# ABRSM Aural Trainer Grades 1-5 — user reviews > 73 indexed App Store user reviews of ABRSM Aural Trainer Grades 1 by The Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (Publishing) Limited, rated 3.20/5 from 13 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/abrsm-aural-trainer-grades-1-5/id491907493/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/abrsm-aural-trainer-grades-1-5/id491907493.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 5 · 4★ 1 · 3★ 3 · 2★ 0 · 1★ 4 ## Newest reviews (17 of 73) ### 2/5 — stopped showing progress *2026-05-26, version 3.4* When I got to a certain point, the progress route stopped moving. I can no longer track my progress using the app. Please fix ### 3/5 — Not a smart app *2025-10-29, version 3.4* I was expecting the app to detect voice/sound and say if it was correct . But all it does is record the voice and plays back . 7.99 for this is steep ### 3/5 — Good but could be better *2025-07-19* The app does not seem to support bluetooth speakers/ headphones. The Pulse and Metre section could have shown the answer by repeating the song with claps inserted at the correct positions but it does not do so. ### 4/5 — Great for practice on the Go *2025-05-03* I was a little apprehensive of purchasing the app after seeing the reviews. I’m at the grade 5 level and needed something to support my learning. I take it to work and use if I am short of piano practice time. The only downside is the app doesn’t pick up the pulse part of the exercise. But other than that, it’s a good little app. **Developer response:** Hi EJ84, Thank you for your review and feedback. We are currently working on a new build for Aural Trainer to address this and will have this released soon. With best wishes, ABRSM App Support ### 4/5 — Good app *2025-02-10, version 3.4* This app is good for aural practice,but on differences(I am using this for grade 1),it cannot recognise clicks. Overall, if you are looking for good practice for aural, use this app. ### 2/5 — Does not work with headphones! *2024-12-12, version 3.4* Ridiculous that you can’t use this with headphones ### 2/5 — My review of this app *2024-08-28, version 3.4* The app is good but I can’t seem to be able to find my results ### 3/5 — Could be better *2024-07-05* I’ve been using this app to help prepare me for my upcoming grade 2 piano exam. It’s helpful having a resource to practice different aural exercises. However. I have found the pulse and metre section to be very disappointing. The app has never once registered or recognised my tapping. I think it would be helpful to have an indication of where to tap. I even went through it with my piano teacher, and she immediately advised that it did not register my clapping/ tapping. I have tried the app on more than one device and experience the same issue. I couldn’t find an FAQ/ help and support section neither. There definitely needs to be further development of the app. ### 2/5 — Speaker only *2024-06-25, version 3.4* You cannot play audio through headphones! Nightmare as it makes it unusable on the go. Otherwise it’s been a helpful app ### 3/5 — Three stars *2024-03-24* So, this app is quite glitchy. Sometimes it doesn’t register my tapping, sometimes it just flat out crashes, one time it even gave me a correct answer for what I knew was wrong. However, the concept is great. Helping students prepare for their oral exam, what could be better? As a student who is approaching her first grade exam, this was actually really helpful, even if the software isn’t, by any means, the best. Have a nice day! ### 4/5 — Ok app. *2024-02-04, version 3.3* More instructions on how to do the various tasks would be welcome. Thanks ### 1/5 — Incorrect answers *2023-12-09, version 3.2* So the pulse is not a pulse and marks things incorrectly ! Absolutely useless and VERY confusing ### 2/5 — Too glitchy *2023-11-30, version 3.2* We can’t get the musical features section of grade 5 to work now as it keeps glitching so annoying when we need to practise for the exam next week! ### 2/5 — Bugs *2023-11-01, version 3.2* Some times when doing Musical Features it goes out of the app ### 1/5 — Crashing *2023-10-18, version 3.2* The app keeps crashing when opening any of the exercises. I’ve spent money on the upgrade too, not impressed ### 3/5 — Had to delete as can’t get it to stop ‘recording’ *2023-03-08* This app seems really useful but no matter what I do when I exit it shows as ‘recording’ on top of my iPad with a big red line (much like when google maps is still active!) Any idea what to do about this Abrsm?! I’d like to reinstall it f possible! ### 1/5 — Battery killer! *2023-02-10* This thing is a scourge to iPad batteries! Bad practices is all I can conclude ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Doesn’t work on ipad *2026-06-30, version 3.4* Doesn’t pick up clapping on ipad. Microphone permissions are on. Tried clapping with cupped hands. Tried re-installing, but still doesn’t work. ### 1/5 — Inaccurate *2026-04-24, version 3.4* I’ve only just downloaded it for my daughter and tested the interval trainer three times, and two of the answers (a minor third and an octave - and, believe me, they were definitely a minor third and an octave) it marked as incorrect, but did not say what the supposed correct answer was. Not happy with my purchase. ### 1/5 — Doesn’t work with AirPods *2026-01-20* Whenever I use this app, the AirPod gets disconnected from my iPhone, and the AirPods won’t connect until I restart my iPhone. After restarting, the AirPods work fine until I use the app. It’s very frustrating. ### 1/5 — Terrible app *2025-10-31, version 3.4* This app is absolutely trash. The rhythm repetition thing doesn’t even work. Also sometimes it says progress made when you make progress but sometimes you don’t, making it inaccurate. I strongly don’t recommend this app. It deserves a 1 star rating. Do not download this!!! ### 1/5 — Disgusting grift *2025-07-29* The app should be free for the junk it is. It recommends using headphones but it doesn't route the audio to the AirPods, it always comes out of the speakers. Moreover, in the "echo" exercises you have to compare your phrase with the template yourself, by ear. What's the bloody point then? We have had reliable pitch detection algorithms for solo singers and instruments since the 90s. What a disgusting, low-effort grift. ### 1/5 — In app purchases *2024-10-07, version 3.4* You still need to pay more in the app to get more than one single exercise per grade!! FALSE ADVERTISING. ### 1/5 — Good Idea But Do Not Purchase *2024-07-14* Overall the structure and content of the app is great. I have only completed tasks for Grades 1 and 2 but, based on this experience, would not recommend purchase. This is because it suffers from development/test flaws that make it hard to use and frustrating. In particular: 1. The Differences section repeatedly fails to register when you tap to note a Difference. This has been raised in numerous previous comments and has not been corrected. 