One App for your 11+ Music Aptitude Test (MAT) Preparation
Welcome to Music Aptitude Maestros developed by Ashbea Music LTD. Train your child’s ears to ace the FIRST STAGE of the 11+ MAT test with this app.
Watch the Music Maestros App in Action
Trusted by families across the UK preparing for all Hertfordshire schools, Ashmole Academy, Dame Alice Owen's, Tiffin, Wilson’s, St Marylebone CE School, Twyford, Camden School for Girls, Herts and Essex, The Coopers’ Company and Coborn, Bristol Cathedral School and many more!
Train your child’s ears to ace the 11+ MAT test with Music Aptitude Maestros App
Key features available on this fun and affordable app:
Unlimited random tests: Challenge your child with endless test variations, keeping them engaged and learning!
Practice anytime, anywhere: Access 1000+ randomly-generated questions on the go, fitting seamlessly into your busy schedule.
Training mode with combos: Explore different question types with a focused learning approach.
11+ MAT prep tips: Gain valuable insights to help your child excel in the Music Aptitude Test.
Streak mode: Game-like quizzes: Make learning fun and engaging with a scoring system that motivates kids.
Save vs. expensive lessons: Get effective ear training practice for a fraction of the cost of weekly 1-on-1 sessions. Save over £100 per month.
Results view are NOT included with the 3-day trial
Trusted by families across the UK
This app is supporting hundreds of families across the UK, helping children aiming for top secondary schools like — all Hertfordshire schools, Ashmole Academy, Dame Alice Owen's, Tiffin, Wilson’s, St Marylebone CE School, Twyford, Camden School for Girls, Herts and Essex, The Coopers’ Company and Coborn, Bristol Cathedral School and many others!
Everything you need in one app to help your child ace the 11+ Music Aptitude Test!
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Get Started with Free Trial
Try it Free for 3 Days! Then, subscribe for continued access.
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Save 20% on Annual Subcription
£16 per month, charged annually.
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Monthly Subscription
£19.99 per month.
🌟 Our Journey: From a Spark of Inspiration to a Thriving App
Every groundbreaking idea starts with a moment of inspiration. For us, it was the encouragement of parents and teachers who recognised a real need: a tool to help children prepare more effectively for the 11+ Music Aptitude Test. They planted the seed that would eventually grow into Music Aptitude Maestros — the only UK app that covers all four areas of the standard stage 1 Music Aptitude Test.
🚀 The Inception
The idea for Music Aptitude Maestros began over five years ago, when parents of students preparing for the test suggested creating an app to make preparation more efficient and accessible. Their encouragement, alongside the support of Ivelina, Director of the Dotted Note School of Music, gave us the motivation to embark on this journey.
At first, we explored and tested various platforms. We even built a brand-new website, ready to host the training materials and mock tests. But during testing, it became clear that the website wasn't fast enough — especially when it came to audio loading speeds. We knew that children aged 9–10, growing up in an instant era, wouldn’t have the patience to wait for sounds to buffer! (Haha, we completely understood — attention spans are shorter when you're used to instant everything!)
This important realisation pushed us to rethink the delivery completely and invest the time and effort into developing a proper, fast, and responsive app.
🛠️ Building the Dream
Building Music Aptitude Maestros was a true labour of love — and a real team effort. With Ashley’s background in audio engineering and deep knowledge of a variety of professional audio software, we were able to mirror the sounds of the real test as closely as possible.
We spent hours carefully crafting and optimising every audio file, ensuring that the listening experience would feel authentic, seamless, and professional — just like the actual exam.
Alongside the sound engineering, we focused heavily on user experience. We wanted the app to not only simulate the real test but also keep children motivated, confident, and engaged throughout their preparation.
🌐 Launching to the World
In July of last year (2024), Music Aptitude Maestros officially launched! Within months, it began supporting hundreds of families across the UK, helping children aiming for top grammar schools like all Hertfordshire schools, Ashmole Academy, Dame Alice Owen's, Tiffin, WIlsons, Marylebone, Twyford, Camden School for Girls, Herts and Essex, The Coopers’ Company and Coborn, Bristol Cathedral School and many others.
🤝 Our Community
Hearing from families who used the app has been incredibly rewarding. Many parents have shared that Music Aptitude Maestros not only matched the format of the real MAT exam but that it made a real difference — helping their children succeed and secure places at their dream schools!
Some called it a "lifesaver" during a very competitive and often stressful preparation period.
We are proud to be part of their success stories and grateful to all the families who continue to recommend us.
See what parents are saying about our app!
🔮 Looking Ahead
At Music Aptitude Maestros, our mission remains clear: to make Music Aptitude Test preparation accessible, effective, and enjoyable for every child aiming high.
