ABRSM Remote Exams – May Update

ABRSM Remote Exams – May Update

ABRSM Remote Exams are a new series of online graded music exams with a focus on performance. 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.

ABRSM recently posted an update on their new exam offering from Penny Milsom, their Executive Director of Products and Services. This update provided some more details on how the exams will work, how they’ll be marked and the wider concept of the new qualification itself.

Key points from the update:

• ABRSM Remote Exams will be performance led.
• Expected to be offered starting August 2020.
• Offered for Grades 1-8, all instruments, singing & ARSM.
• Traditional graded exams will continue to be offered, in line with government guidelines as we continue to emerge from lock down.
• Exams will be taken remotely.
• Candidates will record their performance for examination.
• Each exam consists of four pieces, to be played as a recital.
• Three pieces to be selected from the ABRSM Exam Pieces book, plus one additional piece of an equivalent level.
• There will be no requirements for Scales, Sight Reading or Aural.
• Remote Exams will feature a separate set of marking criteria based upon “the performance as a whole”.
• Initially available in the UK only.

Some questions remain about the new exam series:

• What are the requirements for recording the performance?
• How do ABRSM plan on ensuring candidates are able to deliver a consistent and high-quality audio recording of their performance?
• How is the fourth piece to be chosen?
• Since the exams are recorded performances, will this mean the new remote exams can be taken all year round, rather than the traditional ABRSM exams which take place four times per year?
• What is the policy around accompanists (if/when they are required)?
• How much will the new exams cost?
• How will the additional 30 points for “the performance as a whole” be graded?
• What restrictions (if any) will be placed upon re-takes?

ABRSM Remote Exams are sure to be a welcome addition to the range of music qualifications already on offer and we particularly like the focus on performance. The scope for sitting exams at more convenient times and offering them to a far wider range of people around the world is also exciting.

Key benefits of ABRSM Remote Exams:

• Opening up ABRSM exams to locations which don’t have easy access to testing facilities.
• The focus on performance will appeal to students who aren’t so interested in the more technical elements of the traditional exams, such as scales & sight reading.
• Candidates will be able to perform on an instrument and in an environment that they are more familiar with.
• More flexibility over when an exam can be taken.
• A reduced carbon footprint.

Like with many things during the current virus crisis, we are seeing an increased focus on embracing technology to provide remote services. This transition is no doubt going to have a few hurdles along the way, but we expect the outcome to be largely positive. If the new ABRSM Remote Exams are able to bring performance-led music qualifications to more people then they will surely be deemed a success.

It may be a while away yet, but it will be interesting to see what the long-term effect of remote assessment is on the way ABRSM and other organisations run their traditional exams. Will we see more flexibility on the traditional exams?

Further updates

ABRSM will provide further updates on the new remote exams in the coming weeks and months leading up to their debut in August 2020.

You can read the full update from ABRSM on their website and can follow them on Twitter & Facebook for regular updates & other news about the world of ABRSM.