Private Visits
Private Visits take place at an approved venue provided by a teacher, school or other organisation. Only candidates of the Visit Organiser or their Permitted Applicants can take exams at a Private Visit.
The information on this page applies to Private Visits in the UK and Ireland. If you are interested in holding a Private Visit in a different country please contact your local ABRSM representative for more information.
Instrumental and singing exams
- Minimum time - you must have at least three hours of exams, unless you have candidates taking Percussion, Organ, Harpsichord, Choral Singing or Jazz Ensemble exams, which must take place at a Private Visit. Timings for exams are available in our qualification specifications and syllabuses.
- Dates and timings - you can usually choose the date(s) for your Private Visit, although some dates may not be available during our busy face-to-face exam sessions. Each day can include up to 6 hours 30 minutes of exams, plus lunch and breaks. You can start your exams any time between 9.00am and 10.00am.
- Adding candidates – you can add candidates until booking closes 28 days before the start date. It may then be possible to make late bookings if space is available.
- Jazz – you can have Jazz exams at your visit if you have at least one hour of Jazz exams. The total examining time for the whole visit must be at least three hours.
- Percussion, Organ, Harpsichord, Jazz Ensembles and Choral Singing – these exams can only take place at a Private Visit as we are unable to hold them at our Public Venues. There is no minimum number of examining hours. We aim to provide an examiner on your chosen date but cannot guarantee this.
Music Theory exams (Grades 6 to 8)
- Venues - the venue must be a school, college or other educational organisation, or the education department of a prison or hospital.
- Candidates - there is no minimum number of candidates.
- Dates – exams take place on set dates available on our dates and fees page.
Downloads
Who’s who
Visit Organisers - book and run Private Visits. They are responsible for applying for approval for their venue, booking the Private Visit and for sharing their venue code with any Permitted Applicants.
Permitted Applicants - have received permission from a Visit Organiser to book their candidates at a Private Visit. The Visit Organiser will provide you with a venue code to enter when you first book candidates at the.
Terms and conditions - if you are a Visit Organiser read our terms and conditions, available to download at the top of this page. These set out how we expect you to organise and host Private Visits.
Risk assessment - Visit Organisers are responsible for providing facilities according to our instructions and for the appropriate conduct of the exam. We advise Visit Organisers to carry out a risk assessment. For guidance, see our risk assessment checklist and form, available to download at the top of this page.
Venue approval and codes – we need to approve a venue before exams take place there for the first time. This can take up to eight working days. The approval will then apply for all future visits at your venue. Once we’ve approved your venue we will provide you with a venue code to share with your Permitted Applicants. This allows them to book candidates at your visit.
Instrumental and singing exams - you can add candidates to a visit up to 28 days before the start date. You may be able to add extra candidates after the 28-day deadline if space is available in the timetable.
Music Theory exams (Grades 6 to 8) - you can book exams during the published booking period.
Check our step-by-step guide to booking a Private Visit and adding candidates.
