Music Exams (Like the ABRSM)

Why Every Guitar Student Should Try an ABRSM Exam at Least Once

If your child has been taking guitar lessons for a while, you may eventually hear about something called an ABRSM exam. Many parents aren’t familiar with it at first, but it’s one of the most widely recognized music assessment systems in the world.

The Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM) is an international music education organization founded by the Royal Schools of Music in the United Kingdom. For over 130 years, they’ve developed graded music exams that help students measure their progress and build strong musical skills. Their exams are taken by students in more than 90 countries, and they cover instruments ranging from piano and violin to guitar and voice.

Students can take exams at different levels (called grades) that gradually increase in difficulty. Each exam typically includes:

  • Prepared pieces

  • Scales and technical exercises

  • Sight reading

  • Aural (listening) tests

Parents who want to learn more can visit the official website here:

  • https://www.abrsm.org

  • https://www.abrsm.org/en-us/instruments/guitar-exams/

These pages explain the structure of the exams, grading system, and what students are expected to prepare.

Even if a student only takes the exam once, the experience can be incredibly valuable. It gives them a chance to challenge themselves, measure their progress, and experience the satisfaction of achieving something meaningful.

Let’s talk about why it’s worth trying.

1. It Gives Students a Clear Goal

One of the hardest parts of learning an instrument is knowing what to practice and why. Without a goal, practice can feel a little vague:

“Work on your chords.”
“Practice your scales.”
“Play this song again.”

Like practicing for a performance, when a student prepares for an ABRSM exam, everything suddenly has direction. They know exactly what they’re working toward:

  • specific pieces

  • scales and technical exercises

  • sight reading

  • listening skills

Instead of practicing randomly, they’re building skills with a purpose. That clarity often leads to much more focused practice.

2. It Builds Confidence

Walking into an exam room and performing for an examiner takes courage, but that’s part of what makes the experience so powerful. Students learn that they can:

  • prepare for something challenging

  • stay focused under pressure

  • perform music independently

And when they finish the exam, whether they earn a Pass, Merit, or Distinction, they walk away knowing they accomplished something real.

That confidence carries over into everything else they do, both in music and outside of it.

3. It Provides Meaningful Feedback

One of the most valuable parts of the ABRSM exam is the written feedback students receive afterward. The examiner doesn’t just give a score. They provide thoughtful comments about things like:

  • tone

  • rhythm

  • musical expression

  • technique

  • overall performance

For students, it’s like getting feedback from a second teacher; someone who hears them fresh and offers insights that help guide their next stage of growth. It turns the exam into a learning experience, not just a test.

4. It Teaches Discipline and Preparation

Preparing for an exam teaches an important skill; how to work toward something over time.

Students learn that improvement doesn’t happen overnight. It happens through small, consistent steps. They learn how to:

  • break big goals into smaller pieces

  • focus on details

  • stick with something until it’s ready

Those are life skills that go far beyond the guitar.

5. It’s Something Students Remember

Many students look back on their ABRSM exam as a milestone in their musical journey. It’s a moment where they realized, “I can really do this.”

Even students who never take another exam still benefit from the experience of preparing for one. It gives them a sense of accomplishment and a deeper understanding of what they’re capable of.

Final Thought

The goal of music lessons isn’t to pass exams, the goal is to develop a lifelong relationship with music.

But along the way, structured challenges like the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music guitar exams can help students grow faster, build confidence, and take pride in their progress.

That’s why we encourage every guitar student to try one at least once, not because they have to, but because they might discover just how far they’ve come. 🎸