17 Results and Certificates

a) ABRSM’s marking schemes are outlined in the Guide to Exams and Entries as well as in the individual syllabus booklets and These Music Exams.

b) Examiners report direct to ABRSM and are not permitted to divulge any information regarding exam results to any other person.

c) No marks are awarded for the Prep Test or Performance Assessment. A certificate with constructive comments is written by the examiner and presented to the candidate at the end of the assessment.

d) Results for Practical exams are usually issued two to three weeks after the exam date. Results for Theory exams are usually issued approximately six weeks after the exam date. Prior to their issue, results are subject to various standard checks and quality-assurance processes. Additional checks to a selection of results means that, in some instances, their release takes longer, but every effort is made to keep any delay to a minimum.

e) A mark form is issued for each candidate. For Practical exams, the mark form gives a breakdown of the marks awarded for each section and the total number of marks as well as the examiner’s comments. (When a candidate achieves a total of less than 70 marks, a mark form recording only the examiner’s comments will normally be issued, i.e. showing neither a breakdown of marks nor the total.) For Theory exams, the mark form gives a breakdown of the marks awarded for each question and the total number of marks. Theory papers are not returned after marking.

f) All successful candidates receive a certificate, which specifies the subject and grade in which they have been examined. Certificates do not certify that the holders are qualified to teach, nor do they entitle them to append any letters to their names. While indicating a high standard at the level, a Distinction in Grade 8 does not necessarily imply suitability for admission to any of the Royal Schools of Music or any higher education institution, or for a professional career in music.

g) Unless the Applicant requests otherwise and in writing, the results (mark forms/certificates) are posted to the Applicant, whose responsibility it is to pass them on to candidates. Results are also made available to the Applicant online at www.abrsm.org and can be accessed using the Applicant Number and confidential password (see regulation 3c).

h) Results are issued only in accordance with the procedures described in regulation17g; ABRSM will not disclose exam results by telephone or e-mail.

i) ABRSM does not accept responsibility for the loss or non-receipt of any results after their despatch by post. If results have not been received within the expected time (see regulation 17d), the Applicant should notify ABRSM and, if they are confirmed to have been despatched, contact the local sorting office in case they are being held for collection following unsuccessful delivery. ABRSM allows a period of 28 days after the original despatch date in order to allow for undelivered or wrongly delivered results to be returned; during this time, written confirmation of marks may be requested by the Applicant. If after this period results are still missing, the Applicant should notify ABRSM and arrangements will be made for replacement mark forms/certificates to be issued.

j) While ABRSM’s policy is to release results only to the Applicant (see regulation 17g), ABRSM reserves the right to confirm results to another concerned party (e.g. a parent/guardian or head teacher) under the following circumstances: serious illness or death of the Applicant; failure by the Applicant to pass on results within eight weeks of their despatch by ABRSM. ABRSM will endeavour to verify any such circumstances, following which written confirmation of results and/or duplicate certificates may be issued.

k) On application, the result of a past exam may be confirmed in writing to a concerned party (e.g. an Applicant, candidate, parent/guardian):

l) Following government accreditation of ABRSM graded music exams, the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (visit the UCAS website) includes Grades 6–8 in the tariff for UK university and college entrance. At the discretion of individual institutions, students may benefit from the following points recommendations:

Practical

Theory

All results for candidates at these grades are passed on to UCAS in strict confidence in order to allow them to verify UCAS applications.

m) The UK government requires exam data from ABRSM for all candidates between the ages of 11 and 18. Results for candidates between these ages are therefore passed on to the Department for Education (DfE) in strict confidence.

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