Music admission at Universidad de los Andes: what the aptitude test is like
Los Andes assesses your musical aptitude, not what you know about theory. That's why it's one of the most open doors for self-taught musicians and those who learned by ear.
To enter Música at Universidad de los Andes, the key step is a required musical aptitude test lasting about 20 minutes, taken in person or online if you cannot attend. It assesses rhythm, melody, rhythmic-melodic memory, and, in a second part, listening skills. The university makes clear that it is not a knowledge test: you are not asked to name chords or write harmonic analyses.
For those who want to concentrate on performance, the instrumental or vocal audition comes after admission, possibly as late as the end of the first semester. That makes Los Andes a particularly interesting option if you learned by ear or on your own.
In short
- 2027-1 admissions (2027-10): applications from July 21 to December 7, 2026, in five admission rounds; the final round closes on December 7, and the list of students admitted to Música is published on December 16.
- The Music program at Los Andes is a 10-semester, on-campus undergraduate degree, with concentrations such as voice, composition, performance, production, and musical thought and research.
- For the 2027-1 admissions cycle, the musical aptitude test is required, lasts about 20 minutes, and is taken in person or online if you cannot attend.
- It has two parts: rhythm, melody, and rhythmic-melodic memory using your voice and clapping, followed by a listening test; the university makes clear that it is not a knowledge test.
- Saber 11 is part of the university's general admissions process; the Music page does not publish a separate minimum score, so confirm with Admissions.
- The instrumental or vocal audition for the performance concentration takes place after admission.
2027-1 admissions calendar
Los Andes accepts applications in admission rounds for the first semester of 2027 (term 2027-10). In each round, the university processes the applications received, and Música publishes its list of admitted students on different dates from other programs because it has an additional test. These are the official dates in 2026:
| Cut | Applications (opening to deadline) | List of students admitted to Música |
|---|---|---|
| 1st admission round | July 21 to August 18 | August 29 |
| 2nd admission round | August 19 to September 21 | October 3 |
| 3rd admission round | September 22 to October 19 | October 31 |
| 4th admission round | October 20 to November 23 | December 5 |
| Final admission round | November 24 to December 7 | December 16 |
| Stage | When | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Application and documents | Before the admission round closes | Complete the university form and upload your school certificates before the form closes. |
| Musical aptitude test | After your admission round closes | You receive a notice to attend by email and must confirm your attendance in writing; otherwise, your test will not be scheduled. The Departamento de Música communicates the exact date of each appointment. |
| Results | Depends on the admission round (table above) | The list of students admitted to Música is published on different dates from those for other programs. |
| Instrumental or vocal audition | After you are admitted | Only for the performance concentration; it may take place at the end of the first semester. |
If you want to arrive prepared for the test, our music pre-university prep includes mock exams and auditions; see our packages and prices.
How the Music admissions process works
Music is an on-campus undergraduate program at a private university in Bogotá, lasting 10 semesters, with concentrations such as voice, composition, performance, production, and musical thought and research. Its admissions process is one of the most distinctive we found: instead of measuring how much theory you know, it assesses your musical potential.
| Element | How it worked |
|---|---|
| Saber 11 | It is part of the university's general admissions process; the Music page does not publish a separate minimum score. |
| Musical aptitude test | Required, individual, and about 20 minutes long. It is held in person; if you cannot attend, an online option may be arranged. |
| What the test assesses | Two parts: sense of rhythm, sense of melody, and rhythmic-melodic memory; then a listening test. |
| Instrumental or vocal audition | After admission, for the performance concentration; it may take place at the end of the first semester. |
What the aptitude test assesses (and what it does not)
An aptitude test measures how you perceive, remember, and reproduce music, rather than how much theory you have studied. According to the official page, it has two parts: in the first, you repeat patterns with your voice and clapping; in the second, you take a listening test. It helps to understand what each area involves:
- Rhythm: feel a steady beat and reproduce rhythmic patterns by clapping and using your voice, without speeding up or slowing down.
- Melody: recognize the direction and pitches of a melodic line and repeat notes and melodic passages with your voice, in tune.
- Rhythmic-melodic memory: listen to short melodies and sing them back with their rhythm and notes.
- Listening test (second part): listen carefully and notice differences, however small.
