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HOW TO APPLY > ENGLISH AND MUSIC THEORY REQUIREMENTS

English Requirements

Classes in YST and NUS are taught in English. In order to benefit from our programmes and the range of opportunities we offer, students are responsible for ensuring that they are competent in the English language to participate effectively in their studies and be able to communicate independently in English without translation, before enrolling for the programme.

English Requirements (BMus and MMus)

International candidates will be assessed on their English language abilities. The test will be administered either on the same day of audition, or through an online test held separately for overseas candidates who are unable to attend any of the ‘live’ audition venues.

While candidates are not required to present English Language test scores, the expected minimum level of English proficiency as required by NUS is as follows (for reference):

EL1119 C6

IELTS 6.5 overall with 6.5 in Reading and Writing components

MUET 200

TOEFL 92-93 for internet-based / 580 for paper-based

EXEMPTION FROM ENGLISH ASSESSMENT
Candidates whose native language is English, or who meet the following minimum English requirements, may be exempted from the assessment.

‘A’ Levels At least grade “E” for General Paper

‘O’ Levels At least grade “C6” for English

IBDP/IBCP General pass

English Requirements (MMusL)

Applicants whose native tongue or language of undergraduate instruction is not English must complete the TOEFL, IELTS, or Diagnostic English Test (administered by the NUS Centre for English Language Communication) with the minimum acceptable scores of TOEFL score – at least 100 for the internet-based test and a minimum score of 22 for the writing section, or 7.0 for IELTS.

Music Theory Requirements

Music Theory Requirements (BMus, MMus and YAP only)

While prospective applicants are not required to have enrolled in music-focused programmes in high school or attained graded music certifications in order to apply, it is essential for students to have sufficient music theory knowledge in order to manage the academic rigour of the programme.

MUSIC APTITUDE TEST

Candidates will be assessed on basic music theory through a Music Aptitude Test. The test will include fundamental skills such as reading notation in treble and bass clefs, matching rhythms to time signatures, scales and intervals, melodic dictation and identifying the quality of triads in both written and ear training sections.

The test will be administered either on the same day of audition, or through an online test held separately for overseas candidates who are unable to attend any of the ‘live’ audition venues.

Written fundamentals

Staves (reading of single and double staves in treble and bass clefs)
Recognise and identify key signatures for any major or minor key
Write major and minor scales (natural, harmonic and melodic) using necessary accidentals rather than key signatures
Identify and write major and minor (in root position, 1^st and 2^ndinversions) augmented and diminished triads
Write and identify intervals (major, minor, diminished, augmented) through the octave
Rhythm and meter – (simple and compound meters including the grouping of notes and rests within given meter)

Ear training

Identify triad qualities (major, minor, augmented, and diminished)
Identify intervals both melodic and harmonic (major, minor, diminished, augmented) through the perfect octave by ear
Identify if a melody is in major or minor (natural or harmonic)
Melodic dictation of a 4-bar melody (either by letter names or numbers)

Candidates may refer to the following online resources to prepare for the test:

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