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Washington State University
College of Arts and Sciences School of Music

Music Theory Placement Exam

Welcome to the School of Music at Washington State University! In order to help you succeed here, all freshman music majors and minors must take the Music Theory Placement Exam. The Music Theory Placement Exam is a diagnostic exam that will test your proficiency in the fundamentals of music. Students who pass the exam with a grade of 85% or better are permitted to enroll in MUS-251. Students who do not pass the exam with a grade of 85% or better will be required to enroll in MUS-151. Students with AP credit will not be required to take the Music Theory Placement Exam but must take the Advanced Placement Exam. Students without AP credit are not permitted to take the Advanced Placement Exam. Students who achieve an 85% or better on the Advanced Placement Test will have the MUS-251 degree requirement waived.

The Music Theory Placement exam will be taken online using Qualtrics via the links below. In order to access the exams, you will be required to log in with your WSU ID. The Advanced Placement Exam will be administered as an in-person exam. Please contact Dr. Ruth Boden at rboden@wsu.edu to arrange an appointment. Exams can be taken at any time but must be completed by August 21st, 2022 (the Sunday before classes begin). Students are allowed five (5) attempts at each exam and are encouraged to make use of the resources below. Exams are not timed.

Click here to take the Music Theory Placement Exam

What to Expect: The Music Theory Placement Exam will feature questions pertaining to the following fundamental skills:

Practice Exam:
Click on the links below to access a practice exam with problems like those found on the Music Theory Placement Exam.
Music Theory Placement Practice Exam
Music Theory Placement Practice Exam Key

Questions?
Contact Dr. Jacqueline Wilson, Theory Area Coordinator at Jacqueline.Wilson1@wsu.edu