Hi guys, sorry if there's already a post about this or this is in the wrong place.

I'm filling in my UCAS form online, the school deadline is Thursday (maybe they did tell us that earlier but I wasn't paying attention, lol).

So - does anyone know if there's a correct way to put on your music exams?? I'm applying to music and I think my results could be used for conditionals, so I'd like to get it right so UCAS can contact ABRSM and I get my offers etc etc.

When you put in qualifications it starts by asking you to add a school, so I put in my secondary school, and then I add all my school exams. Easy. But when I go to put in my music exams, if I add them the same way, it comes up with my school's name and centre number, not the ABRSM centre number (but I do get the option of choosing ABRSM as the examining body). To get the right centre number, it seems I have to add ABRSM as a "school", and say how long I attended and was it full time/part time/sandwich. Hmm...

So really what I need to know is:
Is it all that important if the centre number is wrong, as long as the examining body is correct?
I don't know how the communication between UCAS and ABRSM works, but I'd rather they didn't contact my school because they might kill me


Anyway thanks for any help you can give me! Good luck to anyone else doing UCAS/CUKAS applications and auditions!

I can't really remember much about my ucas. but what i did was i rang up my teacher and asked her about the centre no. where i sat my exam.

I personally don't think it matters that much. Could you specify where you sit the exam (eg. ABC school in London)?

I work in a university. No, it doesn't matter at all. (There's no way we could even check!)

All we care about is what grade you've got to on your instrument/s.

Thanks! How does it work then if I've still to sit an exam (G8 flute in June) after I've submitted my UCAS form and done auditions/interviews; does UCAS need to tell the uni if I passed it by asking ABRSM? Or is that not necessary if I've put on my UCAS form that I've got a pending Grade 8, and I've played well enough at the audition?

Ah at this rate filling in the form is gonna be more stressful than the actual auditions!

I guess that if the uni wants to make passing your grade 8 a condition of your place, then you will either have to tell UCAS once you've passed it, or will have to tell the uni direct. If they give you a place on condition of your A-level results, you won't have to worry about telling anyone about the flute exam. (The latter is more normal - unis only usually look at things like ABRSM exams if someone hasn't gone the standard a-level route.)

I think from what I remember if you go to qualifications, there might be an 'other' option, but there is definitely room for music exams - I put my grade 7 down. You don't add ABRSM as your school, it is a different option. I looked on my exam certificate from Guildhall to get the code, or email the ABRSM - I am sure they can help you. Just contact the AB on a different email address It doesn't really matter.

I was going to do my 8 in the December, but didn't put it as pending...

Thanks everyone!

I'll just put it in under my school bit and hope for the best, I can't go too far wrong when it's such an odd system, and I'm sure loads of other people'll do the same.

I doubt it'd get used for conditions either, but I did the rather odd thing of skipping Higher and going straight to Advanced Higher (and Advanced Higher has had the performance grade lowered year after year so now it's only equivalent to Grade 5 for performance), so I wasn't sure if that'd look weird enough that they might want ABRSM exam results as well. Annoyingly my grade 7 piano result should come in just after I've sent my form away.


Anyway thanks again for all your help, I get a bit neurotic about filling in forms!

I wondered the same thing. On the CUKAS form (understandably) there was a separate section, but on the UCAS form I just included it in my personal statement.

I'm actually in a rater similar situation to you...I did sit the Higher exam, but studied for Advanced Higher throughout the course. (Not entirely sure why...). I'm guessing you're applying for Music - good luck .

I just put mine under my school too, and it seems to be okay.

Ah, I did that too - it does look a bit weird having only 4 Highers and more AHs, but oh well...

Aaah see I didn't do music at all in S5 so I haven't got any SQA music qualifications - my Adv H. is the only one I'll have other than Standard Grade, which is why I'm all crazy about conditions incase the unis go all weird on me for not having any proof that I'm actually any use at the subject I want to teach! (do I sound stressed?! I'm not stressed )

I decided not to take it in S5 because at that point I was leaning more towards a career in Graphics, which was in the same timetable column as Higher/Adv H music, so I had to choose between them, but I asked my teacher at the start of S5 if I could do Adv H in S6, so I took Graphics. I just didn't really see the point in doing the Higher exam when it's only grade 4 and most of the theory/literacy you learn anyway by being as geeky a musician as I am and going off on courses and stuff - some of the people in the Adv. H class I'm in are amazing guitarists but can't read music and don't "get" key signatures... tis madness but I loves it.

So yes... good luck with all your applications too! I'm totally procrastinating on doing my personal statement... could you tell?