About our exams
We design our exams to inspire and challenge developing musicians and to recognise and celebrate their progress.
What exams can you take?
We provide exams in a range of styles for musicians at all levels. Our most popular exams include:
Practical Grades
- For classical instruments and singing, Singing for Musical Theatre and jazz instruments
- Up to nine levels depending on your subject
- A focus on all-round musical skills, including performance
- Face-to-face exams
Performance Grades
- For classical instruments and singing and Singing for Musical Theatre
- Up to nine levels depending on your subject
- A focus on performance
- Digital exams assessed from a video recording
Music Theory Grades
- Eight levels
- A focus on musical knowledge and understanding and how music works
- Online exams for Grades 1 to 5 and paper-based exams for Grades 6 to 8
ARSM diploma
- A performance-only diploma providing a next step after Grade 8
- Choose from a digital or face-to-face
Discover all our exams
We offer many other assessments, from the Prep Test for beginners to higher-level diplomas for performers, directors and teachers.
Find out more about our exams
Select a link below to find out more about our exams, from the benefits for learners to our approach to assessment and marking criteria.
Know what exam you want to book? Go straight to our online booking service.