Practice a College Board-style free response question on Modes & Form. Write your response, then reveal the model answer to see exactly what earns each point.
A melody uses only the white-key pitches, with D as its tonic and final note. The piece consists of two eight-measure phrases: the first ends with a half cadence, and the second — which begins with the same melodic material as the first — ends with a perfect authentic cadence. Use this information to answer the parts below.
A
Identify the mode of this melody. Justify your answer by comparing it to its nearest related major or minor scale and naming the altered scale degree.
✓ Model answer (earns the point)
The mode is Dorian. Using only white keys with D as the tonic produces the pitches D–E–F–G–A–B–C–D. Compared to D natural minor (which would have a B♭), this scale has a raised 6th degree (B natural instead of B♭) — the defining feature of Dorian mode.
Why it scores: Correctly names the mode (Dorian) AND identifies the specific altered degree (raised 6th) relative to natural minor. Just saying "Dorian" without the comparison and altered degree earns only partial credit.
B
Identify the type of period formed by these two phrases (parallel or contrasting) and justify your answer using the melodic material and cadences described.
✓ Model answer (earns the point)
This is a parallel period. The two phrases begin with the same melodic material (the defining feature of a parallel relationship), but they end with different cadences — the first phrase closes with a half cadence (weaker, unresolved), while the second closes with a perfect authentic cadence (stronger, resolved), which is the typical pattern for a parallel period.
Why it scores: Names the period type (parallel) AND justifies it using both the shared opening material and the contrasting cadence strengths. Naming only the cadences without addressing the shared melodic material loses the point.
C
Using letter labels, describe how you would label the two phrases to reflect their relationship, and explain what your labeling notation means.
✓ Model answer (earns the point)
The phrases could be labeled a and a'. The shared letter "a" shows that both phrases share the same opening melodic material, while the prime mark on the second phrase ("a'") signals that it is a varied version of the first — appropriate here since the phrases share material but end differently (half cadence vs. PAC).
Why it scores: Provides the correct labels (a, a') AND explains what the shared letter and prime mark each indicate. Just writing "a a'" without explaining the notation's meaning earns only partial credit.
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.
Compare modes to their nearest relative. Naming the one altered scale degree is stronger evidence than just stating the mode's name.
Justify period type with material AND cadence. Parallel/contrasting depends on shared melodic material, not cadence strength alone.
Explain what your letter labels mean. "a a'" needs a sentence saying what the shared letter and prime mark each indicate.
Be concise and specific. A few precise sentences with correct terminology score higher than long, vague descriptions.