ABRSM

A global currency for assessing student's musical proficiency

As the leading provider of music exams globally, the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM) conducts over 650,000 assessments each year in 93 countries. According to its official website, the ABRSM aims to inspire musical achievement by helping individuals build skills, set goals, and encourage progress.

The ABRSM offers a variety of music exams, with the most popular being the Music Performance exams, available for over 35 instruments. These exams, ranging from Grades 1-8, assess various practical skills to foster comprehensive musicianship. The evaluation includes performance skills, where candidates present three pieces or songs from an official syllabus, technical skills involving scales and arpeggios, notation skills through a sight-reading test, and listening skills and musical perception via aural tests. Importantly, there are no age restrictions, and students can start at any grade, skipping levels if desired. In contrast to some other music evaluations, ABRSM assessments are not competitive, with candidates receiving one-on-one feedback from an expert professional. This ensures a focus on personal improvement rather than a comparison with others.

Due to the widespread use and a reputation established over more than 100 years, these exams have become a global currency for assessing one's musical proficiency. It serves as an effective means to objectively showcase your skills through a recognized international standard of musicianship.