Piano Grades 1–8: Exam Prep Graded Like ABRSM, Trinity and RSL
Piano grades run from Initial Grade (Debut with RSL) to Grade 8. In an exam graded like ABRSM you play three pieces, one each from Lists A, B and C, then scales and arpeggios from memory, sight-reading and aural tests, marked out of 150 with 100 to pass. Exams last about 12 minutes up to Grade 3 and about 30 minutes at Grade 8.
Works in the UK and the US. This version uses US music words (measure, quarter note, staff); the UK version uses bar, crotchet and stave. · UK version of this page
Key facts
- Piano grades: Initial Grade (Debut with RSL), then Grades 1–8.
- Graded like ABRSM: 3 pieces (Lists A, B and C), scales and arpeggios from memory, sight-reading, aural tests – out of 150, pass 100.
- ABRSM piano 2025 & 2026 syllabus: valid until 31 December 2027. The 2027 & 2028 syllabus: from 1 January 2027.
- Exam length (ABRSM): about 12 minutes up to Grade 3, 15 at Grades 4–5, 20 at Grade 6, 25 at Grade 7, 30 at Grade 8.
- Trinity piano: 3 pieces (22 each), technical work (14), 2 supporting tests (10 each); pass 60 out of 100.
- ABRSM Grades 6–8 need Grade 5 Music Theory (or an accepted alternative) first.
Classfern’s free piano exam guide on lessonplanner.info explains every grade, with a printable practice planner, a quick quiz and the site’s own ear training tests for piano.
Piano exam practice planner
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Choose the grade, the number of weeks until the exam and your minutes a day. Classfern splits each day between pieces, scales, sight-reading and aural, and plans the learn, polish and mock-exam weeks. Print it and tick each day.
How it is assessed: Evidence kept at home – you print the plan and tick off practice. Nothing is saved or sent.
Quick quiz: piano exam facts
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8 questions about what happens in a piano grade, with an explanation after each answer.
How it is assessed: Marked by Classfern – the answers are checked by rules in your browser.
Ear training and theory tests for piano
Everything runs in your browser. The tests only use the microphone if you choose a practical test and press its button; nothing is recorded or sent.
Open Classfern’s theory and ear training tests here, set to piano: hear intervals, chords and cadences, or switch to theory, sight-reading or playing tests. Five levels, like Grades 1–5.
How it is assessed: Marked by Classfern for written and listening questions; practical tests say how they were assessed.
What is in a piano grade exam?
In a piano exam graded like ABRSM you play three pieces, one each from Lists A, B and C, then scales and arpeggios from memory, a sight-reading test and aural tests. It is marked out of 150: 100 to pass, 120 for Merit and 130 for Distinction.
List A pieces are generally faster and technically agile, List B pieces are lyrical and expressive, and List C covers a wide range of styles and traditions. From Initial Grade to Grade 3, one piece may be a duet. In the exam, scales and arpeggios are played legato, in even notes and without pedal.
| Board | Levels | Pieces | Other tests | Marked out of |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ABRSM Practical Grades | Initial, Grades 1–8 | 3 (Lists A, B, C), 30 marks each | Scales and arpeggios 21, sight-reading 21, aural 18 | 150 (Pass 100) |
| Trinity College London | Initial, Grades 1–8 | 3, 22 marks each | Technical work 14; two supporting tests (10 each) from sight reading, aural, improvisation and musical knowledge | 100 (Pass 60) |
| RSL (Rockschool), general Grade Exam pattern | Debut, Grades 1–8 | 3, 20 marks each | Technical exercises 15, sight reading or improvisation 10, ear tests 10, musicianship questions 5 | 100 (Pass 60%) |
Which piano syllabus is current – can I still play the 2021 pieces?
No. ABRSM’s 2021 & 2022 piano pieces are no longer accepted. The 2025 & 2026 piano syllabus is valid until 31 December 2027, and the new 2027 & 2028 syllabus can be used from 1 January 2027, so during 2027 you can choose either. All your pieces must come from the same syllabus.
The previous 2023 & 2024 pieces could be played until 31 December 2025. Trinity’s current piano syllabus, published in 2023, has no end date: it stays valid until further notice, and Trinity says it will announce changes at least 12 months ahead.
How long is each piano grade exam?
Graded like ABRSM, an Initial Grade to Grade 3 piano exam takes about 12 minutes, Grades 4 and 5 about 15 minutes, Grade 6 about 20, Grade 7 about 25 and Grade 8 about 30 minutes, including going in and out.
| Grade | About |
|---|---|
| Initial, 1, 2, 3 | 12 minutes |
| 4 and 5 | 15 minutes |
| 6 | 20 minutes |
| 7 | 25 minutes |
| 8 | 30 minutes |
How should you practice for a piano exam?
Practice little and often – five or six days a week – and split each session between pieces, scales, sight-reading and ear training. Learn the notes slowly first, then build speed and dynamics, and do full mock exams in the last two weeks.
- Learn: hands separately, slowly, with the fingering written in.
- Polish: use a metronome and add 4–8 beats a minute at a time until you reach the marked speed.
- Scales: a few keys each day, from memory, steady and even.
- Sight-reading: one new short piece every day – look at the key, time signature and rhythm for 30 seconds first, then keep going without stopping.
- Ear training: sing back short tunes, clap the beat and spot major or minor – try the ear training tests below.
- Perform: play your whole exam to someone twice before the day.
The practice planner below turns your exam date and daily time into a week-by-week plan you can print.
Can I take a piano exam on a digital piano?
Sometimes. ABRSM accepts digital pianos at Private Visits if they have a touch-sensitive keyboard with full-size weighted keys and a sustaining pedal, and meet its other stated rules. Check with the board before you book.
What is the US equivalent of piano grades?
The closest US equivalent is The Royal Conservatory (RCM) Certificate Program, which for piano has Preparatory A and B, Levels 1–10 and the ARCT diploma. ABRSM piano exams can also be taken in the United States.
Classfern is not connected with or endorsed by ABRSM, Trinity College London, RSL Awards (Rockschool), AQA, Pearson Edexcel, OCR, WJEC/Eduqas or CCEA. Board names are used only to describe and compare their exams. The College Board, The Royal Conservatory and NAfME are named only to compare. Nothing here is an official syllabus, specification or past paper. Facts were checked against the boards’ own published pages; rules change, so always check the current syllabus or specification.
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