Having read through the ABRSM syllabus a while ago i was pretty sure that you needed grade 8 to take dipABRSM. My brother wants to take his diploma and when i alerted him to this fact (he hasn't done grade 8) he assured me that it wasn't necessary. Who is right?
For the record, i am working towards grade 8, and will do my diploma sometime later.

As far as I am aware you certainly need grade 8 to take the DipABRSM although some substitutes are available. Advise your brother to phone the AB to check on these. They are very helpful.

Yes you need grade 8 or a permitted substitution, including appropriate professional experience. Look here.

I believe that with ABRSM Grade 8 is compulsory, but with Trinity it isn't, just need to be at Grade 8 standard...Or so I believe!

IrisH - LoonY

Almost right, Irish-Loony.

For an ATCL you don't need to have a Grade 8 exam under your belt, but whether you do DipABRSM or ATCL, you need to be a far higher standard than Grade 8.

I've just read the requirements. It says that concerts at the appropriate level constitute necessary experience. My brother played a concert at university last week (he did some chopin etudes, nocturnes etc) so i presume that will suffice.

Copied the text below from the syllabus. Not sure that playing in a single concert constitutes appropriate professional experience! But maybe he's done more than that, and in any case, does his course at university constitute a prereq as below?
Good luck.

Appropriate professional experience
At all three levels you may apply to offer appropriate professional experience as a
substitution for the standard ABRSM prerequisite. This is done by filling in the
application form on p. 116 and sending it to the Director of Examinations for
consideration. The form must reach the Board at least six weeks before the published
closing date for the session in which you wish to be examined. It is important to note
that applying for this substitution is a separate procedure from sending in your Entry
Form, and that approval of your professional experience must already have been given
before you can enter for the Diploma.When you are ready to enter, you must enclose the
Associated Board’s approval letter with your completed Entry Form.
Please note the following points:
l The professional experience that you cite on your application form must be
comparable in both subject and level to the prerequisite you are applying to
substitute. This experience should consist of some or all of the following: full-time
music courses other than those listed in the table above; qualifications gained in
areas specifically relating to the prerequisite; and relevant practical experience (for
example, regular (semi-)professional appearances as a performer). These should
have been undertaken or completed within the preceding five years.
l Your professional experience must be supported by a signed declaration from an
independent person of appropriate standing (for example, a course director/
supervisor/tutor, a musical director, orchestral manager, head teacher or other
education professional). Standard wording for this declaration is given on p.117.
l Wherever possible, your application form should be supported by documentary
evidence, such as copies of certificates, details of module/course content, samples of
marked work, concert programmes and reviews, or publicly available recordings.

I wasn't allowed to apply for DipABRSM until I had done Grade 8, even though I had been playing post-grade 8 stuff.

If he's got experience etc. it might be just as easy to sit the Grade 8 so it's out of the way, as I did.

Benj :-)

Absolutely - why not just do grade 8?

Liz

I agree .

If he only wants a 'tick in the box' pass at grade 8, and is at the standard where he's capable of a DipABRSM, it shouldn't take him too long to get one.

I think if one plays at the level that would qualify for a pass at the DipABRSM level, he/she shouldn't have to spend more than a month preparing for the Grade 8. Otherwise it's a good indication that more work is needed before he/she can tackle DipABRSM successfully.

I agree that for a serious diploma student the grade 8 would't pose many problems. However (as many threads have shown) it isn't cheap! Also, i am going for my grade 8 to force me to practice the mind-numbing technical exercises (scales arpeggios etc) which i've neglected far too long. I suspect that my brother is avoiding grade 8 for exactly that reason!

Completely sympathise!
Perhaps your brother just needs to contact the board then, discuss the terms he's proposing to use as his alternative prereqs, and if they're not sufficient, work out what else he needs to do.
All the best for your grade 8!

I agree that scale exercises aren't all that interesting -- I took the Advanced Certificate instead of the DipABRSM on the bassoon precisely because I wanted to skip Grade 8.

However, from my experience, knowing the scales well is one of the important factors in doing well in the Quick Study. If one cannot play all scales well, he/she is likely to have problems in the Quick Study.

My sightreading improved tremendously after I practised scales diligently on the oboe. My sightreading is still far better on instruments on which I have practised scales. Hope this help!

If your brother has another certificates that the level is as same as grade 8 or more. I think it is okay.