The Royal Conservatory of Music certificate program has ten numbered levels. Piano students can take two early exams before Level 1, called Preparatory A and Preparatory B. After Level 10 comes a diploma called the ARCT. A student plays for an examiner at every level. From Level 5 up, written theory exams are part of the full certificate.
This guide walks through the levels from the bottom to the top. The facts here were checked against RCM’s own published requirements in November 2026. RCM can change its rules, so confirm the details with a teacher or at rcmusic.com before you register.
What RCM is
The Royal Conservatory of Music is a music school in Toronto, founded in 1886. People call it RCM, or “the Conservatory.” Its certificate program is used across Canada, and it also runs in the United States.
The program covers more than 20 instruments, plus voice. Each instrument has a syllabus. The syllabus lists the pieces a student may choose from and the skills needed at each level. The piano books are sold as the Celebration Series.
Older teachers and older books may say “Grade 1” to “Grade 10.” RCM now calls them levels. They mean the same steps.
The levels in three stages
RCM sorts the levels into three stages, with the diploma on top.
| Stage | Levels | Theory exam needed for the full certificate |
|---|---|---|
| Elementary | Preparatory A and B (piano), Levels 1 to 4 | None |
| Intermediate | Levels 5 to 8 | One theory exam at each level |
| Advanced | Levels 9 and 10 | Theory, history, and harmony exams |
| Diploma | ARCT | Three more written exams |
The Preparatory levels
Preparatory A and Preparatory B are for piano only. They give a young pianist a first exam before Level 1. The pieces are short, and many come from the kinds of books beginners already use.
Other instruments have their own starting point, called Introductory or Preparatory. The name depends on the instrument.
A beginner does not have to take a Preparatory exam. Many students take their first exam at Level 1 or later.
Elementary: Levels 1 to 4
At these levels the certificate needs one thing: the practical exam. The student plays pieces, studies, and scales, and does short ear tests and sight reading.
No written exam is required. Students still learn theory in their lessons, because they need it to read their pieces. Level 5 brings the first required theory exam, so many teachers start written theory work early.
Intermediate: Levels 5 to 8
From Level 5, each level has a matching theory exam: Level 5 Theory, Level 6 Theory, Level 7 Theory, and Level 8 Theory.
A student who passes only the practical exam earns a practical certificate for that level. A student who also passes the matching theory exam earns the comprehensive certificate. The two exams are booked apart, so a student can take them in different sessions.
Pieces at these levels are longer and come from several periods of music history. A student usually plays one piece from each list in the syllabus, so the program covers different styles.
Advanced: Levels 9 and 10
Levels 9 and 10 ask for much more written work.
For the Level 9 comprehensive certificate, a student needs the Level 9 practical exam plus three written exams: Level 8 Theory, Level 9 History, and Level 9 Harmony. Keyboard Harmony can take the place of Harmony.
For Level 10, the three exams from Level 9 carry forward. Two more are added: Level 10 History, and Level 10 Harmony and Counterpoint. Keyboard Harmony is again an option.
A student who wants to go on to the ARCT needs a strong Level 10 result: at least 75 overall, or at least 70 in every section of the practical exam.
The ARCT diploma
ARCT stands for Associate of The Royal Conservatory. It is a diploma, and it comes in two main kinds: performance and teaching. For the performance diploma, a student must first hold the Level 10 comprehensive certificate in the same instrument.
The ARCT also has three written exams of its own: ARCT History, ARCT Harmony and Counterpoint, and ARCT Analysis. The pass mark for the performance exam is 70, which is higher than the pass mark at the levels below. RCM’s website lists the full rules for each kind of ARCT.
What happens in a practical exam
A practical exam is one student and one examiner. RCM describes four parts:
- Repertoire. The student plays three to five pieces.
- Studies. The student plays one or two short technical pieces, called etudes.
- Technical tests. Scales, chords, and arpeggios.
- Musicianship. Ear tests, sight reading, and rhythm.
Exams take place in person at an exam center or by remote video. RCM holds exam sessions several times a year. Check its website for this year’s dates and deadlines.
Marks and results
Each exam is marked out of 100. A mark of 60 passes. Marks of 70 to 79 earn Honors, 80 to 89 earn First Class Honors, and 90 to 100 earn First Class Honors with Distinction.
RCM says practical results usually take four to six weeks. The report gives a mark for each part and written comments from the examiner. Read more in RCM exam marks explained.
Things parents often ask
Does my child have to start at the bottom? No. RCM lets a student begin at any level. A teacher picks the level that fits.
Does my child have to take every level? No. Students can skip exams. Some teachers enter a student every second level and teach the skills in between.
Is there an age limit? No. RCM says levels follow musical growth, not age or school grade. Adults take the exams too.
How long does one level take? It differs from student to student. Ask the teacher what they expect for your child.
Do the exams count for school? RCM says every Canadian province gives high school credit for certain exams, and the rules differ by province. In the United States, each school or school board decides.
Is the theory exam required? Only for the comprehensive certificate. From Level 5 up, a student can pass the practical exam alone and receive a practical certificate.
To see the exact exams for one level, use the RCM certificate requirements tool. For the written side, read RCM theory requirements by level. To compare RCM with other systems, read music exams for kids.
More from this guide
This article is part of Music exams for kids: how RCM, ABRSM, and other graded exams work.
ABRSM grades explained for parents: from Initial Grade to Grade 8
How ABRSM music exams work: the Prep Test, Initial Grade, Grades 1 to 8, Practical and Performance Grades, the marks, and the Grade 5 theory rule.
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 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.