Graded Music Exams

Private & Public Exam Days

Exam days can be hosted via two different methods: in a private venue or at a public exam centre.

About Private & Public Exam Days

Private Exams provide students the convenience of taking their graded music exam in a familiar setting using equipment they’re accustomed to (their school, teacher’s studio, home etc.), either through an examiner visit or live-stream. Public Exams are held on specified dates at exam centres around the UK, making it an excellent option for independent learners who require a local venue to host their exam.

Private vs Public Exam Days

Flick between the tabs below to learn more about the differences between privately hosted and public exam days…

What is a Private Exam day?

Private Exams are exam days hosted at a venue of your choice, enabling your students to sit their Graded Exam in the comfort of a familiar setting, using equipment they are accustomed to. Students often prefer this format due to this familiarity, whilst it can also reduce the amount of time spent outside of school. These exams can be done through an examiner visit or alternatively via a live-stream at the venue or direct from the student’s home.

For teachers, this introduces a higher degree of flexibility as the exam date itself is not limited to specific Exam Periods, like our public examinations. All private centres are given access to discounts on official RSL publications, as well as additional resources and support to help make each learners experience as enjoyable as possible.

Key Information

  • We can organise a Private Day for you if you have a full day’s worth of exams. Subject to examiner availability, it may also be possible to arrange a session if you meet requirements for a half-day booking. The terms for both booking types can be found in the table below.
  • A Private Day can incorporate any instrument, including Music Production and Popular Music Theory, across the entire range of grades available.
  • Private days can be booked on any day of the week (Sunday included).
  • Exam sessions generically run from 9am–5pm, but this can be amended to suit your needs – subject to examiner availability.
  • RSL will send an examiner to you. All you need to do is provide a steward and appropriate facilities to run the exam smoothly.
  • Each centre needs to provide suitable facilities and equipment in order to run the exam.
  • To register, please complete the Terms and Conditions Agreement and return it to your regional exams officer (listed below).
  • New customers will need to register an account before an application can be processed and exams entered.
  • Students can be entered for their exam individually, or as a group.
  • Payment can be made through our website or alternatively via BACS/invoice. You can decide how you wish to manage this process.

Resources
Download the private centre procedure form…

Times and Fees

Please use this table to identify how many exam entries will create an exam day.

A full day is 8 hours (6.5 hours of exams plus an examiner break), with a half day set at 4 hours minimum. Please see our exam fees here for Face-to-face exams, Recorded Video Exams & Live-streamed Exams.

Grade Grade Exam (Instruments) Grade Exam (Vocals) Performance Certificate (Instruments) Performance Certificate (Vocals) Music Production Music Theory
Premiere 10 mins 10 mins
Debut 15 mins 15 mins 12 mins 12 mins 60 mins
1 20 mins 25 mins 15 mins 25 mins 45 mins 90 mins
2 20 mins 25 mins 15 mins 25 mins 45 mins 90 mins
3 25 mins 30 mins 18 mins 25 mins 45 mins 90 mins
4 25 mins 30 mins 22 mins 25 mins 50 mins 120 mins
5 25 mins 30 mins 22 mins 25 mins 50 mins 120 mins
6 30 mins 36 mins 25 mins 30 mins 70 mins 180 mins
7 32 mins 36 mins 25 mins 30 mins 70 mins 180 min
8 32 mins 36 mins 28 mins 30 mins 70 mins 180 mins

Contact Your Regional Exams Officer

To contact your regional exams officer and discuss your needs in more detail, please send a message to info@rslawards.com.

What is a Public Exam day?

A Rockschool Public Exam takes place in an exam centre, which is open to any/all candidate looking for a venue to take their exam in their region. All listed venues are viewable on our national centre map with exams held on specified dates within each of our Exam Periods: (A: Spring, B: Summer and C: Autumn). All dates are confirmed after each closing date at the latest.

These centres are particularly valuable if you are receiving or delivering tuition independently and would require a local venue to host exams. We give our public centres a fee for hosting an event and promote them on our national centre map. We also offer other deals on our publications to help support greater engagement with Rockschool materials and exams.

Key Information

  • We can organise for students to attend your own Public Exam Centre once you have registered and been approved by our Exams Team.
  • A public booking can incorporate any instrument, including Music Production and Theory, across the entire range of grades.
  • Public exams are booked to take place within our set exam periods only.
  • Exam sessions generically run from 9am–5pm, but this is negotiable depending on your needs and examiner availability.
  • RSL will send an examiner to you. All you need to do is provide a steward and appropriate facilities to run the exam smoothly. This is covered through the application process.
  • Each centre needs to provide suitable facilities and equipment in order to run exams.
  • Students apply through our website and have an exam centre assigned to them with their preferences taken into account.
  • Public Exam Centres are free to submit their own candidates for exams.

Contact Your Regional Exams Officer

To contact your regional exams officer and discuss your needs in more detail, please send a message to info@rslawards.com.

Ready to take an exam?

Simply purchase your exam entry from our online shop before completing your exam details via your RSL Awards secure account.

Exam Sign Up

Digital Files

For the RSL shop we’ve chosen the most widely used media for ease of use and flexibility when transferring across different devices.

Every complete digital book (e.g. Electric Guitar Grade 1) includes:

  • PDF sheet music
  • MP3 audio
  • Supporting tests

Download Limits

We know downloading digital content can be frustrating at times which is why we’ve given you multiple chances to download your audio and sheet music.

Each complete digital book purchased includes:

  • 5 audio downloads
  • 3 sheet music downloadsThis means if you misplace your content, or if your download times-out, you’ll still have plenty of attempts to download your content.

Purchase Options

1. Hard Copy

The hard copy or paperback version can be purchased from our shop for shipping to the UK. Orders for shipping to other countries can be placed via www.musicroom.com. The paperback version includes everything you need for your exam in one essential book, including sheet music, a code for access to MP3 audio and complete supporting tests.

2. Digital Download (where applicable)

Digital downloads is the most popular way of purchasing and downloading a Rockschool book, track or supporting test. Rockschool digital book downloads come complete with PDF sheet music, MP3 audio and supporting tests for instant accessibility on all your favourite devices.

Note: Digital sheet music is stamped with your email address and order number.

3. Digital Download + E-Book Access

The RSL e-books, utilising Learning Platform technology powered by MatchMySound, are the ultimate practise tool, giving you the ability to master your instrument like never before.

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