8 Date of Exams: Allocation and Notification of Appointments
Practical exams
a) Dates are dependent on the entry option chosen by the Applicant see (Choosing Where and When Exams are Taken). Two options (Large Entry Visit and Special Visit) allow the Applicant to select the date (respectively within or outside the three annual exam Periods. All other options (ABRSM Centre, Standard Visit, and Visit for Harp, Harpsichord, Organ, Percussion, Choral Singing or Jazz Ensemble) operate on the basis that ABRSM allocates the date (within the three annual exam Periods).
b) Where ABRSM allocates the exam date, it takes into account, wherever possible, any date preferences indicated by the Applicant at the time of entry (e.g. preferred week: see Choosing Where and When Exams are Taken) However, date allocations are decided on the basis of scheduling examiners’ time most efficiently while providing convenient appointments to as many candidates as possible, and consequently ABRSM cannot guarantee to fulfil any preferences indicated by the Applicant. The Applicant must therefore ensure that candidates are ready for an exam from the first day of the Period in question. ABRSM cannot accept entries that are conditional on particular dates being allocated or avoided.
c) Notification of the exam date, time and venue is sent to the Applicant as soon as possible after appointments have been allocated and examiners have been booked, and no later than two weeks before the exam date. If notification has not been received by the first day of the exam Period, the Applicant should contact ABRSM.
d) The notification also confirms the names, grades and subjects of candidates entered, and any request for special arrangements/tests (for information about special arrangements see regulation 19). The Applicant is required to check these details and notify ABRSM immediately of any error or correction.
Theory exams
e) Theory exams are held on one day only in each of the three annual exam Periods, and at a specified time (for more information see regulation 4f).
f) Notification is sent to the Applicant, confirming names and grades of candidates entered, and any request for special arrangements (for information about special arrangements see regulation 19). The Applicant is required to check these details and notify ABRSM immediately of any error or correction. A name label is enclosed for each candidate, which must be brought by the candidate to the exam room (see regulation 11f).