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More information
Update 26 April 2021 - refunds for exams from April to July 2021
To support customers affected by ongoing COVID restrictions, for all ABRSM exams in all countries any absent candidate will automatically receive a full refund.
This includes Performance Grade exams where the candidate has been unable to record and upload their video, and online Music Theory exams at Grades 1 to 5. You do not need to contact us to request a refund. However, it will help us if you log in to your account and cancel the exam.
- For Performance Grades we will issue refunds within one month of the end of the exam session (not the exam date).
- For online Music Theory (Grades 1 to 5) we will issue refunds within one month of the end of the exam session.
|
Exam type |
Exam session |
Refunds will be received by |
|
Performance Grades |
May |
end of June |
|
Performance Grades |
June |
end of July |
|
Performance Grades |
July |
end of August |
|
Online Music Theory (Grades 1 to 5) |
May-June |
end of July |
Update 26 April 2021 - refunds for exams from April to July 2021
To support customers affected by ongoing COVID restrictions, for all ABRSM exams in all countries any absent candidate will automatically receive a full refund.
This includes Performance Grade exams where the candidate has been unable to record and upload their video, and online Music Theory exams at Grades 1 to 5. You do not need to contact us to request a refund. However, it will help us if you log in to your account and cancel the exam.
- For Performance Grades we will issue refunds within one month of the end of the exam session (not the exam date).
- For online Music Theory (Grades 1 to 5) we will issue refunds within one month of the end of the exam session.
|
Exam type |
Exam session |
Refunds will be received by |
|
Performance Grades |
May |
end of June |
|
Performance Grades |
June |
end of July |
|
Performance Grades |
July |
end of August |
|
Online Music Theory (Grades 1 to 5) |
May-June |
end of July |
Update 10 March 2021
Face-to-face practical exams in 2021
We have published all planned dates for face-to-face practical exams in 2021. However, we will need to keep these dates under review as we can only accept bookings if COVID travel and government restrictions are lifted. Please continue to check the Dates and Fees page for the most up to date information.
Performance Grades
We are pleased to confirm that we will be offering Performance Grade exams every month for the remainder of 2021. Confirmed dates up to September 2021 are available on our website and we will continue to run exams every month from October to December and beyond. Please check our Dates and Fees page for details. Our next Performance Grade booking period is open from 7 to 14 April, with exam submission dates in May. You can find all our Performance Grades information here. Our YouTube Performance Grades playlist is also a great place to find guidance, advice and tips.
Music Theory
Online Music Theory exams (Grades 1 to 5) – forthcoming dates
We have changed the way we provide online Music Theory exams to provide an improved and more flexible service for candidates. We can now confirm the next opportunity for candidates to take online Music Theory exams at Grades 1 to 5.
Booking period: 26 April to 4 May 2021 - you can book exams during this period using our online booking service.
Exam window: 26 May to 23 June 2021 - candidates can take their exam on any date/time between 26 May and 23 June. You do not have to select a specific date when you book.
From August 2021 we will be introducing further improvements to the online Music Theory exam service we offer and will provide more information about this as soon as we can.
You can find information about booking, preparing for and taking the exam, including full technical requirements, on our website here. Please read this information carefully before booking an exam.
Music Theory exams at Grade 6 to 8 will continue as paper-based exams. Please check our Dates and Fees page for planned dates.
Grade 5 Music Theory requirement
We are extending our Grade 5 Music Theory waiver until 23 May 2021. This means that candidates with a Grade 6 to 8 Performance Grade exam submission date up to and including 23 May can take their exam without first passing Grade 5 Music Theory. We are making this exceptional arrangement to allow candidates who have been unable to take an exam in recent months to progress with their learning. From 24 May, the Grade 5 Music Theory requirement will return. For exam dates/exam submission dates after 23 May, all candidates taking a Grade 6 to 8 Performance or Practical Grade must first pass Grade 5 Music Theory.
03 February 2021
Face-to-face practical exams in 2021
We have published all planned dates for face-to-face practical exams in 2021. However, we will need to keep these dates under review as we can only accept bookings if COVID travel and government restrictions are lifted. Please continue to check the Dates and Fees page for the most up to date information.
