AMEB vs ABRSM vs Trinity: Music Exam Boards in Australia Explained

Who runs each board

AMEB is the Australian Music Examinations Board. Its graded exams began in 1887 with the universities of Melbourne and Adelaide; the board became a national body in 1918 and is now jointly owned by the universities of Melbourne, Adelaide and Western Australia and the education departments of Queensland, New South Wales and Tasmania. The federal office is in Melbourne; AMEB Victoria is in Hawthorn.

ABRSM is The Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music, a UK music education charity founded in 1889 and run in partnership with four Royal Schools of Music.

Trinity College London was established in 1872 and is an international awarding organisation and independent education charity, examining in more than 80 countries.

All three are established boards recognised in Australia and overseas. "Which is most prestigious" has no useful answer; what matters is where your child is heading.

Grade structure

The ladders look very similar: an entry grade, then Grades 1 to 8, then diplomas.

You don't have to sit every grade in order; ABRSM and Trinity both say you can start at any grade and skip grades, and AMEB's rules are in its current syllabus.

One caution: grades aren't identical across boards, especially in theory. AMEB treats its theory grades as two higher than the same-numbered ABRSM or Trinity grade, so AMEB Theory Grade 1 counts as ABRSM or Trinity Grade 3. There's no official conversion for practical grades.

What's in the exam

AMEB's standard exam is the Comprehensive: a programme of pieces plus technical work such as scales, aural tests, sight-reading and general knowledge questions. AMEB also offers Repertoire exams, where only pieces are performed and technical work and aural tests aren't examined separately; AMEB says the standard is the same. Each instrument's requirements are in the current Manual of Syllabuses.

ABRSM has two routes. Practical Grades are face-to-face: three pieces, scales and arpeggios, sight-reading and aural tests, marked out of 150, with 100 for a pass, 120 for Merit and 130 for Distinction. Performance Grades are recorded: four pieces played as a continuous programme (three from the syllabus, one own choice), with no scales, sight-reading or aural tests. ABRSM describes the two as equivalent in demand and value.

Trinity grade exams are marked out of 100: three pieces for 66 marks, technical work for 14 and two supporting tests for 20. In face-to-face exams the supporting tests are chosen, and the choice depends on the grade: from Initial to Grade 5, any two of sight reading, aural, improvisation and musical knowledge; for Grades 6 to 8, sight reading plus either aural or improvisation. Having a choice is what sets Trinity apart from the other two. Exams can be face-to-face or on video; the digital route offers a Technical Work pathway or a Repertoire Only pathway of four pieces.

With all three, the teacher chooses pieces from the published syllabus list to suit the student.

Theory requirements

This is the most practical difference between the boards.

AMEB: no theory is required from Preliminary to Grade 5. From Grade 6 up, a music theory exam is an Additional Requirement to complete the practical grade. It can be taken before or after the practical, but the certificate isn't issued until theory is passed. The exact grade required is in Table A of Regulation 19 of the current Manual of Syllabuses. AMEB offers three theory syllabuses: Theory of Music, Musicianship and Music Craft. Its "For Leisure" syllabuses have no theory requirement.

ABRSM: no requirement for Initial to Grade 5. Before booking Practical or Performance Grade 6, 7 or 8, the student must have passed Grade 5 Music Theory (or Grade 5 Practical Musicianship or a Jazz Practical Grade). ABRSM also accepts AMEB Theory of Music Grade 5 or above as an alternative. ABRSM theory Grades 1 to 5 are online, on demand; Grades 6 to 8 are paper-based on set dates.

Trinity: no theory prerequisite. Trinity states that there are no theory prerequisites for any of its practical graded exams, and its performance diplomas have no formal prerequisites either. Trinity also runs Theory of Music exams at Grades 1 to 8.

In short: if your child is likely to go past Grade 5 with AMEB or ABRSM, plan theory early. With Trinity it's optional. Our music theory lessons prepare students for AMEB and ABRSM theory exams.

Diplomas: beyond Grade 8

AMEB's diplomas are AMusA (Associate), LMusA (Licentiate) and FMusA. AMEB Victoria notes that AMusA sits well above Grade 8 and that its success rate is much lower than for grade exams. AMusA and LMusA also need a corequisite theory exam before the diploma is awarded (Regulation 8 of the Manual of Syllabuses).

ABRSM's performance diplomas are ARSM, LRSM and FRSM, intended for students who have passed Grade 8; check the current qualification specification for entry conditions.

Trinity's performance diplomas are ATCL, LTCL and FTCL. Trinity describes ATCL as comparable to a first-year undergraduate recital, LTCL to a final-year recital and FTCL to postgraduate level. They can be taken digitally or face-to-face, with no formal prerequisites.

At Haydn, Performance-stage students work towards recitals, competitions and AMusA / LMusA.

How to choose

No board suits every child. These are the questions worth asking:

• Staying in the Australian school system? AMEB is the local board and the one Australian schools and teachers are most familiar with. AMEB's own FAQ notes that many Australian universities offer ATAR bonus points for relevant AMEB results; check with each university.
• Might you move overseas? ABRSM and Trinity are examined worldwide, so a move doesn't mean a change of system.
• Does your child dislike scales and aural tests? AMEB's Repertoire exams, ABRSM's Performance Grades and Trinity's Repertoire Only pathway all examine pieces alone.
• Don't want theory to be a gate? Trinity has no theory prerequisite, though theory is still worth learning.
• Want the face-to-face exam experience? All three offer it; ABRSM's Performance Grades are recorded only.
• Fees and dates: these change every year, so go straight to each board's website.

Above all, talk to the teacher, who works with all three syllabuses and knows which route fits your child. Switching boards mid-way is possible; the grades line up roughly.

How we prepare students

Our piano lessons follow the Haydn Pathway in four stages aligned with AMEB grades: Development covers AMEB Preliminary to Grade 4, Mastery covers Grade 5 to Grade 8, and Performance is for AMusA / LMusA and pre-conservatorium preparation. The stages are explained on the Haydn Pathway page.

For students sitting exams, teachers prepare for AMEB, ABRSM and Trinity: technical work, pieces, sight reading, aural tests and any theory required. Students who'd rather not sit exams are just as welcome.

To find out which grade and which board suit your child now, book a trial lesson at our Box Hill studio and the teacher will advise after hearing them play. Fill in the enquiry form below, call 0410 957 668 or scan our WeChat code.