2 Introduction and Overlap of Syllabuses
a) Syllabuses for the various subjects are updated periodically. All new syllabuses are valid from 1 January of their year of introduction. Advance notice of any syllabus change is given in the syllabus updates, and in ABRSM’s magazine, Libretto. The introduction of new scale requirements, sight-reading and/or aural tests does not necessarily coincide with the introduction of new pieces (the latter being the most frequent element of syllabus review).
b) In the first year of any new Practical syllabus, candidates in Period A only (exams taken before or on 31 May) may choose to perform pieces as set in the lists of the preceding syllabus, but they may not combine pieces from the preceding and new syllabuses (except in the case of items that appear in both). No such overlap period necessarily applies to any new scale requirements, sight-reading and/or aural tests, which normally take effect from 1 January of their year of introduction.