ABRSM Teacher Information

ABRSM exams are a pivotal component to Opus 1’s educational mission. The well-funded organization based in London, England continues to develop a curriculum based on “Practice” (performance, sight-reaching, technique through scales/broken chords/arpeggios, and aural skills), and “Theory”. This is why ABRSM exams are divided into three separate exams:

  • Performance Grades Exam (Grades 1-10) - VIDEO RECORDING

  • Practical Exam (Grades 1-10) - IN-PERSON ONLY

  • Theory Exam (Grades 1-8) - ONLINE & IN-PERSON

In addition to ongoing in-person training through MusicMeetUps and one-on-one, the following resources are supplements to help ensure successful teaching and approaches that will ensure student success.

IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS:

  • In order to take the Grade 6 Practical Or Performance Grades Exam, students must have passed the Grade 5 Theory Exam

  • Students preparing for the exams, regardless of age, should take at least a 45-minute lessons if not longer. Students preparing for theory exams in addition to a practical exam should take an hour lesson.

  • Students doing theory exams are expected to know all of the Performance Directions from all previous grade levels. A useful online tool to help prepare and access the terms from all grade levels can be found here.

  • Exams are done during the week, not weekends and cannot be rescheduled. Students also cannot request a specific time.

  • On average, it takes most students 6-8 months of preparation to perform well on the exams (see the Preparation Timeline here), though many students can spend up to 12 months preparing depending on their skill level.

Click here or the image above to view the presentation slides from faculty training sessions that give an overview of the ABRSM exams. You can find details for each exam, suggestions for how to teach concepts, and resources that help teach.

Click the button below to access information about

  • Accompaniments

  • Room rentals

  • Teacher guidelines and roles in the exam process

Or click here

 

Opus 1 Resources for Teachers

The Preparation Timeline is a visual snapshot and overview. In it you’ll find information about how many months are involved in preparation, what should be accomplished, when exams typically take place, as well as how to structure the lesson, assign…

The Preparation Timeline is a visual snapshot and overview. In it you’ll find information about how many months are involved in preparation, what should be accomplished, when exams typically take place, as well as how to structure the lesson, assignments, and the portion of each lesson that should be spent on the individual areas of the exam at lessons.

This Blank ABRSM Exam Sheet is the exact layout of what the adjudicator will use at the actual exam. Use this for a Mock Exam or other pursposes.

This Blank ABRSM Exam Sheet is the exact layout of what the adjudicator will use at the actual exam. Use this for a Mock Exam or other pursposes.

This Example of Completed Exam let’s you see a real exam completed by an Opus 1 piano student who received a Distinction score, allowing you a deeper understanding of how the exam is laid out, the type of comments judges will share, and the type of …

This Example of Completed Exam let’s you see a real exam completed by an Opus 1 piano student who received a Distinction score, allowing you a deeper understanding of how the exam is laid out, the type of comments judges will share, and the type of mistakes that lead to specific point deductions.

The Student Assessment Forms goes beyond the actual ABRSM Exam Sheet used by the adjudicators of the exam. While the actual exam is more summarizes, these assessment forms allow to you to examine the components of a successful performance at a more …

The Student Assessment Forms goes beyond the actual ABRSM Exam Sheet used by the adjudicators of the exam. While the actual exam is more summarizes, these assessment forms allow to you to examine the components of a successful performance at a more detailed level. Included are key components line-by-line, along with a grading sheet that allows you to chart a student’s grade in a more visually understandable form.

For teachers who are interested in a visual way to track progress and share with students/parents, you can use this document for the Practical Exams.

These Teacher Resources include information such as books, online tools, apps, and other resources that will help both you and your students alike.

These Teacher Resources include information such as books, online tools, apps, and other resources that will help both you and your students alike.

This Tips & Suggestions resource provides ideas for handling difficult concepts for students to grasp. The page is perpetually evolving. Browse for ways to help your students conquer the challenges of the exams.

This Tips & Suggestions resource provides ideas for handling difficult concepts for students to grasp. The page is perpetually evolving. Browse for ways to help your students conquer the challenges of the exams.

This Blank Curriculum & Lesson Plans is a cleaned-up version of the Example Curriculum & Lesson Plans. It allows you to use the main components of the example, however, introduce your own versions of assignments.

This Blank Curriculum & Lesson Plans is a cleaned-up version of the Example Curriculum & Lesson Plans. It allows you to use the main components of the example, however, introduce your own versions of assignments.

This Example Curriculum & Lesson Plans is a very abstract representation of how lessons can be formatted over time and assessments that will help keep students on track. The purpose it not to give an exact curriculum to follow, rather a starting…

This Example Curriculum & Lesson Plans is a very abstract representation of how lessons can be formatted over time and assessments that will help keep students on track. The purpose it not to give an exact curriculum to follow, rather a starting point for teachers to add a more structured approach to teaching the exams.

 

ABRSM Resources for Teachers

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