Music exams and exam boards

Music Examination Boards - Music Exam Boards providing Music Examinations
and more throughout the UK. There are a number of independent bodies who solely provide assessment in musical ability which are open to all.

• ABRSM graded (Grade 1-8) music exams for all instruments, vocal, music theory or musicianship, etc.

The Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music is the exam board of the Royal Schools of Music, delivering over 650,000 exams and assessments every year in 93 countries. ABRSM is committed to supporting high-quality music-making, learning and development throughout the world, and to producing the best possible resources for music teachers and students.
For more details, please visit:  http://www.abrsm.org/
Facebook http://www.facebook.com/abrsm  Twitter http://twitter.com/abrsm
You Tube channel: ABRSM YouTube

• Rock School

Rockschool is the leading accredited provider of rock and pop exams worldwide.

They are committed to making music examination, practical, flexible and fun!

Rockschool leads rock and pop music exams worldwide. The Graded Music Exams (Grade 1-8), Diplomas and Vocational Qualifications are taught the world over and are renowned for their practicality, flexibility and creativity. Their qualifications are inspired by the legends of rock and created with you, the musician, in mind. Learn by playing the music you love and gain a recognised qualification in the process!
Rockschool is accredited throughout the UK by the qualifications regulators of England (Ofqual), Wales (DCELLS), Northern Ireland (CCEA) and Scotland (SQA Accreditation). 

For more details, please visit:  www.rockschool.co.uk
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Rockschool/
You Tube channel: Rockschool Ltd

• Trinity College London

Trinity College London is an international exam board that has been providing assessments since 1877. With a rich heritage of academic rigour and a positive, supportive approach to assessment, it provides recognised and respected qualifications in a unique spectrum of communicative skills — from music, drama and arts activities to English language — at all levels. Each year over 600,000 candidates in over 60 countries take a Trinity assessment and their international network is growing fast.
Trinity exams and assessments are designed to help students progress. They encourage candidates to bring their own choices and interests into the exams — this motivates students and makes the assessment more relevant and enjoyable.
Trinity exams are internationally recognised and fully accredited by Ofqual (Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation) and other education authorities in many countries around the world.
For more details, please visit:  www.trinitycollege.co.uk  
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TrinityCollegeLondon
You Tube channel: trinitycollegelondon

Other examination boards based in the UK include the London College of Music; Victoria College of Music, the National College of Music.

Music exams are set in both theory and practical aspects. The theory examinations are taken by pupils of all instruments and typically cover areas such as musical notation, construction of scales and composition.
The practical exams concentrate on the particular instrument favoured by the pupil, for example piano, guitar or flute. They cover elements such as playing set pieces, technical work including scales, sight reading, aural, musical knowledge and improvisation.
In the United Kingdom the music exams are graded from 1 to 8, with Grade 1 being the entry level, and Grade 8 being the standard required for entry to higher study in a music college. Additionally, Trinity College London offers an Initial level qualification at Entry Level 3 of the UK Qualifications and Credit Framework, and ABRSM offer a Prep Test qualification as a useful preparation before the Grade 1 exam. LCM offers two Step exams at this level and VCM offers four Introductory grades aimed at those in the first 18 months of learning.
We encourage you enrol online, this is the most efficient way to manage your exam progress.

Where to buy music books needed for exams?
You can buy music books directly from each of the exam board, please search shop or exam books on their websites. They are publishers too. And also all their books are available on other websites, e.g. www.amazon.co.uk    www.musicroom.com or even eBay.