I have the ABRSM specimen sighreading tests in a blue book (YAP's from years ago), just like the purple ones (but blue...) and it says 'starting in January 1995' on the cover. Does anyone know if this book has exactly the same content as the new purple book?

I would look at it and remember what's in it then go to a shop and compare but remembering the book in any detail will render it useless as sightreading practice! From a very quick skim and a look in a shop a while back they seem similar but I'm just trying to work out if it's worth buying the purple one or if it's just the same.

Thanks for any help.

I have some pale-blue covered s r books which must pre-date 1995.
One that I compared is different from the current purple book - but since my blue ones have no date on that's not much use to you!
Which grade are you looking at?

I'm almost certain that they're the same - in fact, they are DEFINITELY the same as regards Grade 1, so they're probably the same all up the grades.

I know about the Grade 1, because when I saw the purple covered ones I assumed they were new exercises and bought one, only to discover that they were identical to the blue-cover ones....

Thanks to both of you for your replies.


I thought I'd mentioned that but reading back I haven't d'oh... It's the grade 5 one I'm looking at.

Looks like I'm looking at the same series as Jo though which appear to be the same, thanks for letting me know .

They are virtually the same, but there are slight differences to include examples of changes in the syllabus from 1995. There are a few changes in grade 4 to include compound time examples and I think there were a few changes in key somewhere too. Sorry I can't be more specific - I only have the purple one at hand!

Actually, AnotherPianist, couldn't YAP take the book into your music shop and compare them for you?

I wouldn't want him to get accused of stealing the book that he brought in from the shop though . I know I'm too paranoid - they're not even going to sell it any more .

I'll make him type in the key/time signatures and the tempo markings later if someone would be kind enough to compare these to the purple book .

But he could just go straight to the counter with his old book (he could put his name in the front beforehand, and presumably it looks a bit 'used' anyway) and explain the situation - I'm sure they'd be happy to let him compare them. It's a perfectly reasonable request, after all, and it wouldn't take long for YAP to check through the book - he'd only have to check the beginning of each test!

I'm pretty sure they are all the same, and I think they changed the colour to purple because the blue ones were the same colour as the scale books. I'm sure I wasn't the only person who bought the wrong one by mistake on one occasion!

What grade are you talking about? I can compare them during the week in our music library!

Grade 5, thankyou .

Some of my sight-reading books have disappeared and unfortunately the grade 5 book is one of them. On the front of the grade 4 book it says 'revised edtion from 1999' and there are TWO changes - no 22 and no 33 are now in 6/8. The other purple books that I have here don't say anything on the front and are exactly the same as the blue books.

As far as I know, they are quite the same, but probably like what jo and noodle says, with one or two different tests. I did think they were different when the purple ones first appeared and took them to compare. But I think I only compared one grade.. forgot which grade. But frequent use throughout the years have told me they were similiar.
Hope that helps.

Thanks Noodle, problem solved . I shall continue using the blue book safe in the knowledge that it's the same.

Thanks to everyone else who commented too .

Another problem solved by the ABRSM forum .

The purple books contain a few more exercises in 6/8 time.That's about it.

Talking about sheet music going walkies.

I use the old white s/r specimen tests...long deleted...and I've been missing Grade 2 for a long time ( I lend them out to pupils a few weeks before the exams and use the new ones during the lesson )...it never being returned and I must have forgot to ask for it to be returned.

I have collected a few grades the same...for instance I have ,I think,3 copies of the white Grade 5.

If anyone is in the same predicament and has a spare Grade 2 ( please oh please ) let me know and we could do a swop.

Over the years I have "lost" loads of music. I keep meaning to list music I lend out,but never do.

I didn't manage to get to the library until today. As far as I can see, the blue copies of grade 5 sight reading are the same as the purple ones. It doesn't say anything on the front about changes from 1999 like it did on grade 4.






At least you know why you've lost music. I never lend sight reading books yet I can't seem to find some of them.

Hi Noodle

I know - it's my own fault!