Practice a College Board-style free response question on Music Fundamentals II. Write your response, then reveal the model answer to see exactly what earns each point.
Free Response Question · Unit 2 · Minor Scales, Keys & Texture
A student is analyzing a short excerpt written in the treble clef. The key signature contains one sharp (F♯) and the passage is in a minor key. In the excerpt, a single melodic line is doubled at the octave with no other accompaniment. Use this information to answer the parts below. (No staff paper is needed — describe each answer in words and note names.)
A
Identify the minor key of the excerpt and name its relative major. Justify how you determined the key from the one-sharp key signature.
✓ Model answer (earns the point)
The excerpt is in E minor, and its relative major is G major. A key signature of one sharp (F♯) belongs to G major; its relative minor lies a minor 3rd below the major tonic (on the 6th scale degree), which is E. Since the passage is minor, the key is E minor — sharing G major's single sharp.
Why it scores: Names the minor key (E minor) and its relative major (G major) AND explains the relationship (relative keys share a signature; minor is a minor 3rd below the major tonic). Answering only "E minor" without the justification earns partial credit.
B
Write the E harmonic minor scale ascending from tonic to tonic, listing all eight pitches with correct accidentals. Identify which scale degree is altered from natural minor and by how much.
✓ Model answer (earns the point)
Ascending, E harmonic minor is E – F♯ – G – A – B – C – D♯ – E. Compared with E natural minor, the 7th degree is raised a half step (D becomes D♯), creating a leading tone. That D♯ is written as an accidental — it is not part of the one-sharp key signature.
Why it scores: Lists all pitches with the correct F♯ (from the signature) and the raised D♯, AND identifies the altered degree (7th, raised a half step). Forgetting to raise the 7th — or adding it to the key signature instead of as an accidental — loses the point.
C
Classify the texture of the excerpt (a single melodic line doubled at the octave with no accompaniment). Justify your answer and contrast it with homophony and polyphony.
✓ Model answer (earns the point)
The texture is monophonic. Even though the line is doubled at the octave, it is still a single melodic idea with no independent parts or accompaniment, so it counts as monophony. This differs from homophony, which would add chordal accompaniment beneath the melody, and from polyphony, which would layer two or more independent melodic lines at once.
Why it scores: Correctly classifies the texture (monophony), justifies it (octave doubling is still one line), AND contrasts it with homophony and polyphony. A common error is calling octave doubling "polyphony" — but doubling is not an independent line.
How to score points on AP Music Theory free response
Answer the exact verb. "Identify" wants a name; "explain" or "justify" wants the name plus the reasoning or rule behind it.
Show your rule, not just your answer. Stating "relative keys share a signature; minor is a minor 3rd below the major tonic" earns credit for your reasoning.
Spell accidentals correctly. In E harmonic minor the raised 7th is D♯ (not E♭) — the right pitch with the wrong spelling can still be marked wrong.
Remember altered degrees are accidentals. The raised 7th of harmonic minor is written in the music, not added to the key signature.
Be concise and specific. A few precise sentences with correct terminology score higher than long, vague descriptions.