We’re excited about the future — we’re already working on new features and updates to make the app even better. Thank you for being part of our journey so far!
Music Aptitude Test Preparation
Each year, we prepare and coach many students in the United Kingdom through the State Secondary Music Scholarship process. The MAT test is part of the selection criteria for most UK schools and students applying under the Music Criterion will complete 2 stages - provided that they were successful in the first one.
Many clients and students come to us with a lot of questions and uncertainties regarding the process as most of them are unfamiliar with this type of training. It is a very different style of training compared to traditional music training as it uses a test called the Music Aptitude Test (MAT).
This test usually consists of 2 stages. Both stages of this test assess the innate musicality, general music awareness and perception of rhythm. So let’s talk about all the essential details that you should consider when applying for this type of music scholarship.
Music Aptitude Test Stage 1:
Stage one is a type of hearing or listening test where students are required to write down their answers. This test contains 60 multiple choice questions and is often split into four different sections. However, some schools may include a couple of extra sections where graphic scores are being used to determine volume and tempo changes as well style of music.
Each student will need to use their ears to discern small changes in pitch, rhythm and texture (the ability to hear multiple notes at the same time). This test is usually in the main hall of the test centre and takes around 45 minutes.
Here is a brief description of the 4 main sections that are frequently used across State Grammar schools :
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In this part, two notes will be played, one after the other. The student must determine whether the notes were the same both times, or if the second note was higher or lower than the first. There are twenty of these questions and some of the pitches are less than a semitone apart (which are called microtones) - tiny steps which can be difficult to identify as the change in pitch is very subtle.
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In this section, 2, 3 or 4 notes will be played at the same time; this is called a chord. The student must be able to recognise how many notes were played. There are twenty questions in this section.
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In this part, a melodic sequence of 5 notes will be played. Then the 5 notes are played a second time, either exactly the same as before or with a change to one of the notes. The student has to determine whether the melody was the same both times, or if it changed, which one of the 5 notes changed the second time. There are ten questions in this section.
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A short rhythm of 4 beats (pulses) will be played. Then the rhythm is played again, either exactly the same or with a change in one of the beats. The student has to determine whether the rhythm was the same both times, or if it changed, which one of the 4 beats was different. There are ten questions in this section.
As mentioned before, some state schools may include a couple of additional sections in the Stage 1 test, which are not listed here.
All successful and unsuccessful applicants who attend Stage 1 of the music test will know their results within a week and if successful, they will be invited to Stage 2 of the Music Aptitude Test.
Music Aptitude Test Stage 2:
(also called the “Performance Stage” )
The Second Stage of the assessment process is conducted by experienced examiners who will assess each student’s musical aptitude. Most examiners will be assessing accuracy (maximum 15 marks), musicality (maximum 15 marks) and musical communication (maximum 15 marks), awarding a total score out of 45. Most schools with the second stage process do not require any familiarity with music theory or other previous musical knowledge.
Each student will be asked to prepare one piece of their own choice on a chosen instrument, which includes singing. The piece usually should last no longer than three minutes. Some schools may ask you to prepare a couple of songs, which would increase the total performance time. The Stage 2 performance is usually conducted during the school day.
Please note that this test structure does NOT apply to Private School Scholarship. You will need to check their terms and requirements, as they may be very different to this Music Aptitude Test.
Frequently Asked Questions about 11+ Music Aptitude Test (MAT)
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There's no strict requirement, but some schools recommend starting preparation in Year 5. Ultimately, it depends on your child's musical experience and comfort level.
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Students might hear musical excerpts, rhythmic patterns, isolated notes or multiple notes played at the same time (which is called texture in this exam).
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Registration: This usually opens in Spring (April/May). Parents can register their children for the test through the specific school or consortium conducting it.
Testing: The first round of tests happens either in late Spring/early Summer (May/June) and most schools will conduct their first stage in the first week of September.
Results: Parents are notified of the first-round scores either in Summer (June/July) or September, depending on which month they sat their exams.
Second Round (if applicable): Some schools may have a second round of assessments in Autumn (September/October). This might involve a practical performance or a deeper dive into aural skills.
Note: These are general timelines, and the exact dates can vary depending on the school or consortium. It's important to check the admissions website of the schools you're interested in for specific deadlines and testing schedules.
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While it can be helpful, music reading is not essential for the 11+ Music Aptitude Test. Entry to the test does not require any instrumental or music theory grades. Requirements may differ based on area and type of grammar school.
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Marking criteria can vary, but generally, they assess accuracy, musicality, and the ability to communicate musical ideas.
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You will be informed via email about the total mark for the stage 2 performance test. You will be advised whether the mark was sufficient enough for the chosen grammar schools.
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Each school might have slightly different test formats or expectations. It's best to check their admissions website or contact them directly for specific details.