Rockschool music qualifications are tailor-made for the contemporary musician.
Music Production
Grade 8
The Grade 8 Music Production exam is for candidates who have mastered music production and are capable of critiquing their own work; therefore achieving a professional finish to their productions.
Estimated Examination Time:
70 minutes (approx.)
Purchase Your Book & Exam Entry
The Rockschool Music Production Grade 8 book contains everything you need to pass your Grade 8 exam in one essential book, featuring a diverse range of production techniques, highly relevant technical DAW skills, and the fundamental music theory needed to succeed in today’s industry.
Music Production Exam: Grade 8
Music Production Grade 8
The Rockschool Music Production Grade 8 book contains everything you need to pass your Grade 8 ex...
Theoretical Written Exam
This will assess the candidate’s knowledge and understanding of the following two sections.
- Music Production Terminology
- Sound & Audio Fundamentals
At Grade 8 the theory content covered will include subject areas such as comparing studio hardware, audio file formats, analogue vs. digital technology, microphone technique choice, vocal comping, triggered samples, balanced audio advantages and acoustic room design.
At Grade 8 candidates will be expected to:
- Compare two pieces of studio equipment, making reference to differences in specification
- Compare two audio file formats
- Compare analogue and digital connectivity, stating advantages and disadvantages
- Evaluate the impact that digital technology has had on music production
- Evaluate the impact that the Digital Audio Workstation has had on music production
- Choose appropriate microphone techniques for a given situation
- Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of audio editing, to include compositing vocals, drum timing versus re-recording
- Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of using MIDI triggered samples
- Evaluate the advantages of using balanced audio, and how to connect balanced and unbalanced devices together in the same audio system
- Explain acoustic terms to include standing waves, room modes, diffusion, absorption
Listening Test
The listening test will present candidates with questions relating to sonic fidelity, music theory and harmony and stylistic awareness. Audio files will be presented to the candidates and questions will relate specifically to the relevant audio file. This will assess the candidate’s ability to hear and interpret:
Sonic Fidelity
Identifying high and low resolution audio files.
Music Theory & Harmony
Identifying modes of the major scale and irregular time signatures.
Stylistic Awareness
Identifying specific genres.
At Grade 8 candidates will be expected to:
- Identify the difference between MP3 and Wav versions of the same recording
- Identify the difference between MP3 and Wav versions of the same full mix
- Identify the difference between 128Kbps and 320Kbps MP3’s
- Identify three modes of the major scale – Dorian, Mixolydian and Lydian
- Identify irregular time signatures – 5/4, 7/8
- Introducing modern electronic music genres from a choice of two: dubstep and edm
Candidates are advised to practice these techniques using the mock assessment files available from your secure area.
Coursework Task
The Coursework Task combines:
Technical Skills
At Grade 8 the technical skills will centre around creative music production technique such as parallel compression.
Coursework Task
The candidate will be presented with a situation and must choose and implement appropriate technique to resolve the scenario. At Grade 8 the candidate may choose to specialise in Audio Production, Electronic Music Production or Sound for Media:
- Audio Production: The scenario will focus on mastering a final mix with EQ, compressors and limiters
- Electronic Music Production: The scenario will focus on creating a remix using the supplied vocal sample
- Sound for Media: The scenario will require the candidate to synchronise sound effects, including foley, to the provided video
Candidates must complete the Coursework Task before their exam and will be asked to upload the Task and the screenshots specified in the Coursework Task, during the exam. The completed session files must be appropriately named, saved and shared with your examiner as instructed, including all associated audio files. It is vital that candidates are able to accurately save their work as failure to do so will result in an unclassified mark.
Candidates will need to answer questions regarding the Task during the exam. These will focus on:
- The skills used to complete the Task
- How candidates approached the professional nature of the Task
- How candidates interpreted the creative elements
On your exam day, you must bring:
- 1 x closed headphones with a ¼ inch jack (Candidates without their own headphones will be unable to sit the exam)
- A hard copy of the Music Production syllabus book or your proof of digital purchase
- Your Coursework Task and screenshots to upload
Your exam centre will provide 1 x computer.
Candidates can take the exam on the computer provided at the examination centre or on their own laptop within the invigilated environment.
Assessment Structure
The graded examinations in Music Production are assessed via an examination. The examination is divided into the following sections:
A written examination covering knowledge of:
- Music production terminology
- Sound and audio fundamentals
A listening test divided into three sections:
- Sonic fidelity
- Music theory and harmony
- Stylistic awareness
A Coursework Task, including technical skills, which candidates must complete before the exam and upload during the exam.
| Assessment | |
|---|---|
| Form of Assessment | All assessments are carried out by external examiners. Candidates are required to carry out a combination of practical tasks and underpinning theoretical assessment |
| Unit Format | Unit specifications contain the title, unit code, credit level, credit value, learning outcomes, assessment criteria, grade descriptor, and types of evidence required for the unit. |
| Bands of Assessment | There are four bands of assessment (distinction, merit, pass and unclassified) for the qualification as a whole. |
| Quality Assurance | Quality Assurance ensures that all assessments are carried out to the same standard by objective sampling and re-assessment of candidates’ work. A team of external examiners is appointed, trained and standardised by RSL. |
Grading Criteria
Part A: Terminology and Fundamentals
| Attainment Band | Unclassified | Pass | Merit | Distinction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mark Range | 0-14 | 15-18 | 19-20 | 21-25 |
| Grade Descriptor | Demonstrated an understanding of the key terminology used in modern music production and the fundamentals of sound and audio less than 60% of the time. | Demonstrated an understanding of the key terminology used in modern music production and the fundamentals of sound and audio between 60% and 74% of the time. | Demonstrated an understanding of the key terminology used in modern music production and the fundamentals of sound and audio between 75% and 84% of the time | Demonstrated an understanding of the key terminology used in modern music production and the fundamentals of sound and audio more than 84% of the time. |
Part B: Listening Skills
| Attainment Band | Unclassified | Pass | Merit | Distinction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mark Range | 0–8 | 9–10 | 11–12 | 13–15 |
| Grade Descriptor | Demonstrated effective listening skills relevant to modern music production less than 60% of the time. | Demonstrated effective listening skills relevant to modern music production between 60% and 74% of the time. | Demonstrated effective listening skills relevant to modern music production between 75% and 84% of the time. | Demonstrated effective listening skills relevant to modern music production more than 84% of the time. |
Part C: Coursework Task
| Attainment Band | Unclassified | Pass | Merit | Distinction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mark Range | 0-35 | 36-44 | 45-50 | 51-60 |
| Grade Descriptor | Demonstrated effective music production technique in less than 60% of the coursework task. | Demonstrated effective music production technique in between 60% and 74% of the coursework task. | Demonstrated effective music production technique in between 75% and 84% of the coursework task. | Demonstrated effective music production technique in more than 84% of the coursework task. |
