Accreditation of ABRSM exams and assessments
Introduction | Practical exams | Theory exams | Diplomas | Music Medals
The accreditation framework
In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, ABRSM exams and assessments are accredited within the Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF).
Qualifications within this framework are regulated by the following organisations:
- England – Ofqual (the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation)
- Wales – DCELLS (the Department for Children, Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills)
- Northern Ireland – CCEA (Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment)
The QCF
Within the QCF, qualifications are organised according to difficulty and size. QCF levels give an indication of the difficulty and QCF credits give an indication of the size of the qualification – or how long it takes to achieve.
QCF levels range from entry level to level 8. The following table shows how ABRSM qualifications relate, in terms of QCF levels, to qualifications generally in the UK.
QCF Level | ABRSM qualification | General UK qualification |
|---|---|---|
8 |
| PhD |
7 | FRSM | Masters |
6 | LRSM | Degree - final year |
5 |
|
|
4 | DipABRSM | Degree - first year |
3 | Grades 6, 7 and 8 | A Level |
2 | Grades 4 and 5 | GCSE |
1 | Grades 1, 2 and 3 |
|
Entry | Copper Music Medal |
|
QCF credits
QCF credits range from 1 upwards. Depending on the number of credits, qualifications are classified by QCF in the following categories:
- Award – 1 to 12 credits
- Certificate – 13 to 36 credits
- Diploma – 37 credits or more
QCF titles
The QCF qualification title indicates its difficulty, how long it will take the average learner to complete, and its general content.
UCAS points
As a result of this accreditation, students with ABRSM qualifications at Grades 6 to 8 benefit from UCAS (University and Colleges Admission Service) points which can be used as part of a university or college application in the UK.
| Grade 6 | Grade 7 | Grade 8 | ||||||
Pass | Merit | Dist. | Pass | Merit | Dist. | Pass | Merit | Dist. | |
Practical | 25 | 40 | 45 | 40 | 55 | 60 | 55 | 70 | 75 |
Theory | 5 | 10 | 15 | 10 | 15 | 20 | 20 | 25 | 30 |
Further information
You can find more information about Ofqual and the QCF at www.ofqual.co.uk.
Introduction | Practical exams | Theory exams | Diplomas | Music Medals