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Face-to-face exams

How to book face-to-face exams

On this page you can find information about booking the following face-to-face exams: 

  • Practical Grades 
  • ARSM Music Performance diploma 
  • Prep Test 
  • Open Music Assessment (formerly Performance Assessment)  
  • Practical Musicianship Grades 

Practical Grades and ARSM Performance diplomas - candidates must have live accompaniment for pieces or songs that are published with an accompaniment or duet part, unless the syllabus says otherwise. For Jazz Practical Grades only, you can choose from live accompaniment or a backing track. You may want to ensure that an accompanist will be available before you book the exam.

Our history

Online booking – use our online service to book these exams. Click Login/Register at the top of the page to get started.  

Exam locations and dates – we offer these exams at: 

  • Public Venues - organised by us during regular exam sessions and open to anyone. Check our dates and fees page for booking periods and exam dates. 
  • ABRSM Jazz Visits – organised by us on specific dates in our exam sessions and open to anyone. See below for more information. 
  • Private Visits – at venues provided and run by a teacher, school or other organisation and only open to candidates of the Visit Organiser or their Permitted Applicants. For instrumental and singing exams you must normally have at least three hours of exams and you can usually choose the exam date(s). 

We have special arrangements for the following exams: 

  • Jazz Practical Grades and Open Music Assessments – only available in Australia, India, Ireland, New Zealand, Singapore and the UK at ABRSM Jazz Visits or Private visits, see below.
  • Percussion, Organ and Harpsichord exams – only available at Private Visits, see below. 
Public Venues

Face-to-face instrumental and singing exams take place on dates in our exam sessions, usually between 9.00am and 5.35pm. You can choose your venue and date (but not the time) from a list of options. The number of dates and venues available depends on the location. We confirm exam times after the booking period when we’ve finalised the timetables. 

Check our step-by-step guide to booking exams at a Public Venue.

ABRSM Jazz Visits

ABRSM Jazz Visits take place at venues organised by us on set dates during our regular exam sessions. They are open to anyone.  

You can book at an ABRSM Jazz Visit from the date the booking period opens until 28 days before the visit date. The usual booking period closing date does not apply. 

See below for a step-by-step guide below to booking your exams at an ABRSM Jazz Visit.  

Face-to-face Jazz exams are only available in Australia, India, Ireland, New Zealand, Singapore and the UK. 

A young woman in a yellow jumper plays the saxophone

Face-to-face exam dates and fees

Private Visits

The information here  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. 

If you have at least three hours of instrumental and singing exams we can provide an examiner for your venue, usually on a date of your choice.  

  • Jazz - you can have Jazz exams at a visit if you have at least one hour of Jazz exams and at least three hours of exams in total.  

  • Percussion, Organ and Harpsichord – these exams must take place at a Private Visit. There is no minimum number of candidates for these instruments. 

Exam timings

How long do exams take?

Check the table below to find out how long our face-to-face exams take.

Digital Performance Grades and ARSM Performance diplomas – candidates preparing for digital exams should check the syllabus for the maximum programme time for their exam. For digital exams, the exam slots on our online booking service will be one minute longer than the times shown here for face-to-face Practical Grades and ARSM Performance diplomas.

Candidates with specific needs – ­extra time may be available for candidates with certain specific needs. Please check our specific needs pages for details.

 
Instruments and singing
Music Theory**  
 Piano and harpsichord Singing Harp and Organ All other subjects  
Prep Test10 mins10 mins-12 mins-
Initial Grade12 mins--12 mins-
Grade 1*12 mins13 mins17 mins12 mins90 mins
Grades 2 and 3*12 mins15 mins19 mins14 mins90 mins
Grades 4 and 5*15 mins15 mins22 mins17 mins120 mins
Grade 620 mins20 mins25 mins20 mins180 mins
Grade 725 mins25 mins30 mins25 mins180 mins
Grade 830 mins30 mins35 mins30 mins180 mins
ARSM in Performance 40 mins40 mins45 mins40 mins-
Open Music Assessment 15 mins15 mins20 mins15 mins-


* Jazz Practical Grades - add an extra three minutes   
** Grade 6 to 8 Music Theory - candidates who finish early can leave the exam at any time after 40 minutes. At Grades 1 to 5, Music Theory candidates can end the online exam at any time.

 
Ensembles
 Instrumental/singing and jazz Choral Singing 
Primary/Initial17 mins20 mins
Intermediate23 mins22 mins
Advanced30 mins25 mins

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