Grade 1 Readiness Assessment

Prerequisite: Complete all four phase checkpoints before taking this assessment.

This is the comprehensive final assessment for the Acoustic Guitar Journey Beginner Course. It mirrors the structure of a Trinity Rock & Pop Grade 1 or RockSchool Grade 1 guitar examination: scales, chords, rhythm, theory knowledge, ear skills, and performance. Every item tests skills you have practised across 24 sessions.

How to take this assessment:

1. Set aside 45–60 minutes of uninterrupted time.
2. Have your guitar tuned, a pick ready, and a metronome set.
3. Record the entire session on your phone — audio is fine, video is better.
4. Work through each section in order.
5. After finishing, listen to the recording and score yourself honestly using the rubrics provided.

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Section 1 — Scales (15 points)

Test 1A: C Major Scale (8 points)

Play the C major scale (one octave, open position) ascending and descending at 60 BPM in eighth notes (two notes per beat). Use alternate picking throughout.

Criteria	Points	How to Score
All notes correct (C-D-E-F-G-A-B-C and back)	3	3 = all correct, 2 = one wrong note, 1 = two wrong notes, 0 = three or more
Even rhythm (no rushing, no hesitation)	3	3 = perfectly steady, 2 = one hesitation, 1 = uneven throughout, 0 = cannot maintain tempo
Clean tone (no buzzing, muted notes, or string noise)	2	2 = all notes clean, 1 = occasional buzz, 0 = frequent buzzing

Your score: _____ / 8

If below 5: Review Session 14 (C major scale) and Session 23 (exam tempo practice). Practise the scale 5 times daily at 55 BPM before increasing.

Test 1B: Am Pentatonic Scale (7 points)

Play the Am pentatonic scale (Box 1) ascending and descending at 60 BPM in eighth notes. Use alternate picking.

Criteria	Points	How to Score
All notes correct across all six strings	3	3 = all correct, 2 = one wrong note, 1 = two wrong notes, 0 = three or more
Even rhythm	2	2 = steady throughout, 1 = one hesitation, 0 = uneven
Clean string crossings (no gaps between strings)	2	2 = smooth crossings, 1 = slight gaps, 0 = obvious pauses at string changes

Your score: _____ / 7

If below 4: Review Session 16 (Am pentatonic) and Session 23. Focus on string crossings — practise two adjacent strings at a time.

Section 1 Total: _____ / 15

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Section 2 — Chords (20 points)

Test 2A: Chord Accuracy (10 points)

Play each of the following chords. Strum once and let it ring. Every required string must sound clearly — no buzzing, no muted strings.

Chord	Strings to Strum	Pass (1 pt)	Fail (0 pts)
Em	All 6	All strings ring clearly	Any string buzzes or is muted
Am	Strings 5–1	All 5 strings ring clearly	Any string buzzes or is muted
E major	All 6	All strings ring clearly	Any string buzzes or is muted
D major	Strings 4–1	All 4 strings ring clearly	Any string buzzes or is muted
A major	Strings 5–1	All 5 strings ring clearly	Any string buzzes or is muted
G major	All 6	All strings ring clearly	Any string buzzes or is muted
C major	Strings 5–1	All 5 strings ring clearly	Any string buzzes or is muted
F (simplified)	Strings 4–1	All 4 strings ring clearly	Any string buzzes or is muted
E5 power chord	Strings 6–5	Tight, clean sound	Strings rattle or extra strings ring
A5 power chord	Strings 5–4	Tight, clean sound	Strings rattle or extra strings ring

Your score: _____ / 10

For any chord that fails: return to the session where it was introduced and drill it. See Chord Chart for fingering diagrams.

Test 2B: Chord Transitions (10 points)

Set your metronome to 70 BPM. Play each chord pair below, switching every 2 beats (on beat 1 and beat 3). Play 4 complete cycles of each pair. Score based on whether transitions are clean (no gap in sound, both chords ring).

Transition	Points	How to Score
Em to Am	2	2 = all 4 transitions clean, 1 = 1–2 rough transitions, 0 = most transitions fail
G to D	2	Same scoring
C to G	2	Same scoring
A to D to E (3-chord cycle)	2	2 = smooth cycle, 1 = one transition rough, 0 = multiple failures
G to Em to C to D (4-chord cycle)	2	2 = smooth cycle, 1 = one transition rough, 0 = multiple failures

Your score: _____ / 10

If below 6: Chord transitions need daily practice. Review Chord Transitions. Practise your weakest transition 20 times at 50 BPM before increasing.

Section 2 Total: _____ / 20

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Section 3 — Strumming and Rhythm (15 points)

Test 3A: Strumming Patterns (9 points)

Play each pattern on a chord of your choice for 8 measures at the indicated tempo.

Pattern	Tempo	Points	How to Score
Basic downstrokes (4/4)	80 BPM	2	2 = rock steady for 8 bars, 1 = slight drift, 0 = cannot maintain
D/U (down-up, eighth notes)	75 BPM	2	Same scoring
D D U U D U	75 BPM	3	3 = automatic and groovy, 2 = correct but stiff, 1 = pattern breaks, 0 = cannot play
Waltz (D d d in 3/4 time)	70 BPM	2	2 = clear strong-weak-weak feel, 1 = all beats same volume, 0 = cannot maintain 3/4

Your score: _____ / 9

Test 3B: Advanced Rhythm Skills (6 points)

Skill	Points	How to Score
Syncopated strumming with muted strums at 70 BPM (4 measures)	3	3 = crisp mutes, clear accents, groove, 2 = pattern correct but mutes weak, 1 = pattern inconsistent, 0 = cannot play
Palm-muted power chord eighth notes at 70 BPM (4 measures)	3	3 = tight, even, controlled, 2 = mostly even, 1 = inconsistent muting, 0 = cannot maintain

Your score: _____ / 6

Section 3 Total: _____ / 15

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Section 4 — Theory and Knowledge (15 points)

Answer each question. Write your answer, then check against the answers at the bottom of this section.

1. Name the six guitar strings from lowest (thickest) to highest (thinnest).
2. What fret and string produces the note F on the first string?
3. In 4/4 time, how many beats are in one measure?
4. In 3/4 time, how many beats are in one measure?
5. What three chords make up a 12-bar blues in the key of A?
6. Name the notes of the C major scale in order.
7. What does “p-i-m-a” stand for in fingerpicking?
8. What is the difference between a hammer-on and a pull-off?
9. In TAB, what does “0” mean?
10. What is the difference in sound between a major chord and a minor chord?
11. How many frets apart is the root from the fifth in a power chord shape?
12. What does “PM” mean in guitar TAB or notation?
13. Name two songs from this course that use power chords.
14. What is alternate picking?
15. In the Am pentatonic scale (Box 1), name any three of the five notes.

Score: 1 point per correct answer. _____ / 15

Answers:

1. E A D G B E (low to high)
2. Fret 1, string 1
3. Four beats
4. Three beats
5. A, D, and E
6. C, D, E, F, G, A, B (then C again)
7. Pulgar (thumb), indice (index), medio (middle), anular (ring) — the Spanish names for the right-hand fingers
8. A hammer-on strikes a higher fret without picking; a pull-off lifts off to a lower fret, plucking the string as it releases
9. Play the string open (no fret pressed)
10. Major sounds bright/happy; minor sounds dark/sad
11. Two frets (e.g., fret 1 and fret 3 for F5)
12. Palm muting
13. Any two of: “Iron Man,” “Paranoid,” “Smells Like Teen Spirit” (also acceptable: “N.I.B.” riff if using power chord position)
14. Alternating between downstrokes and upstrokes when picking single notes
15. Any three of: A, C, D, E, G

If below 10: Review handouts/music-theory/ for theory concepts. Review specific sessions for practical knowledge.

Section 4 Total: _____ / 15

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Section 5 — Ear Skills (10 points)

These tests require you to play something, close your eyes, and listen.

Test 5A: Major vs Minor Recognition (4 points)

Without looking at your fretting hand, play each chord below and say “major” or “minor” before checking. Have someone else strum if possible, or strum with your eyes closed.

Chord	Your Answer	Correct Answer	Point
Am	_____	Minor	_____
G major	_____	Major	_____
Em	_____	Minor	_____
E major	_____	Major	_____

Your score: _____ / 4

Test 5B: Rhythm Recognition (3 points)

Tap these rhythms on a table, then try to reproduce them from memory after a 5-second pause.

Rhythm	Description	Points
Four even beats: TAP TAP TAP TAP	Quarter notes in 4/4	1 = reproduced, 0 = not
TAP-tap TAP-tap TAP-tap (strong-weak pattern)	3/4 waltz	1 = reproduced, 0 = not
TAP rest TAP TAP rest TAP	Syncopated	1 = reproduced, 0 = not

Your score: _____ / 3

Test 5C: Echo Test (3 points)

Play the following short phrase once. Wait 5 seconds. Then play it back from memory without looking at the TAB.

