. A student may find one topic harder than the rest. It may be intervals, minor scales, or rhythm. Ask the teacher which one it is, and spend the first ten minutes of each session there.
Use short daily drills. Five minutes on note names with the note name trainer builds speed for the rest of the paper.
Listen to the three pieces. Play each one a few times over a month. Read the Hallelujah Chorus explained and The Magic Flute for kids together.
Write a practice paper under time. Set a timer for one hour. Mark it with the teacher. RCM sells practice papers and posts sample questions.
These pages explain the main topics in plain words:
- Key signatures explained for parents and kids
- Major and minor scales explained for kids
- Intervals explained for kids, with songs to remember
- Time signatures explained for parents and kids
- The circle of fifths explained
What comes next
Level 6 Theory goes with the Level 6 practical exam. It covers all the major and minor keys and takes two hours in person. Read RCM Levels 6 and 7 theory. For the practical side of this level, read RCM Level 5 piano: what the exam asks for. For the full chart of written exams, read RCM theory requirements by level.
Sources
Checked in November 2026.
- The Royal Conservatory. Theory Syllabus, 2016 Edition.
- The Royal Conservatory. Celebrate Theory: frequently asked questions.
- The Royal Conservatory. Examination information for intermediate theory, Levels 5 to 8.
- The Royal Conservatory. Theory exam overview.
- The Royal Conservatory. Remote theory exams FAQ.
- The Royal Conservatory. Examination dates, Canada.
- The Royal Conservatory. Examination and other service fees, Canada.
- The Royal Conservatory. Examination and other service fees, US.
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Use it with your kids
Print a listening page, a practice chart, or a composer fact sheet. Or try a tool, such as the composer timeline or the piece picker.