Specific needs
Support for candidates with specific needs taking ABRSM exams
Welcome to the specific needs section of our website. On these pages, you'll find information on the access arrangements and reasonable adjustments we can provide, as well as advice on how to select relevant access options when you make an exam booking.
Watch our films - for a guide to what happens on the day of a face-to-face exam, visit our Practical Grade guidance page. You'll find three short films on: arriving at the exam venue, the exam itself and how to prepare just before your exam.
Digital ARSM Performance diplomas - it's currently not possible to select an access arrangement when booking digital ARSM Performance diplomas. To request an access arrangement, please email [email protected] with your booking details and requirements. We'll then add this to your booking.
We are committed to providing fair access to our exams for candidates with specific needs. Fair access is our term to cover access arrangements and reasonable adjustments. We offer a wide range of access arrangements and reasonable adjustments for each type of exam including: tests in alternative formats; alternative tests and adaptations to standard tests; additional time and the presence of a prompter or chaperone.
If you require any advice on what options are most appropriate, please email our Specific Needs Team ahead of making your booking.
It is important to note that we are not permitted to make allowances or concessions in the marking on account of your specific needs. All candidates are assessed equally.
Our Specific Needs Policy explains what we offer candidates with specific needs and how you should tell us about your requirements when making an exam booking. It also explains how to send us supporting evidence, how we handle your personal and sensitive data and what to do if your needs change or you amend your exam booking.
We review and update this policy regularly. It's therefore important that you read it time you make a booking for a candidate with specific needs.
You can download the policy on this page. We can also provide it in alternative formats on request.
Downloads
You must request all access arrangements and reasonable adjustments when you book your exam - it is not possible to add or change access arrangements and reasonable adjustments after you've booked. If you are a teacher or parent, it is important to be aware of the candidate’s specific needs before booking their exam.
You can only select one option - if none of the options describe your specific needs, please select the option that relates to any additional test materials you need, such as large print or alternative tests. You should complete the exam booking and then email the Specific Needs Team immediately to explain your specific needs in full. We will then write to the examiner and make any other necessary arrangements.
You must select the relevant specific needs option each time you make an exam booking - you must do this even if you have received access arrangements or reasonable adjustments previously.
Please see our Specific Needs Policy for more information.
Preparing for an exam
You should review the information in the relevant guidelines before making an exam booking. If you have questions or specific requirements that are not covered by these guidelines, please contact our Specific Needs Team.
When you book, select the relevant access option for each exam
You should do this even if you have asked for access arrangements or reasonable adjustments before.
If none of the access options cover your specific needs or you have questions about the reasonable adjustments you might be able to ask for, contact our Specific Needs team as early as possible. For face-to-face exams, please do this before the booking period closes.
We are unable to provide reasonable adjustments or access arrangements if you tell us after you've booked the exam or if you move your original exam appointment to a different day.
Please see our Specific Needs Policy for more information.
Important information for digital ARSM Performance diplomas
It's currently not possible to select access arrangements when you book digital ARSM Performance diplomas. To request an access arrangement, please email [email protected] with your booking details and requirements. We'll then add this to your booking.
Our fair access guidelines
Our fair access guidelines, which you can access from this page, cover face-to-face instrumental and singing exams (including Practical Grades) for a range of specific needs, as well as digital Performance Grades and Music Theory exams.
We constantly review and update these guidelines. We recommend you bookmark this page and refer back to them every time you make a booking for a candidate with specific needs.
We require supporting evidence the first time you request access arrangements for an exam. We do not require supporting evidence for reasonable adjustments. If you are unsure whether you need to provide supporting evidence, please contact the Specific Needs Team: [email protected].
Please send your supporting documents by email to [email protected]. You will receive an auto response, but we do not respond to enquiries sent to this address. Instead, please send any questions to [email protected].
Please refer to our Privacy Policy and Specific Needs Policy for further information.
Contact details for our Specific Needs Team
ABRSM
4 London Wall Place
London
EC2Y 5AU
T +44 (0)20 7467 7342
E [email protected]
