ABRSM music exams run from Grade 1 to Grade 8. Grade 1 is for a student who has learned the basics. Grade 8 is the last step before diploma level. An Initial Grade sits below Grade 1, and a Prep Test gives young beginners a first try with no mark at all.
ABRSM stands for the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music. It was founded in 1889 and is based in London. Its exams are taken in the United Kingdom and in many other countries. This guide explains the steps, the two kinds of exam, the marks, and the theory rule that surprises many parents.
The steps
Prep Test. A short assessment for a child in the first months of lessons. There is no mark and no pass or fail. The child plays for an examiner and takes home a certificate with kind comments. It is a rehearsal for the real thing.
Initial Grade. A graded exam one step below Grade 1. It has the same parts as the higher grades and is marked the same way. ABRSM offers it for some instruments.
Grades 1 to 8. The main ladder. Each grade is a step up in the length of the pieces, the keys of the scales, and the skill of the reading and listening tests.
Diplomas. After Grade 8, a student can work toward ABRSM’s diplomas. The first is called the ARSM.
A student does not have to take every grade. ABRSM does not require a pass at one grade before the next, with one exception: the Grade 5 rule described below.
Two kinds of exam
ABRSM offers each grade in two forms. They lead to the same grade and count the same.
Practical Grades are taken face to face with an examiner. The student plays three pieces. Then come scales and arpeggios, a short piece to read at sight, and aural tests, which are listening tests.
Performance Grades are recorded on video and sent in. The student plays a program of pieces from start to finish with no stops. There are no scales, sight-reading, or aural tests. The mark is for the playing alone.
Which one suits a child? A Practical Grade tests all-round skills. A Performance Grade suits a child who loves to perform, or a family far from an exam center. Ask the teacher which one they recommend, and why.
What happens in a Practical Grade
The student chooses three pieces from the lists in the syllabus. The lists cover different styles. One list tends to be quick and nimble, one song-like, and one varied in character.
The exam has four parts, and the 150 marks are split among them.
| Part | Marks |
|---|---|
| Three pieces, 30 marks each | 90 |
| Scales and arpeggios | 21 |
| Sight-reading | 21 |
| Aural tests | 18 |
| Total | 150 |
This split comes from ABRSM’s bowed string syllabus. Check the syllabus for your child’s instrument, because singing and a few other subjects differ.
The marks
ABRSM marks out of 150.
| Result | Marks |
|---|---|
| Distinction | 130 to 150 |
| Merit | 120 to 129 |
| Pass | 100 to 119 |
A mark under 100 is below the pass standard. The student can prepare again and retake the exam.
The report sheet gives a mark and a short comment for each part. As with any exam, the comments are the useful part. They tell the teacher where to aim the next term’s work.
The Grade 5 theory rule
This rule catches families off guard. Before a student can enter Grade 6, 7, or 8, they must pass one of three exams at Grade 5 or above: Music Theory, Practical Musicianship, or a solo Jazz instrument.
Plan for it early. A student who is flying through the playing grades can be stopped at Grade 5 for a year while the theory catches up. Starting a theory workbook around Grade 2 or 3 spreads the work.
ABRSM theory exams also run from Grade 1 to Grade 8. They test how music is written: notes, rhythms, keys, scales, chords, and terms.
Do the grades count for anything?
In the United Kingdom, Grades 6 to 8 can earn points toward university entry through the UCAS system. Outside the United Kingdom, the value depends on the school or the country. Ask the school.
The wider value is the same as for any graded exam. A grade gives a child a clear goal, a fair outside opinion, and a record of progress.
How long does a grade take?
It differs from child to child. A grade is ready when the pieces are secure, the scales are fluent, and the reading and listening tests feel familiar. A teacher is the best judge. Rushing from one grade to the next leaves little time to play other music.
ABRSM and RCM
Families who move between the United Kingdom and Canada meet both systems. ABRSM has eight grades. The Royal Conservatory of Music, known as RCM, has ten levels. The numbers do not match, and neither do the marks. RCM marks out of 100, with a pass at 60. A teacher who knows both systems can place a student at the right step. Read RCM levels explained for that side.
For the bigger picture, including whether exams suit your child at all, read music exams for kids.
Helpful things to print
Scales are a part of every Practical Grade. The metronome for kids keeps them steady. A weekly practice chart helps a child cover pieces, scales, and reading in the same week. Blank staff paper is useful for theory work.
More from this guide
This article is part of Music exams for kids: how RCM, ABRSM, and other graded exams work.
RCM exam marks explained: pass, honors, and first class honors with distinction
What RCM exam marks mean: 60 to pass, 70 for Honors, 80 for First Class Honors, and 90 for Distinction. How to read the report and what to say to your child.
RCM levels explained: from Preparatory to ARCT
The Royal Conservatory of Music levels in plain words: Preparatory A and B, Levels 1 to 10, and the ARCT. What each stage asks for and how the exams work.
RCM theory requirements by level: which written exams go with each certificate
Which RCM theory exams a student needs at each level, from Level 5 Theory to the ARCT. A plain chart for parents, checked against RCM in November 2026.
Use it with your kids
Print a listening page, a practice chart, or a composer fact sheet. Or try a tool, such as the composer timeline or the piece picker.