The Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM) Level 9 and Level 10 certificates ask for more than a practical exam. Each one needs written exams in harmony and history. This page explains which exams a student needs, what each one covers, and when they run.
Which exams each certificate needs
| Certificate | Practical exam | Written exams |
|---|---|---|
| Level 9 | Level 9 | Level 8 Theory, Level 9 Harmony, Level 9 History |
| Level 10 | Level 10 | The three for Level 9, plus Level 10 Harmony and Counterpoint and Level 10 History |
At each level, a student may take Keyboard Harmony in place of the written harmony exam.
That adds up to five written exams by the end of Level 10. The four harmony and history exams last three hours each.
Level 9 Harmony
Harmony is the study of chords and how they follow one another. Before 2016, this exam was called Basic Harmony.
Chords. Major, minor, diminished, and augmented triads. The dominant 7th chord and the 7th chord built on the second note of the scale. Chords borrowed for a moment from a nearby key. Pedal points, in which one bass note holds under changing chords.
Cadences. Five kinds: perfect authentic, imperfect authentic, half, deceptive, and plagal.
Changing key. Moving to the key of the fifth note in a major key. Moving to the relative major or to the minor key of the fifth note in a minor key. The word for changing key is modulation.
Chorales. Writing four voice parts for a hymn tune.
Melody writing. The student gets four measures and builds them into a 16-measure piece in rounded binary form.
Two-part writing. Adding a melody above a given bass line.
Analysis. Binary and ternary form. Phrases and periods. The dances of the 1700s, such as the sarabande, gigue, minuet, bourrée, and gavotte.
Level 9 History
This exam covers four eras, from the Baroque era to the present day. It was called History 1 before 2016. Students study set works from each era.
| Era | Set works |
|---|---|
| Baroque | Vivaldi, “Spring” from The Four Seasons. Bach, Prelude and Fugue in B-flat Major from The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1. Handel, parts of Messiah. |
| Classical | Haydn, “Emperor” Quartet, second movement. Mozart, Eine kleine Nachtmusik. Beethoven, Symphony No. 5. |
| Romantic | Schubert, “Erlkönig.” Chopin, Polonaise in A-flat Major, Op. 53. Berlioz, Symphonie fantastique, fifth movement. Bizet, parts of Carmen. |
| Modern | Debussy, Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun. Stravinsky, parts of The Rite of Spring. Bernstein, “Maria” and “America” from West Side Story. Alexina Louie, “Changes” from Music for Piano. John Adams, Short Ride in a Fast Machine. |
Many of these works have a page on this site:
- The Four Seasons by Vivaldi: listening guide
- Handel’s Messiah: the Hallelujah Chorus explained
- Eine kleine Nachtmusik: listening guide
- Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5: a listening guide
- John Adams for kids
Level 10 Harmony and Counterpoint
This exam was called Intermediate Harmony before 2016. Counterpoint is the craft of fitting two or more melodies together.
Chords. All triads and 7th chords in every inversion. Dominant 9th and 13th chords. Figured bass, a Baroque shorthand that shows chords with numbers under a bass line.
Sequences. Patterns of chords that repeat higher or lower.
Changing key. Moving to any closely related key. That is a key with one more or one fewer sharp or flat.
Melody writing. A 16-measure piece in binary form that changes key.
Analysis. Sonata form. Rondo form. The opening of a fugue, with its subject, answer, and countersubject.
Level 10 History
This exam goes further back in time. It covers the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, the Baroque era, and the Classical era. It was called History 2 before 2016.
| Era | Some of the set works |
|---|---|
| Middle Ages | The chant “Haec dies.” Music of Léonin and Pérotin. Machaut, Kyrie from the Messe de Nostre Dame. |
| Renaissance | Josquin, “Ave Maria … virgo serena.” Palestrina, Gloria from the Pope Marcellus Mass. Part songs by Gesualdo and Morley. |
| Baroque | Monteverdi, L’Orfeo. Purcell, Dido and Aeneas. Bach, Cantata No. 80 and Brandenburg Concerto No. 2. Handel, Water Music. |
| Classical | Haydn, Symphony No. 104. Mozart, Piano Concerto in G Major, K. 453, and The Marriage of Figaro. Beethoven, “Pathétique” Sonata. |
Keyboard Harmony
Keyboard Harmony is a practical exam. The student sits at the piano with the examiner. There is no writing. The student gets time to prepare, then plays tasks such as chord progressions, sequences, and short improvised tunes.
| Level | Preparation time | Exam time | Replaces |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level 9 Keyboard Harmony | 20 minutes | 20 minutes | Level 9 Harmony |
| Level 10 Keyboard Harmony | 25 minutes | 25 minutes | Level 10 Harmony and Counterpoint |
When the exams run
RCM’s Canadian calendar for 2026 to 2027 sets these rules.
- Written harmony exams run on the theory days of each session. The next ones are December 11 and 12, 2026, and May 14 and 15, 2027.
- In-person history exams run in the May session only. In 2027, Level 9 History is on Friday, May 14, at 2:00 pm. Level 10 History is on the same day at 9:30 am.
- Keyboard Harmony runs in the May and June in-person session only.
RCM also offers the history exams online. Its remote exams page says the written harmony exams can be taken from home in a Zoom classroom with a proctor. See RCM exam dates and deadlines.
What they cost
These are the fees on RCM’s pages on November 14, 2026. Fees change. Check RCM’s page before you register.
| Exam | Canada | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Level 9 Harmony | $214 | $206 US |
| Level 9 History | $214 | $206 US |
| Level 10 Harmony and Counterpoint | $241 | $232 US |
| Level 10 History | $241 | $232 US |
| Level 9 Keyboard Harmony | $214 | $206 US |
| Level 10 Keyboard Harmony | $241 | $232 US |
The four written exams for Levels 9 and 10 cost $910 in Canada at these fees. The practical exams are extra. See RCM exam fees.
How families plan these exams
Spread them out. Five written exams is a heavy load beside Level 9 and Level 10 repertoire. Ask the teacher for a plan that puts one written exam in each session.
Start harmony early. Harmony builds week by week, so an early start helps.
Use listening time for history. The set works can play in the car and at dinner. Knowing how each piece sounds makes the facts stick.
Find a theory teacher. Some practical teachers do not teach advanced harmony. Ask your child’s teacher who they recommend.
Check the credit rules. In some provinces, these exams count toward high school credits. Read RCM high school credits by province.
Related pages
- RCM Level 8 theory: what the exam covers
- RCM theory requirements by level
- RCM Level 9 piano: what the exam asks for
- RCM Level 10 piano: what the exam asks for
Sources
Checked in November 2026.
- The Royal Conservatory. Theory Syllabus, 2016 Edition.
- The Royal Conservatory. Guide to examinations, Canada.
- The Royal Conservatory. Celebrate Theory: frequently asked questions.
- The Royal Conservatory. Examination dates, Canada.
- The Royal Conservatory. Remote theory exams.
- 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.