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AQA A-Level Music (7272): complete guide to appraising, performance and composition

A complete guide to AQA A-Level Music (specification 7272). Covers the six areas of study and the compulsory Western classical tradition, the elements and theory you must analyse, the performance and composition non-exam assessment, how the components are weighted, and how to study each one for top grades.

Browse guides →Syllabus dot points (26)

AQA A-Level Music (specification 7272) is a two-year linear course assessed by one written and listening exam plus two non-exam assessment components. The appraising exam is worth 40 percent, performance 35 percent and composition 25 percent. This page is the index: below is a map of the six areas of study, the musical elements you must analyse, the two practical components, and how to study each one.

The four study modules on this site

We group the qualification into four study modules so you can revise component by component.

Appraising: the areas of study
The listening and analysis content for Component 1. Area of Study 1, the Western classical tradition 1650 to 1910, is compulsory; you then choose two from pop music, music for media, music for theatre, jazz and contemporary traditional music.
Musical elements and theory
The toolkit that underpins every appraising answer: harmony and tonality, melody and motif, rhythm metre and tempo, texture and structure, sonority and instrumentation, and reading and analysing scores.
Performance
The skills behind Component 2: solo and ensemble performance, interpretation and expression, and preparing a performance programme of at least 10 minutes.
Composition
The skills behind Component 3: composing to a brief, free composition, harmonic and contrapuntal techniques, and orchestration and arrangement.

The six areas of study

The appraising exam is built on six areas of study. One is compulsory and you choose two more.

Area of Study 1 (compulsory): the Western classical tradition 1650 to 1910
Baroque, Classical and Romantic music, including named set works and the development of tonal harmony, form and the orchestra.
Area of Study 2: pop music
Named artists and the conventions of popular song, including verse-chorus structure, riffs, hooks and production.
Area of Study 3: music for media
Film, television and video-game music, including leitmotif, mood and synchronisation with action.
Area of Study 4: music for theatre
Musical theatre and the work of named composers, including how music conveys character and drama.
Area of Study 5: jazz
Styles from early jazz to bebop and beyond, including improvisation, swing and the role of named performers.
Area of Study 6: contemporary traditional music
Folk and world traditions, including the conventions of named styles and the use of traditional instruments.

Component structure

AQA A-Level Music is assessed by one exam and two non-exam assessment components.

  • Component 1, Appraising music - listening and written exam. 2 hours 30 minutes, 120 marks, 40%. Section A is listening and analysis; Section B is two essays (one on the Western classical tradition, one on a chosen area).
  • Component 2, Performance - non-exam assessment. A recital of at least 10 minutes of solo and or ensemble performance, 35%, marked for accuracy and interpretation and moderated by AQA.
  • Component 3, Composition - non-exam assessment. Two compositions totalling at least 4 and a half minutes, one to an AQA brief targeting the Western classical tradition and one free or to a further brief, 25%.

How to study AQA Music

Music rewards precise listening vocabulary, secure knowledge of repertoire, and disciplined practice on the practical components.

  1. Master the musical elements. Every appraising question rewards accurate use of melody, harmony, tonality, texture, structure, rhythm, metre, tempo, dynamics, articulation and instrumentation.
  2. Learn the set works and named repertoire in depth. Know the features that define each area of study so you can recognise them in unfamiliar extracts.
  3. Practise analysing unfamiliar extracts against the clock. Section A uses extracts and scores; train your aural skills and score-reading.
  4. Rehearse essay structure. Section B essays reward a clear argument supported by specific musical detail and comparison.
  5. Log practice and draft early. For performance, build a programme and rehearse regularly; for composition, draft early and refine with feedback.

Browse the modules

Each module has dot-point answer pages with worked exam questions, an overview guide and a quiz. Start with the appraising areas of study or browse the full set at /a-level-aqa/music/syllabus.

For the official specification

AQA publishes the full specification (7272), past papers, mark schemes and the set-work list at aqa.org.uk. Always revise from the current specification and AQA's own past papers, because set works, named artists and question style are board-specific.

Music guides

In-depth written guides with paired practice quizzes.

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Music practice quizzes

Multiple-choice drills with worked answer explanations. Your scores stay on this device.

The A-LEVEL-AQA system, explained

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Common questions about Music

How is AQA A-Level Music (7272) structured?
AQA A-Level Music is a two-year linear course with three components. Component 1, Appraising music, is a written and listening exam worth 40 percent. Component 2, Performance, is non-exam assessment worth 35 percent. Component 3, Composition, is non-exam assessment worth 25 percent. The performance and composition components are marked by your teacher and moderated by AQA. There is no separate AS retained for the A-level grade; the qualification is assessed at the end of Year 13.
What are the six areas of study in AQA A-Level Music?
There are six areas of study for the appraising exam: Area of Study 1, the Western classical tradition 1650 to 1910, which is compulsory for every student; and five optional areas of which you choose two. The five options are pop music, music for media, music for theatre, jazz, and contemporary traditional music. Each area has set works or named artists and genres that you study in depth, and the exam tests your ability to analyse unfamiliar extracts in those styles.
How is the Component 1 appraising exam structured?
Component 1 is a listening and written exam lasting 2 hours 30 minutes, worth 120 marks and 40 percent of the A-level. Section A contains listening and analysis questions on the areas of study you have studied, including short-answer questions and questions that use a score or extract. Section B contains extended essay questions: one essay on the compulsory Western classical tradition and one essay on an area of study of your choice. You need precise knowledge of musical elements and the named repertoire.
What do the performance and composition components require?
Component 2, Performance, requires a recital of at least 10 minutes of solo and or ensemble performance on any instrument or voice, marked for accuracy, expression and interpretation. Component 3, Composition, requires two compositions of at least 4 and a half minutes in total: one composition is to a brief set by AQA that targets the Western classical tradition, and the other is a free composition or a second composition to a brief. Both components are recorded and submitted as non-exam assessment.
How should I structure my AQA A-Level Music revision?
Build secure knowledge of the musical elements (often remembered as MAD T-SHIRT: melody, articulation, dynamics, tonality, texture, structure, harmony, instrumentation, rhythm and tempo) because every appraising question rewards precise element vocabulary. Learn the set works and named repertoire bar by bar, practise analysing unfamiliar extracts against the clock, and rehearse essay structure. For the non-exam components, log regular performance practice and draft compositions early so you can refine them with feedback.
How does AQA A-Level Music compare to other exam boards?
All A-Level Music specifications (AQA, Eduqas, OCR) share regulated content: an appraising or listening exam, a performance component and a composition component, with broadly similar weightings. AQA's distinctive features are the six areas of study with the compulsory Western classical tradition 1650 to 1910 and a free choice of two further areas, and a composition brief that targets the Western classical tradition. Always revise from the current AQA specification and AQA past papers, because set works, named artists and question style are board-specific.