ABRSM Remote Exams – June Update

ABRSM Remote Exams – June Update

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ABRSM Remote Exams are a new and forthcoming series of online graded music exams with a key focus on performance. The exams are due to be 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.

Since our May Update, ABRSM has been answering questions and releasing more information about the Remote Exams. July is almost upon us and lock down restrictions are continuing to be relaxed, what will this mean for the new exam series and are ABRSM still on schedule to roll everything out in August 2020? We’ve collated the key information from their latest updates in June, which you can find below.

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Key points from the June updates:

• ABRSM expects to run in-person exams in September 2020 (for Session 3).
• Visits can be booked for July, providing Social Distancing can be implemented at the given venue. 
• Further details of the assessment criteria for the (Remote) performance-focused exams will follow with the publication of the qualification specification, along with explanatory videos and guidance.
• Details on the additional marks available for “the performance as a whole” have been provided; they are split into 4 considerations: Communication, Interpretation, Delivery & Program.
• To provide appropriate choices for a fourth piece, ABRSM will be producing newly arranged, extended lists to accompany each syllabus.
• Candidates can use a digital keyboard for their remote exam, as long as it has a full size & weighted keys, touch sensitivity and a pedal where needed.
• Specific criteria for achieving a successful performance as a whole is forthcoming and will be similar in approach to those already applied in the ARSM diploma exam.
• Newly arranged & extended lists will be rolled out to all syllabuses as they refresh, beginning with Piano on 9th July 2020. The new lists for Bowed Strings are already available.

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The performance as a whole

Additional marks will be given based on the performance as a whole. These are divided into four categories as follows:

• Think of it as a short play, with an appropriate beginning & end
• A selection of pieces that suit your strengths
• Take the audience on a journey
• Ideally perform music from composers you have an understanding of

Overall, we like that the exams will feature a grading focus on the performance as a whole. As part of a performance-led certification, being graded upon your interpretation or program selection is exactly what we want to see.

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Accompaniments

A key aspect of many pieces within exams is accompaniments. Prior to our current situation, this would be a relatively straight forward affair of finding and organising an accompanist for your desired piece who can attend on the date of your exam. Now that we’ve been in a state of lock down and have different social distancing measures in place, accompaniments are met with some substantial challenges.

The current policies from ABRSM on accompaniments are as follows:

If social distancing has been lifted:

Depending on how far the relaxation of the social distancing rules have gone, the standard accompaniment rules will now apply. This means that all pieces and song that are published with an accompaniment must be performed with a live accompaniment. Full guidance for this will be published in the syllabuses for the performance-focused exams.

Note that recorded accompaniments of any kind will not be allowed in this situation.

If social distancing remains in place:

• Live accompaniment (including adapted for another instrument) if someone is available to provide this
• Unaccompanied performance with short rests ‘played’ as written and several consecutive bars’ rest shortened.
• Live accompaniment using video conferencing software such as Skype or Zoom
• Pre-recorded accompaniment (prepared by the teacher or accompanist) or commercial backing track.
• A mix of the above approaches
• In addition, singers have the option to accompany themselves.

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Private & Public Venues

Booking for private visits opened in June, with the first visits due to take place in early July. Full guidance on private visits is available on the ABRSM website.

Practical Graded Music Exams at Public Venues will be available during an extended Session 3, which runs from 9th November 2020 until 19th December 2020. The booking period opens up on 28th September 2020.

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Music Theory Exams

ABRSM have accelerated their plans to offer online assessment of Music Theory from Grades 1 to 5. According to ABRSM, the new online Music Theory exams will start in the autumn (2020).

The first online Music Theory exam will take place on the 26th August 2020. This will be a Grade 5 exam, ran as a live pilot for the online theory exams. This exam will be available exclusively to candidates in the UK. The booking period for this exam is from the 27th to 31st July 2020.

The core knowledge and understanding assessed in the exam is not going to change and the exams can be taken anywhere that the students have internet access. All further information regarding this exam will be released by ABRSM starting from the 13th July 2020.

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Further updates

Our previous post on the May Updates can be found here.