ABRSM Remote Exams – August Update
ABRSM Remote Exams – June Update
30 June 2020
Hardware for teaching music online
22 November 2020ABRSM Remote Exams – August Update
The ABRSM Remote Exams are a new and forthcoming series of online graded music exams with a key focus on performance. The exams were launched in August 2020. The new remote music exams will be available for all instruments from Grades 1 to 8, as well as ARSM (Associate of the Royal Schools of Music).
View our most recent post – ABRSM Remote Exams – December Update.
A lot has happened in the exam world since our previous update at the end of June. The first ABRSM Grade 5 Online Music Theory Exam session was held on Wednesday 26th August. In addition to the theory exam, ABRSM successfully held their Adapted Exams for school leavers taking Grades 6 to 8. Full details on the new ABRSM Remote Exams (Performance Grades) were released, which we’ll summarise below.
ABRSM Performance Grades – Key Items
- The first exam session will take place from 19th October – 7th November 2020.
- Available to book from the end of September 2020.
- Submission dates can be chosen during the booking procedure and this represents your final deadline to submit your recordings.
- The full guidance document has been released and we recommend everyone interested in the Remote Exams review it.
- The Qualification Specification document is also available.
- Students are able to switch between the Performance & Practical exams as they progress through the grades.
- If the candidate is ready to record their Performance Grade exam, they are free to do so in advance of the submission date, providing they follow the full guidance document, specifications & syllabus requirements.
- Accompaniments for ABRSM Remote Exams have a dedicated guidance document, with arrangements that are in place for the UK & Ireland until at least 7th November 2020.
- As with the Practical Exams, a pass at Grade 5 or above is required in either Music Theory, Practical Musicianship, or any practical Music solo Jazz instrument before learners can enter for a Grade 6, 7 or 8 Performance exam.
- Remote ARSM Exams will be offered with the same syllabus and requirements as the current ARSM Exams.
- UCAS points will be received as normal for all students taking Performance Grades 6 to 8, in the same way as they would apply for Practical Exams.
ABRSM Practical Grades – Key Items
Private Visits:
- Face-to-face Practical Graded Exams will be offered in the UK only, providing they are organised as a Private Visit.
- Private Visits will take place at an approved venue, provided & organised by a Visit Organiser.
- Private Visits are available for Practical Exams at all grades and for ARSM, Prep Test and Performance Assessment.
- Organ, Harpsichord & Percussion exams are included.
- Choral Singing, Ensemble, Jazz or Diploma (DipABRSM, LRSM or FRSM) exams are not available at the current time.
- Documentation covering conditions for exam delivery is available here and must be followed by all Visit Organisers.
- Updated Terms & Conditions (available here) must also be reviewed & adhered to.
- Information on organising a Private Visit can be found on the ABRSM Website.
- To make a booking, visit the ABRSM Exam Booking page.
Public Venues:
- Face-to-face Exams at Public Venues will be able to take place in the UK & Ireland during an extended Session 3 from 9th November 2020 until 19th December 2020.
- Public Venue exams have a booking period starting 28th September 2020.
- Visit the ABRSM Exam Dates & Fees page for more information.
Online Music Theory Grade 5 Pilot Exam
The first Online Music Theory exams took place on Wednesday 26th August and were run through the PSI Proctoring Portal. ABRSM announced that 3,511 students completed the online exam. The overall experience was considered positive, although many students encountered technical issues with the software, which is something ABRSM are keen to look at and resolve ahead of future sessions.
A brief FAQ was posted by ABRSM as a follow-up to those that had issues with the online theory exam and can be found below, as well as on the ABRSM Website:
The submit button / page froze at the end of my test, have you received my answers?
This issue did not affect submissions and therefore you should expect your results on 23 September. The exam answers are automatically submitted anyway after the expiry of the exam duration.
I forgot to do one of the checks at the start/end of the exam. Does it matter?
Some candidates forgot to, for example, show their rough paper, or rip it up at the end of the exam. As long as the exam was not compromised, forgetting one of the steps should not affect your exam. However, we strongly advise that these steps are completed in future.
I am the Responsible Adult and I had to intervene when the candidate had technical problems. Is that a problem?
We are aware that many people had to intervene to try to solve technical issues. This will not affect the Grade 5 Theory pilot exam.
I completed the exam but I am unhappy with my experience. Can I have a refund? / Will the candidates’ exam experience be taken in to account when marking?
We ask you to wait for results to be issued on 23 September, and if you have any concerns then the applicant can submit these via the Contact Us form within 7 days of the results date. This will not result in an adjustment to marks, but we may award a free resit, or, if this is not possible, a partial refund.
What caused all the technical problems?
We are working through the causes of these with PSI. Clearly there were problems with the levels of customer service, which we take seriously and are addressing immediately.
I couldn’t access the exam. Why have I not heard from you?
Applicants who entered exam candidates who did not complete their exam were contacted on 27 August. Often these are the only contact details we have on order to get in touch with candidates. We have asked applicants to forward the email to affected candidates, and we ask candidates to check their spam mailbox just in case. If you were unable to complete the exam, you will receive a refund and a free resit for the November exam. You have also been given a dedicated email to contact us.
Further updates
ABRSM will continue to provide further updates on the their exams as we head towards Session 3 in the autumn.
You can follow ABRSM on Twitter & Facebook for regular updates & other news.
