These exams incorporate four individual components:

1. Pieces or Songs • 3 pieces, 30 marks each piece;
2. Scales and Arpeggios/Broken Chords • 21 marks;
3. Sight-Reading • 21 marks;
4. Aural Tests • 18 marks;

With four individual components as an objective guide to a candidate’s skills and progress in Grade 1 to Grade 8, ABRSM believes in the importance of all-round musicianship and this forms the basis of the exams.

Total marks in all individual Practical exams are 150.

100 marks are required to achieve a pass
120 marks are required to pass with merit
130 marks are required to pass with distinction

Remarks:

• There is a requirement to have passed Grade 5 Theory exam or Grade 5 Practical Musicianship exam or Grade 5 in a solo Jazz exam before Grades 6-8 Practical exams can be taken.
• There are no age restrictions and students can start with any grade or skip grades if they want to.

​Available exams for instruments:

Classical
Piano • Harpsichord • Organ • Violin • Viola • Cello • Double Bass • Guitar • Harp • Recorder • Flute • Oboe • Clarinet • Bassoon • Saxophone • Horn • Trumpet • Cornet • Flugelhorn • Eb Horn • Trombone • Bass Trombone • Baritone • Euphonium • Tuba • Percussion • Singing 
Jazz
Jazz Piano • Jazz Flute • Jazz Clarinet • Jazz Saxophone • Jazz Trumpet • Jazz Cornet • Jazz Flugelhorn • Jazz Trombone 

Remark: Jazz exams (Grades 1–5 only) are available for a variety of instruments.