Exam dates and fees

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Exam dates and fees 2020

• Practical
• Performance Grades
• Jazz
• Music Theory
• Other diplomas*
• Music Medals

We hold face-to-face practical and ARSM exams at our Public Venues during the exam sessions listed on this page. For information about holding these exams at a Private Visit click here.

We also offer a remote assessment option for ARSM exams. Please click on the Performance Grades tab for dates.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, we will be providing a reduced number of Public Venues for Session 3 2020. We will publish a list of Public Venues in advance of the booking period. This list will be subject to change, depending on local and government guidance. We will also be publishing comprehensive information about what we are doing to ensure the safety of everyone using our Public Venues. This will include guidance and instructions for candidates and other visitors.

We have an online booking service for all graded music exams, ARSM, Prep Test and Performance Assessment. We are unable to accept postal entries for these exams. 

Session 1 2020 Practical & ARSM exams at Public Venues

Online booking period: 13 – 26 January

Closing date for postal entry: 24 January (Choral Singing & Ensemble exams only)

All instruments and grades (excluding Jazz)

United Kingdom

02 March-04 April

Session 2 2020 Practical & ARSM exams at Public Venues

Our session 2 booking period will not be opening due to ongoing Government guidance for COVID-19.

Online booking period: Not applicable

Closing date for postal entry: Not applicable

All instruments and grades (excluding Jazz)

Scotland & Northern Ireland	N/A
England & Wales	N/A

Session 3 2020 Practical & ARSM exams at Public Venues

Online booking period: 28 September – 12 October

All instruments and grades (excluding Jazz)

United Kingdom

09 November-19 December

Practical exam fees

Prep Test	38 GBP
Initial Grade (Bowed strings and Piano only)	39 GBP
Practical Grade 1	43 GBP
Practical Grade 2	49 GBP
Practical Grade 3	57 GBP
Practical Grade 4	62 GBP
Practical Grade 5	68 GBP
Practical Grade 6	78 GBP
Practical Grade 7	83 GBP
Practical Grade 8	99 GBP
ARSM	167 GBP
Performance Assessment	44 GBP
Ensemble: Primary†	83 GBP
Ensemble: Intermediate†	99 GBP
Ensemble: Advanced†	167 GBP
Choral Singing: Initial†	83 GBP*
Choral Singing: Intermediate†	99 GBP*
Choral Singing: Advanced†	167 GBP*
Choral Singing: Attendance Fee	57 GBP

Notes

* Plus £57 attendance fee if applicable
† Postal entries only – online entry not available

Regulations and information

Before entering for an exam, make sure that you're familiar with our Regulations and Information for exams as well as the relevant syllabus.

Performance Grades are remotely-assessed exams available at Grades 1 to 8. We also offer a remote-assessment option for ARSM exams. When you book an exam you can select an exam submission date from a list of options available during the exam session. This will be the latest date by which you must upload and submit the exam recording.

We have an online booking service for all graded music exams, ARSM, Prep Test and Performance Assessment. We are unable to accept postal entries for these exams.

2020 Remotely-assessed Performance Grade and ARSM exams

Grades 1 to 8 and ARSM: all instrumental and singing subjects, excluding Jazz

Booking period	Exam session
28 September to 5 October	19 October to 7 November

Performance Grade & remotely-assessed ARSM exam fees

Performance Grade 1	43 GBP
Performance Grade 2	49 GBP
Performance Grade 3	57 GBP
Performance Grade 4	62 GBP
Performance Grade 5	68 GBP
Performance Grade 6	78 GBP
Performance Grade 7	83 GBP
Performance Grade 8	99 GBP
ARSM	167 GBP

Further information

Before you book an exam please make sure that you are familiar with our Regulations and Information. You should also read:

Our Guidance for remotely-assessed Performance Grade exams (PDF) or Guidance for remotely-assessed ARSM exams (to follow).

The relevant syllabus: Performance Grades, ARSM

The Performance Grades Qualification Specification (PDF)

To enter candidates for Jazz exams at a venue organised by us, you will need to book at an ABRSM Jazz Visit as outlined below. Visit Organisers and their Permitted Applicants can also book Jazz exams at a Private Visit, as long as there is at least one hour of Jazz examining time and the total examining time for the visit is at least three hours.

Session 1 2020 Jazz exams

Online booking opens: 13 January

Online booking closes: 28 days before the ABRSM Jazz Visit start date.

Jazz exams

United Kingdom

02 March-04 April

Session 2 2020 Jazz exams

Our session 2 booking period will not be opening due to ongoing Government guidance for COVID-19.

Online booking opens: Not applicable

Online booking closes: Not applicable

Jazz exams

Scotland & Northern Ireland

N/A

Jazz exams

England & Wales

N/A

Session 3 2020 Jazz exams

Online booking opens: 28 September

Online booking closes: 28 days before the ABRSM Jazz Visit start date.

