Applications are now open for the Bristol Cathedral Choir School Music Aptitude Test for children applying for Year 7 entry in September 2027.
Bristol Cathedral Choir School can allocate up to 15 places through its music specialism criterion. The school’s music application form must be submitted by 9.00 am on Friday 25 September 2026. The initial assessment takes place the following day at Trinity School, Lockleaze.
There is still time to prepare for the assessment. Families can book a specialist one-to-one Music Aptitude Test lesson with Mirna on Zoom.
Confirmed dates for September 2027 entry
- Music application deadline: 9.00 am on Friday 25 September 2026
- Initial Music Aptitude Test: Saturday 26 September 2026
- Test venue: Trinity School, Lockleaze
- Second assessment: October 2026; the school will confirm individual appointments by email
- Common Application Form deadline: 11.59 pm on Saturday 31 October 2026
- National Offer Day: Monday 1 March 2027
Parents can access the application form and current information through the school’s official Music Specialism page.
Submitting the school’s music form does not replace the normal secondary-school application. Parents must also name Bristol Cathedral Choir School on the common application form submitted to their home local authority.
How does the Bristol Music Aptitude Test work?
Bristol Cathedral Choir School uses a two-stage music aptitude assessment.
The school assesses musical aptitude rather than previous achievement. Applicants do not need instrumental grades or formal knowledge of music theory. The school does not consider examination certificates, musical references or supporting letters from teachers.
Round One: recorded listening assessment
The first assessment lasts approximately 45 minutes. Applicants listen to questions of varying difficulty covering:
- pitch;
- melody;
- texture; and
- rhythm.
Children record their responses on a multiple-choice answer paper. They do not need to play an instrument or sing during this stage.
The highest-scoring Round One applicants will be invited to the second assessment.
Round Two: individual aural assessment
Round Two takes place in October and lasts approximately 10–15 minutes. Applicants work individually with the Director of Music Specialism or another trained music professional.
This is not a conventional performance audition. Children are not asked to prepare a chosen instrumental or vocal piece. Instead, they respond to further aural tasks, which may involve rhythms, melodies and notes played on a piano or keyboard.
Parents should read the school’s complete official Music Specialism assessment guide before the test.
Preparing for the two assessment stages
SE22 Piano School has been preparing young musicians for Music Aptitude Tests and secondary-school music assessments for over a decade. Our one-to-one lessons are available on Zoom to families in Bristol and throughout the UK.
The school publishes the assessment structure but does not provide official practice papers. General exercises can help children become familiar with aural tasks, but they cannot identify why an individual child is losing accuracy, hesitating or finding a particular type of listening difficult.
A focused one-to-one lesson allows us to assess the child’s current responses and determine what should receive priority during the remaining preparation time. The lesson is tailored to the applicant rather than following the same generic programme for every child.
If your child is preparing for Bristol Cathedral Choir School, book an individual Music Aptitude Test preparation lesson with Mirna on Zoom.
Our related articles explain more about helping children respond confidently during Music Aptitude Tests, why calm listening matters in Round Two and why texture can be one of the most challenging listening areas.
Who can apply for a music specialism place?
Any child may sit the Music Aptitude Test, including applicants who live outside Bristol Cathedral Choir School’s priority postcode areas.
Applicants are ranked using their combined scores from both assessments. Children who do not progress to Round Two can still be considered under any other applicable admissions criterion.
The school aims to inform parents of the music assessment outcome before the secondary-school application deadline. However, the result is not itself a formal offer of a place. Final offers are made by the applicant’s home local authority on National Offer Day.
Parents should consult the complete Bristol Cathedral Choir School admission arrangements for 2027/28 before making an application.
One-to-one preparation on Zoom
Online preparation allows applicants to work individually with an experienced tutor from their own home. During the lesson, we can evaluate current listening responses, answer questions about the process and help families use the remaining preparation time effectively.
No tutor can guarantee a selective school place. Specialist preparation can, however, help a child understand the assessment, address areas of uncertainty and approach the test with greater confidence.
Very best of luck to all the children preparing for the Bristol Cathedral Choir School Music Aptitude Test. To arrange individual support, book a specialist one-to-one lesson with Mirna on Zoom.
