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Over 620,000 candidates take ABRSM examinations each year in over ninety countries. They offer graded exams as well as more advanced diploma qualifications.

GRADED EXAMS

Graded exams are amateur qualifications in music. They are (in most cases) offered from Grades 1-8 and have three standards of pass: a straight pass, a pass with merit and a pass with distinction. There is no requirement to have any previous grades before taking a new one. However, to encourage broad musical knowledge, the ABRSM require Grade 5 Theory, Practical Musicianship or Jazz to be passed before one can take Grades 6-8 Practical exams. There are 3 exam 'sessions' in a year, in and around March , June and November . Passes in grades 6 to 8 in either theory or practical exams may be used as part of the UCAS Tariff in obtaining a University place. The four types of graded exams are as follows:

Practical Exams

These are by far the most commonly taken exams. Available for over 35 instruments, these exams consist of 4 different sections:
  • Set Pieces. The student is required to play three pieces prepared beforehand. These pieces are selected from the current syllabus for the instrument and grade, usually one piece from each of three given groups. For most instruments, two of these pieces are played accompanied, with the third played solo. Each piece is marked out of 30.

  • Scales. Various Scales and Arpeggio s, according to the grade of difficulty, are examined. Scales are marked out of 21.

  • Sight Reading. The student is presented with an unseen piece, has thirty seconds to prepare, and then must play to the best of his or her ability. Sight reading is marked out of 21.

  • Aural Awareness. Various exercises are played by the examiner and the student is required to demonstrate skills in listening to music, for example clapping the rhythm or singing the melody. Aural is marked out of 18.


The exams are marked out of 150: 100 or more is a pass; 120 or more is a pass with merit; 130 or more is a pass with distinction.


Theory Exams

These are written papers on the topic of musical theory. They are marked out of 100: 66 or more is a pass; 80 or more is a merit; 90 or more is a distinction.


Practical Musicianship

These exams are designed to test an understanding of rhythm, melody, key and notation together with the ability to sing and play from memory, sight-sing and improvise and to recognise changes to and answer questions about a score.


Jazz Exams

These are the newest types of exams, with jazz piano first being offered in 1999. At present, they are only available for piano, Clarinet , Saxaphone , Trumpet and Trombone . They are also only available from Grades 1-5. They are marked in the same way as practical exams.


DIPLOMAS

The ABRSM offer diplomas in three disciplines:
  • Music Performance

  • Music Direction

  • Instrumental/Vocal Teaching

    • For each discipline there are three levels of award:

  • DipABRSM (Diploma of The Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music)

  • LRSM (Licentiate of the Royal Schools of Music)

  • FRSM (Fellowship of the Royal Schools of Music)

    • These are professional qualifications, and entitle the owner to append the letters after his or her name.



ABRSM PUBLISHING

The ABRSM's publishing department was first set-up in 1921 . It was used to provide suitable music for examinations, performance editions of popular works and provide new instructional compositions. One of the original editors was Sir Donald Tovey who wrote informative notes on the music which are still highly-regarded today. The department grew, until 1985, when ABRSM (Publishing) Ltd. was established as a separate company.

They continued to produce copies of popular works, along with commentaries from distinguished Editor s. They publish contemporary music in their 'Spectrum' series of books. They also publish a variety of publications for beginners and younger instrumentalists.


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