Jazz exams

United Kingdom

09 November-12 December

Jazz exam fees

Grade 1	43 GBP
Grade 2	49 GBP
Grade 3	57 GBP
Grade 4	62 GBP
Grade 5	68 GBP
Performance Assessment	44 GBP
Ensemble: Initial†	83 GBP
Ensemble: Intermediate†	99 GBP
Ensemble: Advanced†	167 GBP

Notes

† Postal bookings only – online booking not available

We will now be delivering Music Theory assessment at Grades 1 to 5 as an online exam. Candidates can take the exam in any location where they have a laptop or desktop computer with a webcam and internet access.

In addition to the Session 3 date given below, candidates can take an online Grade 5 Music Theory exam on 26 August at 5pm. The booking period for this exam is 27-31 July.

For more information click here.

Online Music Theory exams will be available for Grades 1 to 5 only. Music Theory exams at Grades 6 to 8 will continue as paper-based exams in November if we can offer these exams safely and in line with government guidance

Session 1 2020 Music Theory exams

Online booking period: 13 - 26 January

Start time for Session 1 exam: 5pm

Exam date

United Kingdom

Wednesday 04 March

Grade 5 online Music Theory exam – live pilot

Online booking period: 27-31 July

Start time for exam: 5pm

Exam date

United Kingdom

Wednesday 26 August

Session 3 2020 Music Theory exams

Online booking period: 28 September - 12 October 2020

Start time for Session 3 exam: 5pm

Exam date

United Kingdom

Tuesday 10 November

Music Theory fees

Grade 1	29 GBP
Grade 2	31 GBP
Grade 3	34 GBP
Grade 4	37 GBP
Grade 5	40 GBP
Grade 6	44 GBP
Grade 7	47 GBP
Grade 8	50 GBP

DipABRSM, LRSM and FRSM diplomas take place in two exam sessions each year.

Summer 2020 Diploma exams

We are unable to run Diploma (DipABRSM, LRSM or FRSM) exams in Summer 2020. If you have sent entries to our office, personal information will be securely destroyed.

Closing date for postal entry: Not applicable

Please note that online entry is not available for DipABRSM, LRSM and FRSM diplomas.

Diploma exams

Scotland & Northern Ireland	N/A
England & Wales	N/A

Autumn 2020 Diploma exams

Closing date for entry for 9 – 15 November exams: 14 September
Closing date for entry for 14-19 December exams: 02 October

We have changed how we accept entries for all diploma exams, and will no longer be accepting paper entries. Please see here for more information on how to enter. https://gb.abrsm.org/en/exam-booking/diploma-exams/

Diploma exams

United Kingdom	9-15 November
United Kingdom	14-19 December

Diploma fees

DipABRSM (complete exam)	265 GBP
LRSM (complete exam) **	587 GBP
FRSM (complete exam)	852 GBP
Resit fee: DipABRSM	212 GBP
Resit fee: LRSM	470 GBP
Resit fee: FRSM	682 GBP

Notes

* ARSM exams take place during Practical exam periods - see the first tab for details of exam dates and fees.

** LRSM Teaching fees are payable in two instalments. 40% must be paid on submission of the Case Study Portfolio & Video of Teaching Practice. The balance is payable when entering for the remaining sections of the exam.

Music Medals assessments

Book an assessment online

The timing of Music Medals assessments is decided by the teacher and candidates - entry is available throughout the year!

2020 Music Medals fees

Copper	13 GBP
Bronze	17 GBP
Silver	23 GBP
Gold	27 GBP
Platinum	32 GBP

Additional information

Other fees and charges (2020)*

• Download a past results (from before 1993) search form (PDF)

• Download a certificate amendment and replacement form (for exams taken after 1993)

April 2020: We have temporarily changed our certificate replacement and amendment service due to our office being closed. You can find out more on our Results and Certificates page.

	Graded Music Exams and ARSM	other Diplomas	Music Medals
Confirmation of marks	free of charge	free of charge	free of charge
Duplicate certificate	£12.00	£19.00	£6.50

 

	Practical	Theory
Appeal investigation**	N/A	Half of the entry fee
Results Review	Grade 1-5: £25 Grade 6-8: £40 ARSM: £40	N/A
External review	£60.00 per candidate	£60.00 per candidate
Administrative charge for payment with dishonoured cheque	£22.00	£22.00

* The above charges should be paid direct to ABRSM's office in London by sterling draft presentable in the UK or by credit card (Visa or MasterCard). Sterling drafts should be payable to ‘The Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music’.

If you wish to pay locally please contact your Local Representative who will advise you of the local fee and method of payment.

** For multiple candidates, the investigation fee charged will not exceed five times the local Grade 5 Practical/Music Theory fee.