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Practical Grades

Performance Grades

Music Theory

Diploma

Jazz

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.

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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