Phrase 1:

e|---0---3---0---|
     1   2   3

Phrase 2:

B|---0---1---3---|
     1   2   3

Phrase 3:

e|---3---1---0---|
B|           1---|
     1   2   3  4

Phrase	Points	How to Score
Phrase 1	1	1 = correct, 0 = wrong
Phrase 2	1	1 = correct, 0 = wrong
Phrase 3	1	1 = correct, 0 = wrong

Your score: _____ / 3

If below 6: Ear skills develop with practice. Play major/minor chord pairs daily. Practise echo phrases with a friend or by recording and playing back. Review Session 23, ear skills section.

Section 5 Total: _____ / 10

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Section 6 — Performance (25 points)

This is the most important section. Perform three pieces from your course repertoire. Choose pieces that demonstrate different skills.

Recommended selections (choose three):

Piece	Skills Demonstrated
”Smells Like Teen Spirit” (Session 20)	Moveable power chords, dynamics, muted strums
”Ae Meri Zohra Jabeen” melody + chords (Session 21)	Expressive melody, slides, chord accompaniment
”Fear of the Dark” intro (Session 15)	Fingerpicking, arpeggios, chord changes
”About a Girl” (Session 10)	Open chord strumming, steady rhythm
”Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” (Session 10)	Three-chord progression, gentle strumming
”Wasted Years” arrangement (Session 19)	Melody + chord combination
”Iron Man” riff + “Paranoid” riff (Sessions 9, 13)	Power chords, palm muting
12-bar blues with improvised solo (Sessions 8, 22)	Blues structure, pentatonic improvisation

Performance rules:

• Play from memory (no TAB in front of you)
• Do not stop if you make a mistake — keep playing
• Pause between pieces: tune check, breath, count-in

Scoring Each Piece (up to 8 points each, plus 1 bonus)

Criteria	Points	How to Score
Notes/chords accuracy	2	2 = mostly correct, 1 = several errors, 0 = many errors
Rhythm and tempo	2	2 = steady throughout, 1 = some rushing/dragging, 0 = cannot maintain tempo
Tone quality	2	2 = clean and clear, 1 = occasional buzz/mute, 0 = frequent issues
Musical expression (dynamics, phrasing)	2	2 = clear musical intent, 1 = flat but correct, 0 = mechanical

Piece 1: __________________ Score: _____ / 8 Piece 2: __________________ Score: _____ / 8 Piece 3: __________________ Score: _____ / 8

Bonus point: Did your three pieces demonstrate at least three different techniques (e.g., strumming, fingerpicking, power chords, melody, improvisation)? Yes = 1, No = 0. _____ / 1

Section 6 Total: _____ / 25

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Final Score

Section	Your Score	Maximum
1. Scales	_____	15
2. Chords	_____	20
3. Strumming and Rhythm	_____	15
4. Theory and Knowledge	_____	15
5. Ear Skills	_____	10
6. Performance	_____	25
Total	_____	100

Grade Boundaries

Score	Grade	What It Means
85–100	Distinction	Outstanding. You exceed Grade 1 requirements. Consider registering for the exam.
70–84	Merit	Strong performance. You are ready for a Grade 1 exam with some targeted practice on weaker areas.
55–69	Pass	You meet the basic requirements. Spend 2–3 weeks strengthening your “Needs Work” areas before attempting a grade exam.
40–54	Working Toward	You have solid foundations but some areas need more development. Review the sections where you scored below 50% and revisit those sessions.
Below 40	Keep Practising	You need more time with the course material. Go back to the phase checkpoints, identify your weakest phase, and work through those sessions again. There is no rush.

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After the Assessment

If you scored Pass or above:

• Congratulations. You have the skills for Grade 1 guitar.
• See Whats Next for your options: grade exam registration, intermediate course, continued repertoire building.

If you scored Working Toward or below:

• This is not a failure. It is information. You now know exactly what to practise.
• Go back to the phase checkpoint for the sections where you scored lowest. The specific remediation suggestions will guide you.
• Take the assessment again in 2–4 weeks. You will see improvement.

Regardless of your score:

• You started this course unable to play a single note. You now play chords, scales, melodies, riffs, fingerpicked arpeggios, and improvised solos across rock, metal, folk, and Hindi film music.
• A number on a page does not define your musicianship. Your ability to sit down with a guitar and make music — that defines it.
• Keep playing.