Terms & SignsGrades 1–5ABRSMTrinityAMEBRCM
The Complete ABRSM Grade 1 to 5 Italian Terms Cheat Sheet
9 min readUpdated 2026-11-06UK RQF Levels 1 & 2 (Grades 1-5)
Direct Answer Summary (Key Takeaway)
ABRSM music theory exams test Italian musical terms across four key categories: Tempo (speed), Dynamics (volume), Expression (mood), and Directions (navigation). Grouping terms by category and learning common Italian root prefixes (such as "-etto" meaning a little, and "-issimo" meaning very) lets you decode over 80% of required terms without rote memorisation.
Key Fact Sheet
Term FamiliesTempo, Dynamics, Expression, Directions
Key Suffix: -issimoMeans "very" (e.g. Fortissimo = very loud, Prestissimo = very fast)
Key Suffix: -etto / -inoMeans "a little" (e.g. Allegretto = a little lively, less fast than Allegro)
Key Modifier: pocoA little (poco a poco = little by little)
Key Modifier: moltoMuch / very
Grade 5 LanguagesItalian + French and German terms
In This Guide
The 4 Families of Musical Terms (Tempo, Dynamics, Mood, Modifiers)
Instead of trying to memorize 100 isolated vocabulary words, categorize every term into one of four musical families:
1. Tempo Terms: Describe how fast or slow the music flows.
2. Dynamic Terms: Describe volume and changes in loudness.
3. Mood & Articulation: Describe character, emotional feeling, and touch.
4. Navigational Directions: Tell the performer where to repeat, pause, or leap.
The Cumulative Grade 1 to 5 Term Glossary
The ABRSM syllabus is cumulative: Grade 5 tests terms from all preceding grades plus new French and German additions.
| Grade | Term | Category | English Meaning | Memory Trick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 1 | Allegro | Tempo | Fast, quick and lively | Lively like an "allegator" running fast |
| Grade 1 | Andante | Tempo | At a walking pace | "Andare" is to walk in Italian |
| Grade 1 | Adagio | Tempo | Slow | Adagio sounds gentle and graceful |
| Grade 1 | Moderato | Tempo | At a moderate speed | Moderate speed |
| Grade 1 | Forte (f) | Dynamics | Loud | Strong like a military fort |
| Grade 1 | Piano (p) | Dynamics | Quiet / soft | Soft quiet touch |
| Grade 1 | Crescendo | Dynamics | Gradually getting louder | Crest of a wave rising higher |
| Grade 1 | Diminuendo | Dynamics | Gradually getting quieter | Diminishing down to a whisper |
| Grade 2 | Lento | Tempo | Slow | Slow like a sloth leaning back |
| Grade 2 | Largo | Tempo | Slow and stately (broad) | Large, broad, grand steps |
| Grade 2 | Vivace | Tempo | Lively and fast | Vivid, full of life! |
| Grade 2 | Presto | Tempo | Very fast | Quick like a magician saying "Presto!" |
| Grade 2 | Rallentando (rall.) | Tempo | Gradually slowing down | Slow down the rhythm |
| Grade 2 | Accelerando (accel.) | Tempo | Gradually accelerating | Step on the accelerator pedal |
| Grade 3 | Cantabile | Mood | In a singing style | Cantabile = sing like a cantor |
| Grade 3 | Agitato | Mood | Agitated, excited | Agitated shaking |
| Grade 3 | Con moto | Mood | With movement | Motor running, keep moving |
| Grade 3 | Marcato | Articulation | Marked, accented | Mark each note clearly |
| Grade 3 | Subito | Modifier | Suddenly | Suddenly like sub-zero surprise |
| Grade 4 | Affettuoso | Mood | Tenderly, with affection | Affectionate and tender |
| Grade 4 | Assai | Modifier | Very / enough | Allegro assai = very fast |
| Grade 4 | Calando | Dynamics | Getting quieter and slower | Calming down to sleep |
| Grade 4 | Giocoso | Mood | Playful, merry | Joking, playful like a game |
| Grade 4 | Pesante | Mood | Heavy | Heavy peasant boots stomping |
| Grade 5 | Attacca | Direction | Go straight on to next section | Attack the next movement without pause |
| Grade 5 | Dolce | Mood | Sweetly | Dolce vita, sweet dessert |
| Grade 5 | Langsam (German) | Tempo | Slow | Takes a LONG time (slow) |
| Grade 5 | Schnell (German) | Tempo | Fast | Quick, fast snails run schnell |
| Grade 5 | Mesto | Mood | Sad, mournful | Messy sadness |
Memory Tricks & Word Roots for 9–15 Year Olds
Instead of memorizing separate cards for Allegro, Allegretto, and Allegrissimo, learn how Italian prefixes and suffixes modify root words:
• Suffix "-issimo" = VERY (Fortissimo = very loud; Pianissimo = very quiet; Prestissimo = super fast).
• Suffix "-etto" or "-ino" = A LITTLE (Allegretto = a little fast, slower than Allegro; Larghetto = a little broad, faster than Largo).
• Prefix "Mezzo-" = HALF or MODERATELY (Mezzo-forte = moderately loud; Mezzo-piano = moderately quiet).
• "Meno" = LESS (Meno mosso = less movement / slower).
• "Più" = MORE (Più mosso = more movement / faster).
Sneaky Examiner Traps & Mistakes
Watch out for these common missteps that cost candidates distinction marks.
!Confusing Andante and Adagio
The Trap: Selecting "slow" for Andante. Examiners deliberately put "Slow" as option A and "At a walking pace" as option B.
Quick Fix: Andante means AT A WALKING PACE. Adagio or Lento means SLOW. Do not lose this easy mark!
!Mixing up Diminuendo and Calando/Morendo
The Trap: Thinking Calando only means getting quieter.
Quick Fix: Diminuendo only means getting quieter. Calando and Morendo mean getting quieter AND slowing down (dying away)!
Step-by-Step Procedure
1
Identify the Root Family
Determine whether the word describes Speed, Volume, or Mood.
2
Spot Suffixes and Modifiers
Check for -issimo (very), -etto (a little), or poco (a bit) to modify the root meaning.
3
Use Context Clues in Scores
Look at the musical passage: a bouncy, cheerful violin melody confirms terms like giocoso or leggiero.
Active Practice Workout
Explore 280+ Terms in the Interactive Study Library
Search English translations, audio pronunciations, and memory mnemonics across all 5 grades.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are French and German terms included in Grade 1 to 4 exams?
No. Grades 1 through 4 test Italian terms exclusively. French and German terms are only introduced at Grade 5.
How many marks is the Terms & Signs section worth in ABRSM Grade 5?
Section 6 (Terms and Signs) is worth 5 marks, and terms also appear frequently within Section 7 (Score Analysis).