ABRSM Music Exam facts and figures!

Grade 8 Distinction - student of Lorraine Liyanage
Grade 8 Distinction – student of Lorraine Liyanage
Click here to view more ABRSM Exam results
Click here to view more ABRSM Exam results

Later today I will be publishing our ABRSM and Rockschool exam results from the July Summer session. In the meantime, here’s some interesting information taken from the ABRSM web site about the number of candidates entering for graded exams by instrument. You can see just how popular the piano is in the UK and also what grades candidates achieved at examinations. As a keen harpsichordist, it’s a shame that only 15 students entered exams in 2009. I’m hoping to boost those numbers by getting more pianists learning the harpsichord too! I organise harpsichord competitions for musicians of all ages and abilities as well as workshops at Handel House Museum and Peregrine’s Pianos.

1) Entries by instrument/subject.
Source: ABRSM page 

InstrumentEntries
Piano124,090
Theory of Music45,275
Violin35,587
Flute28,832
Singing27,657
Clarinet23,022
Alto Saxophone10,812
Cello8,166
Trumpet7,821
Guitar5,035
B Flat Cornet3,401
Descant Recorder2,897
Oboe2,768
Trombone2,459
Viola2,072
Jazz Piano1,803
Horn1,393
Harp1,392
Jazz Alto Sax1,209
Bassoon1,077
Double Bass1,033
E Flat Horn960
Euphonium651
Treble Recorder574
Tenor Saxophone509
Organ490
Percussion479
Baritone402
Tuba379
Practical Musicianship290
Jazz Clarinet268
Soprano Saxophone257
Jazz Trumpet212
Jazz Flute172
Jazz Tenor Saxophone119
Jazz Trombone53
Bass Trombone22
Jazz Cornet22
Jazz Soprano Sax16
Baritone Saxophone15
Harpsichord15
E Flat Soprano Cornet7
Jazz Baritone Sax3
Jazz Flugelhorn2

2) Practical exam statistics
Source: ABRSM Page 

GradePassMeritDistinctionFailTotal
129,83329,82214,9821,25375,890
225,89319,2697,3701,64654,178
322,50616,2626,0161,71446,498
416,33710,8194,1191,61032,885
515,1169,3183,7721,95330,159
66,0444,2581,94885513,105
74,0533,0331,7827019,569
83,3072,8512,5428589,558
     271,842

3) Theory Exam statistics
Source: ABRSM Page 

GradePassMeritDistinctionFailTotal
11,0041,8864,3123857,587
26151,4142,8811835,093
31,2121,6621,4095334,816
47739156363392,663
57,7097,5283,6953,09422,026
643313627246842
7121741621232
8143881296339
     43,598

I believe that the average age for a candidate taking Grade 1 piano is 10. I cannot find the exact reference for this, although there is mention of this in an old copy of ‘Libretto‘, a magazine published by the ABRSM. This also states that the ‘typical Grade 5 practical candidate is 14 years old’.

ABRSM’s graded music exams for individual instruments, singing and Theory as well as diplomas and Music Medals are accredited by the regulatory authorities in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and are part of the National Qualifications Framework. In Australia, Canada and South Africa, ABRSM exams can be used for credit towards the relevant qualifications taken by students completing compulsory secondary education. The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) includes Grades 6–8 in the tariff for UK university and college entrance.

We offer 1-to-1 Music Aptitude Test lessons for students applying to schools such as Ashmole, Kingsdale, Marylebone, Twyford, Moulsham and many more.

Grade 1 Theory – Revision Guide for Summer Exam Entry

We have many students sitting their Grade 1 theory exam this term. The exam usually takes place at Dunraven School, Leigham Court Rd  London SW16 (Streatham). See the list at the end of the email for students entered for the Summer session on Saturday 15 June at 10am.

Here’s a revision guide with a summary of the requirements.

Grade 1 Theory Revision Guide
Grade 1 Theory Revision Guide – Click to download

Please note that the guide includes Minor scales but these are not included in the current Grade 1 paper. They are included in Grade 1 practical piano so it is good to know the key signatures of these anyway as they will crop up in your pieces and sight-reading.

Here is a separate link to the Italian terms and symbols for Grade 1. These crop up in lots of the questions so you must know all of them. Remember – for Grade 2, you are expected to know all of these words plus new words.

Click to buy past theory test papers

Make sure you are working through at least 1 test paper a week. Bring these to your lesson and I will mark them. Ensure you have enough copies of the test paper so that you can leave one with me at your lesson and still have one paper at home to work through.

Summer Exam Entrants:

Safiya
May
Hannah
Madeleine
Eseohe


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