About the Music Placement Tests

All students majoring or minoring in music, or who are interested in taking music theory classes, are required to take a Music Theory Placement Test to determine if they are exempt from taking Fundamentals of Music. There are two placement tests, and students should determine which test is appropriate based on the criteria below.

Placement Test A

Students who have not earned college credit in music theory or earned credit through an AP exam are required to take Placement Test A. 

Placement Test B

Students who have earned college credit for music theory are required to take Placement Test B. To take this test, contact Professor Matthew Arndt (matthew-arndt@uiowa.edu). 

What material does the Music Placement Test A cover?

Placement Test A consists of 35 multiple-choice questions that cover fundamentals of pitch notation, scales, intervals, key signatures, triads, time signatures, and rhythm and meter. 

When to take the Music Placement Test

Students must complete the placement test at least one week prior to their Student Online Advising and Registration date. International students in F-1 or J-1 status enrolling for fall should complete any required placement tests by the end of May or as soon as possible thereafter. Students requesting a waiver for duplication or regression must take the test prior to the first day of the semester for which the waiver is being requested.

How to take the Music Placement Test A

• Students have 90 minutes to complete Placement Test A, and can take the test up to two times. The highest score will be recorded. Students ​should not use books, notes, musical instruments, or any other materials or resources while taking the test. A score of 70% or higher on the placement test must be achieved to be exempt from taking Fundamentals of Music.
   
• Suggested materials to review before taking Placement Test A include:
  • Open Music Theory (online resource), Fundamentals section (online resource)
  • Elements of Music by Joseph Straus, Chapters 1–5
  •  Tonal Harmony by Stefan Kostka and Dorothy Payne, Chapters 1–4
  • The Musician's Guide to Theory and Analysis by Jane Piper Clendinning and Elizabeth West Marvin, Chapters 1–7

Accommodations

For accommodations on placement tests, students first need to register with Student Disability Services (SDS). For information on how to register with SDS, please visit Student Disability Services. Once students are registered with SDS, complete the following steps to request accommodations for placement tests:

1. Enroll in the placement test on ICON.

2. Share with your SDS Access Consultant which placement test(s) you are enrolled in and requested accommodations.

3. SDS will confirm when accommodations have been enabled (within 24-48 hours).

4. Take the placement test.

Self Enroll and Begin Music Placement Test A.

Login with your University of Iowa HawkID and Password. 

If you have technical difficulties, contact the ITS Help Desk at 319-384-4357 or Help Desk Online Chat.

If you have questions about your placement, contact the Academic Advising Center at advising-center@uiowa.edu.