We hold Practical and ARSM exams at our Public Venues throughout the UK.
From 2020, we have a new online booking service for graded music exams (practical and Music Theory), ARSM, Prep Test and Performance Assessment. As a result, we are no longer able to accept postal entries for practical and ARSM exams.
Arrangements for DipABRSM, LRSM and FRSM, and Choral Singing and Ensembles are staying the same and you will still need to enter candidates for these exams by post.
Find out more about our new online service for exams from 2020.
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)
Session 2 2020 Practical & ARSM exams at Public Venues
Online booking period: 27 April - 10 May
Closing date for postal entry: 08 May (Choral Singing & Ensemble exams only)
All instruments and grades (excluding Jazz)
Session 3 2020 Practical & ARSM exams at Public Venues
Online booking period: 21 September – 04 October
Closing date for postal entry: 02 October (Choral Singing & Ensemble exams only)
All instruments and grades (excluding Jazz)
* 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.
From January 2020, all Jazz exams will take place at ABRSM Jazz Visits organised by us on set dates during our main exam sessions.
For now, we are unable to offer Jazz exams at Private Visits organised by an applicant. We plan to re-introduce this option later in 2020 and will provide updated information as soon as we can.
You can book Jazz exams once the main session booking period has opened. At this point, we will publish a list of ABRSM Jazz Visits. For each ABRSM Jazz Visit we will provide the date, venue and a Venue Code. You can then choose the ABRSM Jazz Visit where you would like to book your exams, making a note of the Venue Code. You will need to enter this code when you log in and book.
The main session closing date does not apply to ABRSM Jazz Visits. Instead, you can book Jazz exams from the booking period opening date until 28 days before the ABRSM Jazz Visit date.
Session 1 2020 Jazz exams
Online booking opens: 13 January
Online booking closes: 28 days before the ABRSM Jazz Visit start date.
Jazz exams
Session 2 2020 Jazz exams
Online booking opens: 27 April
Online booking closes: 28 days before the ABRSM Jazz Visit start date.
Jazz exams
Jazz exams
Session 3 2020 Jazz exams
Online booking opens: 21 September
Online booking closes: 28 days before the ABRSM Jazz Visit start date.
Jazz exams
We hold Music Theory exams in Public Venues on specified dates. Exams may also be held at an institute of general education, music service or educational department at a prison/hospital approved by ABRSM on the same specified dates as given below.
From 2020, we have a new online booking service for graded music exams (practical and Music Theory), ARSM, Prep Test and Performance Assessment. As a result, we are no longer able to accept postal entries for Music Theory exams.
Find out more about our new online service for exams from 2020.
Session 1 2020 Music Theory exams
Online booking period: 13 - 26 January
Start time for Session 1 exam: 5pm
Exam date
Session 2 2020 Music Theory exams
Online booking period: 27 April - 10 May
Start time for Session 2 exam: 10am
Exam date
Session 3 2020 Music Theory exams
Online booking period: 21 September - 04 October
Start time for Session 3 exam: 5pm
Exam date
DipABRSM, LRSM and FRSM diplomas take place in two exam sessions each year.
Summer 2020 Diploma exams
Closing date for postal entry: 8 May
Please note that online entry is not available for DipABRSM, LRSM and FRSM diplomas.
Diploma exams
Autumn 2020 Diploma exams
Closing date for postal entry: 02 October
Please note that online entry is not available for DipABRSM, LRSM and FRSM diplomas.
Diploma exams
* 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.