From 2 August we’ll be providing a new flexible service for our online Music Theory exams at Grades 1 to 5. Instead of having set booking periods and exam dates, you’ll be able to book and take exams at any time. Our aim is to allow learners to take their exams at the best time for them and to make life easier for teachers, schools and parents.

How does it work?

You can book whenever you want to – it depends when candidates are ready to take an exam. Once you’ve booked you need to wait three hours for the exam link to appear in the candidate’s ABRSM account. Candidates then have 28 days to take their exam.

The exam link is only available through the candidate’s account. So when you book, you must provide email addresses for your candidates. We can then invite them to register and create an account (if they don’t have one already).

As before, candidates can take their exam in any location where they have access to a laptop or desktop computer with a webcam and the internet. Full technical requirements are available here.

What else do you need to know?

• On 2 August booking will be open from 8am (UK time) for Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan and from 10am (UK time) for the rest of the world.
• When you book, select the territory where you live as this will help us send out certificates more efficiently.
• There will be a small number of dates and times when exams are not available due to system updates taking place. We’ll publish these in advance on our dates and fees page.

Are translations available?

In all countries outside the UK and Ireland, candidates can choose to take their exam in English, Simplified Chinese or Traditional Chinese. Applicants just need to select the correct language when booking. Exams in Italian and Spanish will be available from September.

New arrangements for schools

In response to feedback, educational institutions such as schools and colleges can now request to invigilate exams themselves without external proctoring and without downloading the proctoring software. Full details of how to apply are available on our website here.

Fully updated information for online Music Theory exams from 2 August is now available. Click the link below for everything you need to know if you’re booking or taking an exam.

Find out more about online Music Theory