National 5 Music
National 5 Music is marked out of 100 after scaling, and half of that comes from performing. The 45-minute listening paper is on Tuesday 11 May 2027, 9:00 to 9:45.
- Question paper09:00 to 09:45
What grade is my mark?
Type a total mark to see the grade it would have got.
How the A and C boundaries have moved
Boundaries as a share of the total marks. A lower line means the papers were judged harder that year. Qualifications Scotland publishes boundaries from 2022 in this format.
| Year | Out of | A | B | C | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 100 | 70 | 60 | 50 | 40 |
| 2025 | 100 | 69 | 59 | 49 | 39 |
| 2024 | 100 | 69 | 59 | 49 | 39 |
| 2023 | 100 | 70 | 59 | 49 | 38 |
| 2022 | 100 | 70 | 58 | 47 | 35 |
Raw and scaled marks
The four components have 130 raw marks, scaled to 100.
| Component | Raw marks | Scaled |
|---|---|---|
| Listening paper | 40 | 35 |
| Composing assignment | 30 | 15 |
| Performance, instrument 1 | 30 | 25 |
| Performance, instrument 2 | 30 | 25 |
So performance is worth half the grade, and the listening paper about a third.
Performance
You play a programme of 8 minutes to 8 minutes 30 seconds. It covers two contrasting instruments, or one instrument and voice. Each must have at least 2 minutes. Pieces should be at Grade 3 standard or above.
Markers look at melodic accuracy and intonation, rhythm, tempo and flow, mood and character, tone, and dynamics. Guitarists playing chords need 12 chords across the programme.
Choose pieces you can play securely at the required standard. Accuracy, flow and tone all carry marks, so a shaky harder piece can cost more than it gains.
Composing assignment
You compose one complete piece lasting from 1 minute to 2 minutes 30 seconds. You also write a review of your decisions, how you developed your ideas, and what worked well.
Plan the harmony and structure before you start. The report warned against templates that fix the instruments, chords or form in advance. It also asked for performance plans that show the harmonic framework, not just DAW screenshots or tablature.
Listening paper
You hear excerpts in different styles and identify the concepts used. Some questions test music literacy, such as writing in missing notes. In 2027 the paper runs 9:00 to 9:45 on Tuesday 11 May.
Feedback from the 2025 markers
Most candidates identified swing, symphony, strathspey and the Scotch snap. Many found these harder:
- recognising 6/8 time
- recognising an Alberti bass
- spotting an anacrusis
- choosing two answers when the question asked for two
In composing, weaker pieces had shapeless melodies, weak chord progressions and parts outside an instrument's range. Familiar instruments and smaller groups tended to score higher.
In performance, some programmes fell short of 8 minutes. Few chordal guitar or ukulele players showed the required 12 chords. Some keyboard players had no left-hand chords, which scored zero.
Using past papers
Listening papers come with audio. Practise with the recordings, not just the question booklet, and read every instruction twice. Use the marking instructions to build a concept list with the exact terms credited.
Revision checklist
Tick topics as you revise. Ticks are saved on this device only.
- Time your full performance programme and check it lasts at least 8 minutes.
- Make sure each instrument or voice has at least 2 minutes in the programme.
- Keyboard players: include left-hand chords in every piece.
- Guitar or ukulele chord players: show 12 different chords across the programme.
- Learn the National 5 concept list and match each term to a listening example.
- Practise identifying 6/8 time, Alberti bass and anacrusis by ear.
- Write notes clearly on lines or spaces when completing music literacy questions.
- Compose for instruments you know and check every part sits in its range.
- Plan your composition's chords and structure before working in a DAW.
- Draft the composing review as you work, noting each main decision.
Quick answers
- How long is the National 5 Music performance?
Between 8 minutes and 8 minutes 30 seconds, with at least 2 minutes on each instrument or voice.
- How much of National 5 Music is performance?
Half. The two instruments are each scaled to 25 marks out of 100.
- When is the National 5 Music exam in 2027?
Tuesday 11 May 2027, 9:00 to 9:45.