Music examinations are an opportunity to gain a certificate for your hard work. Grades 6 to 8 also earn UCAS points. There is no need to do any examinations if you don't want to! The exams are not a curriculum, they are a performance done at the end of a period of learning to show everything which has been learned, thus a pupil who has just finished Grade 1 does not immediately start working on Grade 2. There is approximately a year of work between each examination, depending on lesson length and practice done. If you hope to do exams, we can discuss the relevant level and make an entry if it is appropriate.
Grade examinations take place in November/December, March and June. There are two main strands of examination and various examining boards.
The main boards are ABRSM, Trinity, RCS and LCM. There is not a lot of difference between ABRSM, Trinity and LCM, the examinations are at the same level, they just have slight differences in syllabus content. Grade examinations run from Grade 1 (about 12-18 months of tuition) to Grade 8 (a standard suitable for entry to music degree courses). A Grade 1 with any board is equivalent to the others. RCS does examinations in Scottish folk fiddle music rather than classical music.Grade examinations include several prepared pieces (usually 3) from a range of styles, some musicianship tests such as listening skills, musical knowledge, playing at sight (playing previously unseen music), and some exercises such as scales and arpeggios. For people who do not wish to prepare the full range of tests, there are Level examinations or Recital Grades which require only the performance of prepared pieces. These may not qualify for UCAS points because there are no unseen tests included. If UCAS points are important for you, please make sure you mention this.
Before Grade 1 there are some entry level tests with various names such as Prep Test, Initial or Step 1.
The second strand of examination is Music Medals, which are an alternative to Grades. The standard ranges from beginner (a couple of terms of tuition) to level with Grade 4.
A Performance Assessment is an opportunity to have a free choice of music at any level and receive comments from an experienced and qualified examiner on that performance.
Pupils can choose any board at any time, there is no need to do every Grade, there is no requirement to take Grade 1 to do Grade 2. Provided the students are ready they can be entered for any examination, although for Grades above 6 a written paper may need to be passed first.
You don't always need to get examination certificates, if there is something you are interested in which has a minimum Grade standard, a declaration of standard from your teacher is often sufficient, just ask.
Grade exams are also available in Theory of Music (how to write music properly and follow all the rules) and in Practical Musicianship, which covers a similar range of skills to Theory of Music but is performed rather than written.
In addition to instrument-specific examinations, the Trinity Arts Award provides an opportunity to get certificaiton in music as a creative endeavour. I am registered as an Arts Award Advisor.