ABRSM is the exam board of the Royal Schools of Music, including the Royal Academy of Music, Royal College of Music London, Royal Northern College of Music, and the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. It is the UK’s largest music education body, one of its largest music publishers and the world’s leading provider of music exams, offering assessments to more than 630,000 candidates in 93 countries every year.

 

Founded in 1889, ABRSM has 125 years of experience and an international reputation. An ABRSM grade has a worldwide currency and their exams are designed to motivate students at all levels and ages, providing realistic goals and tangible rewards for their achievements. ABRSM's core activity is the provision of graded music exams, assessments and diplomas. 

 

More than 620,000 exams are now administered annually by a very select and highly trained group of examiners to students not only in the British Commonwealth, but also in Eastern Europe, Scandinavia, Spain, Malaysia, Korea, Mexico and Mainland China. An examiner comes from the UK to listen and adjudicate. The judging criteria for these exams are so precise and consistent that they result in an international average mark of 117 year after year. This system of exams was not introduced into the United States until 1992; there are currently a very limited number of testing sites available.

 

Local exams take place in Annandale, VA twice a year. You will receive points for these credits that are recognized by educational institutions internationally. It is possible to request US high school credit for completing these exams. However, this is at the discretion of each school. They may also qualify you to test out of some US conservatoire credits.

 

If you are working hard to make progress with your music you need some way of recognizing your success and reassurance that you are on the right road. This is exactly what music exams offer:
 

• Completion of internationally recognized exams

• Eight grade levels to show level of achievement each subject

• Motivation and inspiration, working from a carefully structured syllabus towards a definite goal

• Measure of personal progress and attainment against internationally recognised benchmarks

• Objective guide to improve your musical skills

• Assessment by a respected and independent musician who has been highly trained and is constantly monitored

• Performance opportunities and a real sense of achievement

• Completion of these exams may qualify students for scholarships to US and international universities. 

• Knowledge that you are part of the most respected and valued system of music exams in the world.