Exam Discount Scheme for UK Music Services
Our Exam Discount Scheme is designed to alleviate some of the financial barriers that families can face when accessing exams and supports our ambition to become a more open, accessible and inclusive organisation.
We are running the scheme as a pilot in two phases, from October 2022 to January 2023 and from February 2023 to July 2024. The scheme is being administered for us by Music Mark, the UK’s subject association for music education. Discounts are available through music services in the UK, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. Only music services can apply for and use the discounts.
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Music services can use the discounts to support learners for whom the cost of exams represents a significant financial barrier.
Discounts can be used for the following exams:
- Instrumental and singing – Prep Test, Practical Grades (Initial to Grade 8), Performance Grades (Initial to Grade 8), ARSM diploma and Performance Assessment
- Music Theory – Grades 1 to 5 (online) and Grades 6 to 8 (paper-based)
More information is available on the Music Mark website and in the Exam Discount Scheme Operating Guidelines.
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Each local authority area will receive a discount allocation based on published school roll numbers with adjustments for deprivation. Discounts will be made available through discount codes to use when booking exams
- At the start of each term, and no later than three weeks before the relevant exam booking deadline, email Music Mark ([email protected]) to request confirmation of your discount allocation for the relevant period.
- Identify students who you would like to offer a discount to and determine the reason and level of discount (up to 95%), most likely in line with your remissions policies.
- Complete a template spreadsheet and submit this to Music Mark, who will check it and request a code or codes from ABRSM.
- Use the code(s) when booking exams through our online booking service.
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All candidates receiving a discount must have their own ABRSM Contact ID and music services will need this information before requesting discount codes.
- Candidates who have taken an ABRSM exam since 2020 will already have a Contact ID.
- All other candidates should create an ABRSM account which will provide them with a Contact ID. A parent/carer or other responsible adult can create the account for a candidate, but the account must be in the candidate’s name.
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To allow us to monitor the scheme, Music Mark will collate information from music services, analysing data at regional and national levels and reporting to us regularly. Music Mark may also ask music services for case studies to illustrate the impact of the scheme.
Find out more
Full details of the scheme are available on the Music Mark website and in the Exam Discount Scheme Operating Guidelines. Music Services can also contact Music Mark directly at: [email protected]