What's in the exam?
- Pieces
- Scales & arpeggios
- Aural tests
- Sight-reading
- Transposition
Latest exam updates
COVID update
In response to the current restrictions in the UK and Ireland we are deferring Session 1 face-to-face practical exams at Public Venues and paper-based Grade 6 to 8 Music Theory exams at Public Venues and Private Visits. Where we can we will still offer practical exams at Private Visits. Our remotely-assessed Performance Grade and ARSM exams and our Grade 1 to 5 online Music Theory exams are unaffected and all dates remain unchanged. To read more, please visit our latest updates page.
Music Theory exam dates
We are providing extra dates in March when candidates can take an online Grade 1 to 5 Music Theory exam.
We plan to offer Grade 6 to 8 paper Music Theory exams on Wednesday 28 April with a booking period from 8 to 15 March.
Performance Grade booking
The next booking period for remotely-assessed Performance Grade and ARSM exams opens on 1 February. For details, see our dates and fees page.
Candidates for Grade 6, 7 or 8 exams must already have passed ABRSM Grade 5 (or above) in Music Theory, Practical Musicianship or a solo Jazz instrument. For full details including a list of accepted alternatives, see Regulation 1d.
The accompanied pieces are published in F editions unless otherwise indicated. For those pieces not published in F, candidates may use manuscript transpositions of their parts if necessary.
Some List C pieces are published with transposition suggestions but in the exam they should be played in the written keys only.
Download recordings of pieces from our Grade 7 syllabus.
Practice material for students preparing for Horn exams.
New editions offering support to teachers preparing students for Practical exams.
Practice examples of the aural tests to use when preparing for an exam.
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