Enjoyment through achievement
Earning an ABRSM certificate is a rewarding experience. If you're working hard to make progress with your music, you need a way to recognise your success and reassurance that you're on the right track.
Music exams offer:
Motivation and inspiration, working from a carefully structured syllabus towards a definite goal
A measure of personal progress and attainment against internationally recognised benchmarks
An objective guide to improve your musical skills
Assessment by a respected and independent musician who's highly trained and is monitored
Performance opportunities and a real sense of achievement
What’s new?
New repertoire lists and scale requirements at all grades
Repertoire:
-More choice than ever before, with the lists extended to ten pieces (30 pieces in total per grade)
-Duet option included for the first time – up to Grade 3
-Revised list structure
Scales requirements:
-A more realistic and manageable assessment load, with the focus instead on technical development and progression
-Initial Grade exam introduced – a pre-Grade 1 assessment following the same structure, content and assessment criteria as ABRSM’s existing graded music exams (three pieces, scales and arpeggios, sight-reading and aural tests)
Syllabus validity:
Piano syllabus 2021 & 2022 comes into effect on 1 January 2021. This means:
-Candidates can begin to present the pieces and scales requirements from the new syllabus;
-Candidates can continue to present the pieces and scales requirements from the 2019 & 2020 syllabus during the overlap period (see below);
-Sight-reading and aural test requirements remain exactly the same as for the 2019 & 2020 syllabus.
Syllabus overlap:
For candidates wishing to present pieces and scale requirements from the 2019 & 2020 syllabus, a one-year overlap period (up to 31 December 2021) now applies to all countrie.
All three pieces and the scales requirements must be prepared from the same syllabus.
Earning an ABRSM certificate is a rewarding experience. If you're working hard to make progress with your music, you need a way to recognise your success and reassurance that you're on the right track.
Music exams offer:
Motivation and inspiration, working from a carefully structured syllabus towards a definite goal
A measure of personal progress and attainment against internationally recognised benchmarks
An objective guide to improve your musical skills
Assessment by a respected and independent musician who's highly trained and is monitored
Performance opportunities and a real sense of achievement
What’s new?
New repertoire lists and scale requirements at all grades
Repertoire:
-More choice than ever before, with the lists extended to ten pieces (30 pieces in total per grade)
-Duet option included for the first time – up to Grade 3
-Revised list structure
Scales requirements:
-A more realistic and manageable assessment load, with the focus instead on technical development and progression
-Initial Grade exam introduced – a pre-Grade 1 assessment following the same structure, content and assessment criteria as ABRSM’s existing graded music exams (three pieces, scales and arpeggios, sight-reading and aural tests)
Syllabus validity:
Piano syllabus 2021 & 2022 comes into effect on 1 January 2021. This means:
-Candidates can begin to present the pieces and scales requirements from the new syllabus;
-Candidates can continue to present the pieces and scales requirements from the 2019 & 2020 syllabus during the overlap period (see below);
-Sight-reading and aural test requirements remain exactly the same as for the 2019 & 2020 syllabus.
Syllabus overlap:
For candidates wishing to present pieces and scale requirements from the 2019 & 2020 syllabus, a one-year overlap period (up to 31 December 2021) now applies to all countrie.
All three pieces and the scales requirements must be prepared from the same syllabus.