2. All sections do not consistently record progress. Sometimes you get a “you have increased your progress” note and after completing an exercise successfully and sometimes you do not. Also, the Echoes section sometimes notes progress if you assess yourself as “yellow” but sometimes does not. 3. I have found it impossible to complete any exercise because, after a number of attempts, the app simply stops recording progress. No matter how many more examples you complete, it no longer gives an “an increased progress message” and leaves your progress on the summary at c. 66% completion. The app is not free and you will not get a refund if you buy it. Therefore, since these things means it does not fulfil its function, you should not purchase until you see comments that show they have been sorted out. ### 1/5 — Frustrating Abrsm aural trainer *2024-05-02* 1) confusing set up. for the pulse/ meter why only 2 or 3. not very logical user interface performed the task and was unsure as to whether i got the answer correct because afyer the test two items come up: . pulse with a wrong mark and meter with a tick. 2) echo again to e app should indicate clearly whether the task was performed correctly or not. currently user is asked tk rate their own performance 3) difference the app is so not responsive. User should tap the screen when they detect a diference. My telephone screen did not repond to tapping so could not performthis test properly 4) At this point i gave up. Final verdict: Waste of money. 😭 ### 1/5 — Doesn’t work *2024-04-19, version 3.3* This app is appalling. The only way I can exit the app is by switching the phone off. On installing a second time it would not restore the purchase. Given this is associated with the examining body in piano grades it’s pretty dismal. One star only because there’s no zero star option. Avoid. ### 1/5 — Bad… bugs and bugs *2024-03-02* Too many bugs. For example the Grade 4 singing back just cycles between 3 examples… others too also only cycle between a very small number (and I have bought the extra bundle). The intervals part doesn’t tell you what the correct answer is if you make a mistake. Very disappointing, not what you would expect from what is considered to be one of the leading exam boards. **Developer response:** Hi Crock100, Thank you for your feedback. For Grade 4, we state the following for Aural Test 4B: 'The notes will be within the range of a third above and below the tonic in the key of C, F or G major. The test will begin and end on the tonic and will not contain intervals greater than a third.' Therefore, for this specific test, the app covers these three keys and parameters. Within the Internal Trainer Quiz, if an incorrect interval is selected, the correct interval is displayed in a box at the top of the screen as well as letting the user know if it is ascending or descending. With best wishes, ABRSM App Support ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — I got a distinction *2024-04-20* After using this for my Grade 3 Piano Exam it really helped and I got a distinction. It was really useful. But I wish the Grade 6 app was for free because I’m going to be doing my Grade 5 exam soon. Also download roblox it’s amazing. **Developer response:** Hi 'Desiree, Many thanks for taking the time to leave your excellent review and feedback. With best wishes, ABRSM App Support ### 5/5 — Pulse quiz *2023-02-06* Now that the interval quiz is working (thank you) another student noticed that if he just taps rapidly during the pulse quiz, he gets a correct answer… ### 5/5 — Interval quiz doesn’t work *2023-01-21, version 3.0.2* I find the apps generally very useful with students but the interval trainer quiz on this one doesn’t seem to work. Maybe not many other folks have tried it to notice the problem. ### 5/5 — Aural *2022-12-08, version 3.0.2* It is amazing thanks to it I got full marks on my Aural😎 ### 5/5 — helped sooooooooooo much *2021-11-23, version 3.0.2* amazin ### 5/5 — Very good app *2020-11-03* I have started using this app and it is very useful. Just one problem when I try call in the rhythm it does not detect my clapping while all other microphone activities work. Also for the difference though I tap the screen at the right time it shows it as wrong. **Developer response:** Hello, thank you for your comment. Please note that there are no clapping tests in the app - you must tap the screen in order to answer the question. If you clap, your response will not be registered as the app is expecting you to tap the screen. You can tap anywhere on the screen but try to stay on the same spot on the screen. If you leap about too much your response may not register fully. If you need further assistance using the app please contact auraltrainer@abrsm.ac.uk. ### 5/5 — I love it *2020-10-02, version 2.6.1* It is very helpful to help your piano lessons and your piano skills ### 5/5 — Amazing *2019-04-04, version 2.6* Really Good I Have Used It Through My Grade 1 - 3 Violin So Overall Amazing 😄 ### 5/5 — Cool 😎 *2018-01-03, version 2.5* AMAZING APP ### 4/5 — Great app but improvements needed *2026-02-07* I think this is a great app, however, if you want more users, you should make it even better by making the pulse and meter exercise better. At the moment it marked me wrong even when I’m getting it right for the clapping in time with the music I’m grade 3 violin and rhythm is one of my strong suits. I think it’s because it is not just recording my clapping but also the background noise please make it more accessible for people with background noise. However, there are no ads which I think is great. --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-09-03.*