Practical Music Exams

Does the accompanist stay in the room after the pieces are played?

No, once the pieces have been played the accompanist leaves the room.

Can the examiner/accompanist help with tuning at the beginning of the exam?

The accompanist can help tune up at the beginning of the exam, and you are encouraged to check your tuning. If you are taking a piano exam, you can play the piano beforehand to make sure you are comfy and used to the keys.

What will be a good time to arrive before the exam?/How early should we arrive before the exam?

We recommend you arrive 20-30 minutes before your exam start time. The exam board expects students to be ready 10 minutes before their start time, as sometimes exams run ahead of schedule.

Would the examiner ask questions?

The examiner will ask questions relevant to your exam. For example, this would include aural questions, or scale requirements.

Can you bring a tuner?

Yes, you can bring a tuner to tune up your instrument in the warmup space.

Do I need to bring my own books?

Yes, you must bring your books to the exams. You shouldn’t make or use photocopies unless you have written permission from the publisher

Do I need to play all the repeats in my piece?

Da capo (DC) and dal segno (DS) indications should be followed but other repeats (including first-time bars) shouldn’t be played unless stipulated in the syllabus. However, very short repeats can be played at the discretion of the teacher or candidate.

Do I find out my results on the day?

Trinity: Exam marks will be emailed to your tutor the next working day after exams finish.

ABRSM: These are released approximately 1 week after exams finish and will be emailed out to your tutor.

In both instances, the tutors will email out marks to their students.

When do I get my certificate and mark sheet?

ABRSM: Mark sheets are now digital. These will be sent to tutors at the same time as exam results, who will distribute them.

Trinity: Mark sheets will be distributed at the same time as certificates

Certificates for ABRSM and Trinity are printed approximately 4-8 weeks after exams. These will be distributed to students via Academy or Ensembles, and then via post.