Private Visits during face-to-face exam sessions
Due to high demand during our face-to-face sessions, some dates may become unavailable for Private Visit bookings. These dates are greyed out in the booking service and you won’t be able to select them. Please select an alternative date for your booking.
How to book exams at Private Visits
- Face-to-face instrumental and singing exams
- Paper-based Music Theory exams (Grades 6–8)
Private Visits take place at an approved venue provided by a teacher, school or other organisation. Only candidates of the Visit Organiser or their Permitted Applicants can take exams at a Private Visit.
Percussion, Organ and Harpsichord exams can only take place at a Private Visit as we are unable to offer them at our Public Venues.
Key facts
Instrumental and singing exams – you can choose the date(s) for your Private Visit and booking closes 28 days before the start date. Due to high demand, some dates may not be available during our busy face-to-face exam sessions. You normally need at least three hours’ of examining time.
Paper-based Music Theory exams (Grades 6 to 8) – the venue must be a school, college or other educational organisation, or the education department of a prison or hospital. There is no minimum number of candidates and exams take place on set dates with set booking periods. You can check these on our dates and fees page.
Visit Organisers - book and run Private Visits. They may or may not be exam applicants. The Visit Organiser is responsible for applying for approval for their venue, booking the Private Visit and for sharing their venue code with any Permitted Applicants. They can also rearrange their timetable for instrumental and singing exams.
Permitted Applicants - have received permission from a Visit Organiser to book candidates at a Private Visit. The Visit Organiser will provide you with a venue code, which you will need to enter when you book candidates at the visit for the first time.
Additional information – if you are a Visit Organiser or interested in becoming one, check our additional information for Private Visits to find out more and read our terms and conditions.
-
Face-to-face instrumental and singing exams – Practical Grades, ARSM diploma, Prep Test, Performance Assessment and DipABRSM, LRSM and FRSM diplomas
- Private Visits for instrumental and singing exams take place on a date or dates chosen by the Visit Organiser (excluding Sundays and Bank Holidays). Due to high demand, some dates may not be available during our busy face-to-face exam sessions.
- We require a minimum number of candidates – at least three hours of examining - unless candidates are taking Harpsichord, Organ or Percussion exams.
- You can have jazz exams at a Private Visit if you have a minimum of one hour of jazz exams. The total examining time for the whole visit must be at least three hours.We also offer jazz exams at ABRSM Jazz Visits. These are organised by us and open to all candidates.
- For diploma visits – DipABRSM, LRSM and FRSM exams – you must have at least three hours of diploma exams and can request a particular date.
- Check our exam timings to work out how much examining time you have and how many days you need to book. Each Private Visit day can include up to 6 hours 30 minutes of exams, plus lunch and breaks, with a start time of 9.00am or 9.30am.
Face-to-face Organ, Percussion, Harpsichord, Choral Singing and Jazz Ensemble exams
- Exams for these subjects must take place at a Private Visit as we are unable to hold them at our Public Venues.
- There is no minimum number of examining hours.
- We aim to provide an examiner on your chosen date, but cannot guarantee this. We will let you know the final date, once we’ve confirmed the visit.
Paper-based Music Theory exams – Grades 6 to 8 only
- Private Visits for Grade 6 to 8 Music Theory exams can only take place at educational institutions/organisations or the education department of a prison or hospital.
-
Exams take place on set dates and there are set booking periods. There is no minimum number of candidates.
If you are interested in holding online Music Theory exams (Grades 1 to 5) for more than one candidates at a single venue, see our online Music Theory guidance.
-
- Instrumental and singing exams – the Visit Organiser can choose their date(s) when they book, excluding Sundays and Bank Holidays. Due to high demand, some dates may not be available during our busy face-to-face exam sessions.
- Organ, Percussion, Harpsichord, Choral Singing and Jazz Ensemble exams – the Visit Organiser can choose a date when they book, excluding Sundays and Bank Holidays. Due to high demand, some dates may not be available during our busy face-to-face exam sessions. We aim to arrange an examiner for your chosen date, but cannot guarantee this. We will let you know the final date, once we’ve confirmed the visit.
- Paper-based Music Theory exams (Grades 6 to 8) – these exams take place on set dates and there are set booking periods. Check our dates and fees page for details.
-
Instrumental and singing exams - you can book exams up to 28 days before the visit start date. Visit organisers can also change the date for their visit up to this point.
Once the 28-day deadline has passed you cannot change the date or start time of your visit as the booked examiner may not be available. Any requests to change dates or start times after we’ve confirmed the visit will be subject to an additional fee.
Music Theory exams (Grades 6 to 8) - you can book exams during the set booking period up to the closing date.
-
You may be able to add extra candidates once a Private Visit booking has been confirmed if space is available in the timetable. However, we cannot guarantee that you will be able to book exams at this stage.
We are unable to accept late bookings for Music Theory exams or DipABRSM, LRSM and FRSM diplomas.
-
The Visit Organiser is responsible for contacting candidates and any Permitted Applicants to let them know the finalised exam times.
Step-by-step guides
For detailed booking guidance for Private Visits see our: