Camden School for Girls Music Aptitude Test 2026: What Parents Need to Know About 11+ MAT Admissions
Camden School for Girls offers a limited number of highly competitive specialist music places each year for students moving from Year 6 to Year 7. These places are awarded through the UK 11+ Music Aptitude Test (MAT) process and are designed to identify students with exceptional musical listening skills, natural aural ability, pitch recognition, rhythm accuracy, and overall musical potential—as well as those with strong instrumental or vocal performance skills.
For September 2026 entry, there are 8 music places available, making this a selective and sought-after route into one of London’s top state schools:
🎵 3 places are awarded based on music aptitude only, assessed through a listening-based MAT exam
🎵 5 places are awarded based on a combination of music aptitude and performance ability, including a live audition stage
All applicants will first sit the Music Aptitude Test, a focused aural assessment evaluating core skills such as melody memory, pitch discrimination, rhythm recognition, and musical listening accuracy. The highest-performing candidates will either receive an offer based on their MAT results or be invited to a short audition, where they can demonstrate their instrumental or vocal performance level.
Round 1 - Music Aptitude Listening Test
All music applicants will sit a multiple-choice listening test.
Focus areas: Pitch, Rhythm, Melody, Texture (TheStandard Music Aptitude test. This test format is also used by schools like: Moulsham, Chancellor’s, Dame Alice Owen’s, South West Herts schools, Twyford, Tiffin, Ealing Fields, Ada Lovelace, Herts and Essex, Liverpool College)
Graphic Score Questions
Camden School for Girls also includes graphic score listening questions. In these questions, children must link what they hear to visual symbols, shapes, or diagrams, testing sound–symbol association and musical interpretation.
Extra Support: Graphic Score Preparation
Duration: About 90 minutes
No instruments, no singing, no theory knowledge needed
This test measures natural musical aptitude, not previous training.
What happens next?
The top 3 scorers will be offered a place based on aptitude alone.
The next 50 highest scorers will be invited to Round 2 (performance audition).
A waiting list will be created for aptitude-only candidates, ranked in order of scores.
🎧 Round 2 – Aural & Performance Test
Invitation only (for top scorers from Round 1)
Takes place on a Saturday morning in early October
Involves:
A second short listening test (aural skills)
A short performance on ONE instrument of choice
Step 3 – Performance Audition
The top 50 from the listening test will be invited to perform.
Students perform 1–2 pieces on one or two instruments/voice
Maximum length: 5 minutes
Repertoire: could be self-taught, learned at school, or through lessons
Focus is on musicality, style, and communication, not just technical difficulty
No accompanist is provided, but families may bring their own if they wish.
The top 5 scorers in this stage will be offered the remaining aptitude + ability places. A waiting list will also be created in ranked order.
Results and Offers
Families will be informed by Early October 2026 if they have been successful or invited to audition.
Final results will be confirmed by End of October2026 eAdmissions deadline, so parents can make an informed decision.
On National Offer Day (March 2027), families will be formally notified by their Local Authority if their child has secured a Camden music place.
Quick Overview
Total music places: 8 (3 aptitude only, 5 aptitude + performance)
Stage 1: Listening test (multiple-choice, no prior training needed)
Stage 2: Short performance audition (for top 50 candidates)
Because graphic scores are an important part of the Camden MAT test, we strongly recommend targeted preparation.
👉 Graphic Score Masterclass
Designed specifically to support:Ashmole Academy
St Marylebone CE School
Camden School for Girls
and other schools using graphic score–based aptitude tests.
The Camden process is quite competitive but also very fair, giving equal opportunity to children who may or may not have had formal music training.
Confidently Choose the Right MAT Preparation
Our guide explains which 11+ music aptitude test resources UK are best for your child’s current level, timeline, and learning style — from beginner practice to
structured coaching.
Download our Free 11+ Music Aptitude Test Practice Pack — includes downloadable audio questions, PDF answer sheets, and expert tips for structured 11+ music aptitude test preparation.
Click image to see how the App works!
Want to Help Your Child Prepare?
Our Music Aptitude Maestros App is a perfect companion for independent practice!
♫ Join our 8-Module Digital Course
If you’d like to book our Music Aptitude Mastery Course, which gives your child expert support and structured preparation, click below to learn more!
