I have a very good and keen 9 year old learning both violin and piano. He has passed his Grade 1 piano with merit and is about to take violin Grade 1. However he finds great difficulty in distinguishing between the 2 and 3 pulse in the first aural test and invariably gets it wrong. Can anyone offer any tips to help him.

When clapping the strong pulse in the music is beat 1.

So if you find you are clapping LOUD SOFT LOUD SOFT with the pulse the music is in 2 time.

If you are clapping LOUD SOFT SOFT LOUD SOFT SOFT with the pulse then the music is in 3 time.

Or....

can you march to the music - left, right, left, right and fit your movements to the pulse?
If you can then it's in 2 time. If you can't it is in 3. (Probably)

Best solution is regular practise in lessons rather than a panic when the exam looms!
Can he tell if his exam pieces are in 2 or 3 time when he plays them?

Get him to think whether he could march or dance to the music.

Play him things(orchestral/band or something) which have a very strong beat at first.

Does he know how to waltz, or how it sounds? Maybe play him a waltz so he gets the feel for the beat?

Thank you all for your comments. I think the Loud soft soft etc from viiolincjj is a very good idea which I will try next week. I try to fit in aural tests on a regular basis.