About Performance Grades
Performance Grades are digital exams that we assess from a video recording submitted by the candidate. They're available for the following levels and subjects:
- Initial Grade: Piano, Bowed Strings and Drum Kit only
- Grades 1 to 8: a range of instruments and singing, including Singing for Musical Theatre and Drum Kit
- Grades 1 to 5: Jazz instruments
The exams are equivalent in demand and value to our Practical Grades. However, they have a different emphasis with a strong focus on performance, including communication, interpretation and delivery.
Performance Grades are available on demand. There are no booking periods or exam sessions so you can choose when to book, record and submit the exam. You can submit your video when you book or at any time during the next 28 days.
The qualification specification is available to download on this page. It includes information about exam requirements, preparing for the exam, the marking criteria and results. For repertoire lists and information about your exam programme, use the syllabus selector below.
You should also read our information about recording, uploading and submitting your exam. This is available on our Performance Grades guidance page.
Entry requirements - if you are taking Performance Grade 6, 7 or 8 you must pass Grade 5 (or above) in Music Theory, Practical Musicianship or a Jazz Practical Grade before you book your exam. For more information, see the section on entry requirements below.
Downloads
Why take a Performance Grade?
Performance Grades are open to learners of any age and you can start with any grade and skip grades if you want to. We've designed them to inspire and challenge and to recognise and celebrate progress.
Working towards a Performance Grade encourages learners to develop their performance skills and get the most from their music making.
Performance Grades are open to candidates of any age.
There are no entry requirements for Initial Grade and Grades 1 to 5.
If you are taking a Performance Grade 6, 7 or 8 you must pass Grade 5 (or above) in one of the following subjects before you book your exam:
- Music Theory
- Practical Musicianship
- Jazz Practical Grade (Piano, Flute, Clarinet, Sax, Trumpet/Cornet/Flugelhorn or Trombone)
This is to ensure you have the all-round musical knowledge and understanding needed to successfully interpret and perform music at the higher grades.
- Exams passed from 1 January 1994 onwards – there is no need to send us your certificate as we can check our records to verify your qualification. If we are unable to verify your qualification, we will ask you to provide a copy of your certificate.
- Exams passed before 1 January 1994 – you should send us a copy of your certificate at the time of booking.
We also accept the alternative qualifications listed below.
What’s in the exam
Pieces or songs
- A performance of four pieces or songs presented as a continuous programme.
- For Jazz Performance Grades, all pieces must be from the syllabus – with at least one from each list.
- For all other subjects, three pieces or songs must be from the syllabus (one from each list) and one is your own choice.
You can find repertoire lists, programme requirements and timings in the syllabus for your subject, see below.
There are 150 marks available in total. Maximum marks for each part of the exam are:
- Pieces/Songs - 30 marks for each of the four pieces or songs
- Performance as a whole - 30 marks
The result categories are:
- Distinction: 130-150
- Merit: 120-129
- Pass: 100-119
You can find detailed information about marking, including the marking criteria that examiners use, in the relevant qualification specification, available at the top of this page.