2 November 2020
Syllabus Validity and Overlap Periods
Due to COVID-19, we are happy to extend the overlap periods of the Bowed Strings 2016–2019 syllabus, and the Percussion 1990–2009 syllabus. Please read the Syllabus Overlap guidance carefully for the full requirements and arrangements for your syllabus. Key dates are summarised below for reference but you will need to refer to the full published guidance for the complete details of how to prepare.
|
Syllabus |
Published end date |
Published overlap period (worldwide) |
Special COVID-19 extension arrangements (worldwide) |
|
Bowed Strings 2016–2019 |
31 December 2019 |
Until 31 December 2020
|
Please note, due to COVID-19 we are happy to extend this overlap to the first opportunity for candidates to take their exam in 2021. Special permission is no longer required. Candidates should inform the examiner, and/or indicate on the programme form, that they are playing pieces from the 2016–2019 syllabus. Any candidate starting preparations for an exam in 2021 must use the new 2020–2023 syllabus. |
|
Percussion 1990–2019 |
31 December 2019 |
Until 31 December 2020
|
Please note, due to COVID-19 we are happy to extend this overlap to the first opportunity for candidates to take their exam in 2021. Special permission is no longer required. Candidates should inform the examiner, and/or indicate on the programme form, that they are using the 1990–2019 syllabus. Any candidate starting preparations for an exam in 2021 must use the new Percussion syllabus, available for four subjects – Snare Drum, Timpani, Tuned Percussion and Percussion (Combined). |
23 October
Performance Grades – first exam session and 15% discount
Performance Grades are our new performance-focused exams, which examiners assess remotely from a video recording submitted by the candidate. Candidates prepare four pieces or songs and can record their exam performance in a location of their choice, at a time that suits them. Remotely-assessed ARSM exams are also available.
The booking period for our first remotely-assessed Performance Grade and ARSM exams is 1 to 8 December 2020 and the exam session runs from 5 to 31 January 2021.
- You will need to use our new online booking service to book exams. Link to www.abrsm.org/newfor2020. Detailed information about this will be available soon by email and on our website.
- When you book, you can choose an exam date within the exam session. This will be the latest date you can submit the exam video. We have a set number of exam slots available, so please book early for the widest choice of dates.
- Candidates can record their exam at any time, then submit the video once an exam date has been booked.
- Before recording the exam, you must read our Guidance for Remotely-assessed Performance Grade Exams or Guidance for Remotely-assessed ARSM Exams.
- Please also read our Special COVID Arrangements for Accompaniment in Remotely-Assessed Exams, extended until 31 January 2021.
- From 2021 we aim to provide regular sessions for remotely-assessed exams throughout the year and we will confirm dates as soon as we can.
We are pleased to offer applicants a 15% introductory discount on the full fee for remotely-assessed Performance Grade and ARSM exams booked in December 2020. We will email a discount code to all applicants before the booking period opens. You can then enter this code when you book exams using our new online booking service. We will provide further instructions by email with your discount code. The full fees have been published on our website.
Visit our Performance Grades pages for further information and syllabuses. For more advice and tips, visit our YouTube Performance Grades playlist.
Online Music Theory – 2021 dates
Earlier this year we announced that we are moving Music Theory at Grades 1 to 5 to an online exam and have made some changes to the questions and the syllabus for these exams. Candidates will be able to take their exam in any location where they have access to a laptop or desktop computer with a webcam and the internet.
In 2021 we are offering six dates for Grade 1 to 5 exams and the following are confirmed:
- Tuesday 16 March at 17.00 (Booking period: 1 to 8 February)
- Sunday 23 May at 10.00 (Booking period: 6 to 13 April)
- Saturday 19 June at 10.00 (Booking period: 4 to 11 May)
These are global dates and will be the same for all candidates worldwide. Online Music Theory exams later in the year will take place in August, October and November. We will publish exact dates for these exams on our website soon, along with planned dates for paper-based exams at Grades 6 to 8.
You can find all our online Music Theory information and resources here.
Face-to-face practical exams in 2021
We have now published planned dates for face-to-face practical exams in 2021. However, we will need to keep these dates under review as we can only accept bookings if COVID travel and government restrictions are lifted. We will provide an update nearer to each booking period.
To check exam dates for 2021 click here.
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