Graded music exam

Candidate

___________________________________________________________

Presented by ___________________________________________________________
Subject

__________________________________________ Grade ________

Marks
Performance
Pitch
Shape
Time
Tone
Performance
Pitch
Shape
Time
Tone
Performance
Pitch
Shape
Time
Tone

Scales and arpeggios

or
unaccompanied
traditional song
Sight-reading
(and transposition)
or
Quick Study
Aural tests

Additional comments

Total
Maximum (Pass)

150 (100)

Pass 100
Merit 120
Distinction
130

MARKING CRITERIA (all instruments)

Grades 18
Distinction
2730

Pieces
Pitch

Highly accurate notes

and intonation

Time

Merit
2426

Largely accurate notes

and intonation

Tone

Fluent, with flexibility

where appropriate
Rhythmic character
well conveyed

Sustained, effective
tempo
Good sense of rhythm

Shape

Well projected
Sensitive use of tonal
qualities

Mainly controlled and

consistent
Good tonal awareness

Performance

Expressive, idiomatic
musical shaping and
detail

Clear musical shaping,

well-realised detail

Pass
2023

Below Pass
1719

1316

Generally correct notes

Sufficiently reliable
intonation to maintain
tonality

Frequent note errors

Insufficiently reliable
intonation to maintain
tonality

Largely inaccurate notes

and/or intonation

Suitable tempo
Generally stable pulse
Overall rhythmic
accuracy

Unsuitable and/or
uncontrolled tempo
Irregular pulse
Inaccurate rhythm

Erratic tempo and/or

pulse

Generally reliable
Adequate tonal
awareness

Uneven and/or
unreliable
Inadequate tonal
awareness

Serious lack of tonal

control

Some realisation of
musical shape and/or
detail

Musical shape and detail

insufficiently conveyed

Musical shape and detail

largely unrealised

Assured
Fully committed
Vivid communication
of character and style
Positive
Carrying musical
conviction
Character and style
communicated
Generally secure, prompt
recovery from slips
Some musical
involvement
Insecure, inadequate
recovery from slips
Insufficient musical
involvement
Lacking continuity
No musical involvement

1012

Highly inaccurate notes

and/or intonation

Incoherent tempo and/or

pulse

No tonal control

No shape or detail

Unable to continue
for more than a short
section

No work offered

No work offered

No work offered

No work offered

No work offered

Grades 18
Distinction
1921

Scales and arpeggios

Merit
1718

Pass
1416

Below Pass
1113

710

Sight-reading *

Grades 18

Fluent, rhythmically accurate

Accurate notes/pitch/key
Musical detail realised
Confident presentation

Distinction
1718

Adequate tempo, usually steady pulse

Mainly correct rhythm
Largely correct notes/pitch/key
Largely secure presentation

Merit
1516

Continuity generally maintained

Note values mostly realised
Pitch outlines in place, despite errors
Cautious presentation

Pass
1214

Lacking overall continuity

Incorrect note values
Very approximate notes/pitch/key
Insecure presentation

Below Pass
911

68

Highly accurate notes/pitch

Fluent and rhythmic
Musically shaped
Confident response

Largely accurate notes/pitch

Mostly regular flow
Mainly even tone
Secure response

Generally correct notes/pitch,

despite errors
Continuity generally maintained
Generally reliable tone
Cautious response

Frequent errors in notes and/or pitch

Lacking continuity and/or some items
incomplete
Unreliable tone
Uncertain response and/or some
items not attempted

Very approximate notes and/or pitch

Sporadic and/or frequently incomplete
Serious lack of tonal control
Very uncertain response and/or
several items not attempted

No continuity or incomplete
Note values unrealised
Pitch outlines absent
Very uncertain presentation

No work offered

No work offered

Aural tests

Accurate throughout
Musically perceptive
Confident response
Strengths significantly outweigh
weaknesses
Musically aware
Secure response
Strengths just outweigh
weaknesses
Cautious response

Weaknesses outweigh strengths

Uncertain response

Inaccuracy throughout
Vague response

No work offered

* Includes Transposition for Horn, Trumpet and Organ (Grades 68) and Figured bass realization for
Harpsichord (Grades 48).
In these cases, of the total 21 marks, 12 are allocated to Sight-reading and 9 to Transposition (or
Figured bass realization), and one combined mark is recorded.
2013 by The Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music