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Since some of you’ve asked, here’s the official list of 134 terms you need to know for your ABRSM Grade 5 Music Theory. Mozart is watching you…
ABRSM Grade 5 Music Theory: List of Terms
I should mention that it’s not just terms… there are also a couple of musical symbols that you need to memorise for the ABRSM Grade 5 Music Theory Exam. So, do first check out this comprehensive video guide below. After that, scroll down and check out the terms in the table (with translations).
Once you feel ready, test yourself with this quiz on my online practice site! Just sign up for an account (it’s free) and head to section 6.1 in the Drill Mode!
| A tempo | In time |
| Accelerando (Accel) | Gradually getting faster |
| Ad libitum (Ad lib.) | At choice |
| Adagio | Slow |
| Affettuoso | Tenderly |
| Agitato | Agitated |
| Al, alla | In the style of |
| Alla breve | With a minim beat |
| Allargando | Broadening |
| Allegretto | Fairly quick |
| Allegro | Fast |
| Allegro assai | Very fast |
| Allegro moderato | Moderately fast |
| Amabile | Amiable, pleasant |
| Andante | At a walking pace |
| Andantino | Slightly faster than andante |
| Animato | Animated, lively |
| Animé | Animated, lively |
| Appassionato | With passion |
| Assai | Very |
| Attacca | Go immediately to next section |
| Ben | Well |
| Brio | Vigour |
| Cantabile | In a singing style |
| Cantando | Singing |
| Come | As, similar to |
| Comodo | At a comfortable speed |
| Con, col | With |
| Crescendo (Cresc.) | Gradually getting louder |
| Da capo (D.C.) | Repeat from beginning |
| Dal segno (D.S.) | Repeat from “S” sign |
| Deciso | With determination |
| Decrescendo (Decresc.) | Gradually getting quieter |
| Diminuendo (Dim.) | Gradually getting quieter |
| Dolce | Sweet, soft |
| Dolore | Grief, sorrow |
| Doloroso | Sorrowful |
| Douce | Sweet |
| E, ed | And |
| Energico | Energetic |
| Espressivo (espress.) | Expressive |
| Fine | The end |
| Forte (f) | Loud |
| Fortepiano (fp) | Loud, then immediately soft |
| Fortissimo (ff) | Very Loud |
| Forza | Force |
| Giocoso | Playful, merry |
| Grave | Very slow, solemn |
| Grazioso | Graceful |
| Langsam | Slow |
| Largamente | Broadly |
| Larghetto | Rather slow |
| Largo | Slow and stately |
| Lebhaft | Lively |
| Legato | Smoothly |
| Leggiero | Light, nimble |
| Lent | Slow |
| Lento | Slow |
| Ma | But |
| Maestoso | Majestic |
| Marcato (marc.) | Emphatic, accented |
| Marcia | March |
| Mässig | At a moderate speed |
| Meno | Less |
| Mesto | Sad |
| Mezzo | Half |
| Mezzo forte (mf) | Moderately loud |
| Mezzo piano (mp) | Moderately quiet |
| Misterioso | Mysteriously |
| Moderato | Moderate speed |
| Modéré | At a moderate speed |
| Molto | Very much |
| Morendo | Dying away |
| Mosso | Movement |
| Moto | Movement |
| Niente | Nothing (silence) |
| Non | Not |
| Perdendosi | Dying away |
| Pesante | Heavy |
| Pianissimo (pp) | Very quiet |
| Piano (p) | Quiet |
| Più | More |
| Poco | A little |
| Poco a poco | Little by little |
| Prestissimo | As fast as possible |
| Presto | Fast (faster than allegro) |
| Prima, primo | First |
| Quasi | As if, resembling |
| Rallentando (Rall.) | Gradually getting slower |
| Retenu | Held back |
| Rinforzando (rf, rfz, rinf.) | Reinforcing |
| Risoluto | Bold, strong |
| Ritardando (rit., ritard.) | Gradually getting slower |
| Ritenuto (rit., riten.) | Held back |
| Ritmico | Rhythmically |
| Rubato | With some freedom of time |
| Ruhig | Peaceful |
| Scherzando | Playfully, joking |
| Schnell | Fast |
| Semplice | Simple, plain |
| Sempre | Always |
| Senza | Without |
| Sforzando (sf) | Forced, accented |
| Sforzato (sfz) | Forced, accented |
| Simile (sim.) | In the same way |
| Smorzando (smorz.) | Dying away in tone and speed |
| Sonoro | Resonant, with a rich tone |
| Sostenuto | Sustained |
| Sotto voce | In an undertone |
| Spirito | Spirit |
| Staccato (stacc.) | Detached |
| Stringendo | Gradually getting faster |
| Subito (sub.) | Suddenly |
| Tempo | Speed, time |
| Tenuto | Held |
| Tranquillo | Calm |
| Traurig | Sad |
| Tristamente, Triste | Sorrowful |
| Troppo | Too much |
| Vite | Quick |
| Vivace, vivo | Lively, quick |
A Final Thought
Learning 134 musical terms may feel like a grind at first, but it’s absolutely worth it. This isn’t just about passing an exam—it’s part of becoming a more capable and thoughtful musician. Whether you’re working toward Grade 6 practical, preparing for school exams, or just wanting to perform better, these terms are part of the toolkit you’ll carry with you throughout your musical journey.
If you need any form of guidance, I offer ABRSM Grade 5 Music Theory lessons to help you succeed. Feel free to reach out for more information.
Where to Find Free Grade 5 Music Theory Mock Exams?
Of course, reading about the exam is one thing—putting knowledge into practice is where the real progress happens. That’s why I built an interactive practice tool alongside this guide, specifically for ABRSM Grade 5 Music Theory candidates.
I’ve structured it around two practice modes. Drill Mode is for focused revision—pick a topic, work through questions, and get immediate feedback to see exactly where you stand. Exam Mode simulates the real online exam and gives you a timed mock paper that follows the ABRSM layout closely. To make it easy to start, the free tier unlocks one full practice paper plus unlimited drilling on selected topics—so you can see if it suits your study routine completely free-of-charge.
If you’re the kind of student who learns best by doing, you’ll find the ABRSM Grade 5 Music Theory Interactive Practice Site here.
I update the question bank regularly to keep it aligned with the syllabus, and many of my students have told me it’s the difference between feeling nervous and feeling prepared. However you choose to study, I hope this guide gives you a clear roadmap. I wish you all the best for your exam!
