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Subjects · Leaving Cert Music

Leaving Cert Music: Cadences & approach chords

How often Cadences & approach chords comes up on the Music papers, every year it was asked, and questions to try.

HL Asked on 9 of the last 9 Higher Level papers, most recently in 2025. banker

OL Asked on 9 of the last 9 Ordinary Level papers, most recently in 2025. banker

Cadences & approach chords, Higher Level(8 marks)

Quick ones on Cadences & approach chords.

(a)Which chords make a plagal cadence?
  1. V to I
  2. IV to I
  3. I to V
(b)In F major, which chords make a plagal cadence?
  1. F major to C major
  2. C major to F major
  3. B flat major to F major
(c)In C major, which bass note does chord Ic have?
  1. G
  2. E
  3. C
Show the answers

(a) IV to I

(b) B flat major to F major

(c) G

Your turn: Higher Level questions on Cadences & approach chords.

Higher Level

Asked on 9 of the last 9 Higher Level papers, most recently in 2025. banker

Every paper, year by year

YearWhere it came up
2025Paper 2, Q4, Paper 2, Q5, Paper 2, Q6
2024Paper 2, Q4, Paper 2, Q5, Paper 2, Q6
2023Paper 2, Q4, Paper 2, Q5, Paper 2, Q6
2022Paper 2, Q4, Paper 2, Q5, Paper 2, Q6
2021Paper 2, Q4, Paper 2, Q5, Paper 2, Q6
2019Paper 1, Q6, Paper 2, Q4, Paper 2, Q5, Paper 2, Q6
2018Paper 2, Q4, Paper 2, Q5, Paper 2, Q6
2017Paper 2, Q4, Paper 2, Q5, Paper 2, Q6
2016Paper 2, Q4, Paper 2, Q5, Paper 2, Q6

Links open the State Examinations Commission’s paper for that year.

More Cadences & approach chords questions

Cadences & approach chords, 3 marks

In C major, what is the approach chord in a ii-V-I progression?

  1. F major
  2. A minor
  3. D minor
Show the answer

D minor

Chord ii in C major is D, F, A. Its root falls a 5th to G (V), which then goes to C (I): the strongest root movement into a perfect cadence.

Cadences & approach chords, 2 marks

Which cadence is also called a half close?

  1. Plagal
  2. Imperfect
  3. Perfect
Show the answer

Imperfect

A half close stops on V, halfway to home, so it suits the end of a question phrase. The perfect cadence is the full close.

Cadences & approach chords, 2 marks

A progression goes IV, then V, then vi. Which cadence ends it?

  1. Interrupted
  2. Perfect
  3. Plagal
Show the answer

Interrupted

The cadence is the last two chords: V to vi is interrupted. IV acts as the approach chord leading into the cadence.

Ordinary Level

Asked on 9 of the last 9 Ordinary Level papers, most recently in 2025. banker

Every paper, year by year

YearWhere it came up
2025Paper 2, Q4, Paper 2, Q5, Paper 2, Q6
2024Paper 2, Q4, Paper 2, Q5, Paper 2, Q6
2023Paper 2, Q4, Paper 2, Q5, Paper 2, Q6
2022Paper 2, Q4, Paper 2, Q5, Paper 2, Q6
2021Paper 2, Q4, Paper 2, Q5, Paper 2, Q6
2019Paper 1, Q6, Paper 2, Q4, Paper 2, Q5, Paper 2, Q6
2018Paper 2, Q4, Paper 2, Q5, Paper 2, Q6
2017Paper 2, Q4, Paper 2, Q5, Paper 2, Q6
2016Paper 2, Q4, Paper 2, Q5, Paper 2, Q6

Links open the State Examinations Commission’s paper for that year.

More Cadences & approach chords questions

Cadences & approach chords, 2 marks

Which cadence is made of chord V followed by chord I?

  1. Plagal
  2. Interrupted
  3. Perfect
Show the answer

Perfect

A perfect cadence moves from the dominant (V) to the tonic (I). It sounds finished, so it is the usual cadence at the end of a melody.

Cadences & approach chords, 2 marks

Which cadence is made of chord IV followed by chord I?

  1. Imperfect
  2. Plagal
  3. Perfect
Show the answer

Plagal

IV to I is the plagal cadence. It sounds final, but softer than the perfect cadence V to I.

Cadences & approach chords, 2 marks

An imperfect cadence always ends on which chord?

  1. V
  2. I
  3. vi
Show the answer

V

An imperfect cadence ends on the dominant chord V, for example I-V or IV-V. It sounds unfinished, so it suits the middle of a melody.

Other Music topics

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