It does not assess whether you know what a secondary dominant is or can write down a harmonic dictation. That does not mean theory is unimportant: you will study it in the degree program, and having a foundation will help you feel more confident from the first semester.
How to develop rhythm, melody, and memory
| Skill | Exercise | How to tell you are making progress |
|---|---|---|
| Beat | Clap along with the metronome at slow and fast tempos; mute it for a few measures, then turn the sound back on. | You are still in time when it starts sounding again. |
| Rhythm | Have someone clap a one- or two-measure pattern for you to repeat; then add syncopation and triplets. | You repeat two-measure patterns after just one hearing. |
| Melody | Sing short phrases on a single syllable after hearing them on a piano, in an app, or in a song. | You sing the phrases in tune without instrumental support. |
| Memory | Listen to a phrase just once and reproduce it in full. | You remember increasingly long phrases with fewer repetitions. |
| Audition | Compare two passages: which note is higher? Is it major or minor? What changed? | You answer quickly and confidently. |
Ten to fifteen minutes a day is more productive than two hours on the weekend. If you will take the exam online, also practice with the headphones, microphone, and spot at home you will use for the test.
And no, you do not need perfect pitch. You are training the relationships between sounds; we explain this in perfect pitch and relative pitch.
If you are self-taught or learned by ear
This is the profile for which the Los Andes model makes the most sense: you play guitar, sing, produce music, or work out songs by ear, but have never formally studied theory. The test measures precisely the skills you have already developed through making music.
- Use your ear: working out songs by ear already trains memory and melody.
- Check your beat: if you always play alone, it is easy to speed up without noticing. Practice with a metronome.
- Get comfortable singing: aptitude tests often ask you to reproduce melodies with your voice, even if you play another instrument.
- Start reading sheet music now: the degree will require it, and it is best not to arrive with no experience.
If you are also considering other universities that welcome popular music, compare with admissions to Musical Studies at Javeriana, where the music education emphasis accepted a piece of your choice from any genre.
The instrumental audition comes later
If you want to concentrate on performance, your instrumental or vocal audition takes place after admission, possibly at the end of the first semester. That is an advantage: you gain months to improve with guidance from the program. It is also a reminder that you need to practice seriously during that first semester.
Use the time before starting to work on technique, scales, and a couple of pieces you can develop gradually. Starting the first semester with repertoire already underway takes some pressure off as the audition approaches.
A three-month preparation plan
| Month | Focus | Suggested routine |
|---|---|---|
| Month 1 | Beat and rhythm | 10 minutes a day of clapping with a metronome and imitating patterns. |
| Month 2 | Melody and memory | Sing short phrases, gradually make them longer, and work out melodies by ear. |
| Month 3 | Mock exams | 20-minute sessions with someone who gives you unfamiliar exercises; if the exam is online, use the equipment you will use on the day. |
A teacher is especially helpful for the hardest part to practice alone: new exercises you have never heard, just like in the exam. At Gissi, you can prepare ear training, sight-singing, and music theory with teachers in online or in-home lessons in Bogotá; find out how in music entrance exam preparation. If you are applying to several universities with more theory-based tests, our guide to how to prepare for a music entrance exam helps you organize everything.
Frequently asked questions
Can I enter the music program at Los Andes without knowing music theory?
You can apply: the university states that the aptitude test does not assess knowledge. But you will study theory in the degree program, so it is a good idea to start learning it before you enter.
Is there a minimum Saber 11 score for music at Los Andes?
Saber 11 is part of Los Andes' general admissions process, and the Music page does not publish a separate minimum score. Confirm with Admissions, as requirements can change.
Can I take the aptitude test online?
The test is held in person. If you cannot attend, the university allows for an online test over Zoom, with a trial video call the day before. If you take it online, have a computer with wired headphones, a microphone, and a camera; a phone with WhatsApp and a family member’s phone as a backup if the connection fails; and a quiet room.
Do I need to play an instrument to apply?
The entrance exam measures aptitude, not instrumental proficiency. If you want to concentrate on performance, the instrumental or vocal audition comes after admission, so it is a good idea to have already made progress on your instrument.
Sources
We checked the facts in this article against these sources on October 23, 2026.