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Latest exam updates
Practical Session 2 Update - USA
We appreciate how much the cancellation of our exams has affected learners And we are working hard on solutions to ensure learners can gain their qualifications at the earliest opportunity.
However, on the basis of official and local advice we will be cancelling Session 2 Practical exams scheduled for October-December. Our Representatives will provide further guidance in due course. We are very sorry for the impact on teachers and candidates and we will continue to monitor the situation. Thank you for your loyalty and support while these restrictions remain in place.
We will be gradually rolling out remotely-assessed Performance Grades https://gb.abrsm.org/en/performancegrades/ internationally starting before the end of 2020 and will share exam dates and booking periods soon.
Music Theory November Update - USA
We are still in the process of confirming with our Representatives whether Music Theory exams can take place in every area, based on local official advice. However, we can confirm that the Theory exams in the following areas below have been cancelled. All other areas are currently scheduled to hold a Music Theory exam, however we are monitoring the situation closely and will be in touch if anything changes.
Arizona
California
Colorado
Illinois
Maryland
North Carolina
Ohio
Oregon
Seattle
Virginia
Washington
Wisconsin
Candidates for Grade 6, 7 or 8 exams must already have passed ABRSM Grade 5 (or above) in Music Theory, Practical Musicianship or a solo Jazz instrument. For full details including a list of accepted alternatives, see Regulation 1d.
Practical Oboe Grade 6 exams consist of three pieces, chosen by the candidate from the appropriate lists in the current syllabus, scales and broken chords, sight-reading and aural tests.
Total marks in all individual Practical exams are 150. 100 marks are required to achieve Pass, 120 marks to pass with Merit and 130 marks to pass with Distinction.
Find out about our Performance Grades and alternative route to a graded music exam.
Three pieces: one chosen by the candidate from each of the three Lists, A, B and C - 30 marks each
| No. | Composer | Piece information | Publication(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Albinoni | Allegro 1st movt from Concerto in B♭, Op. 7 No. 3 |
|
| 2 | J. S. Bach arr. Rothwell |
Adagio | |
| 3 | A. Besozzi | Larghetto And Allegretto 3rd movt And 4th movt from Sonata in C |
|
| 4 | J. H. Fiocco arr. Bent and O'Neill |
Arioso | |
| 5 | Handel |  Adagio And Allegro1st movt And 2nd movt from Concerto in B♭, HWV 301 |
|
| 6 | Handel arr. Rothwell |
Air And Rondo | |
| 7 | Homilius | Adagio And Allegro assai 1st movt And 2nd movt from Sonata in F, HoWV XI.1 |
|
| 8 | Jean Baptiste Loeillet arr. Rothwell |
Largo cantabile And Allegro 1st movt And 2nd movt from Sonata in C |
|
| 9 | Tessarini | Largo And Vivace 1st movt And 2nd movt from Sonata in B♭, Op. 2 No. 2 |
|
| 10 | Trad. Scottish, arr. Hart | Annie Laurie |
| No. | Composer | Piece information | Publication(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Barthe | Couvre feu |
|
| 2 | Bartók trans. Pongrácz |
An Evening in the Village |
 Bartók: An Evening in the Village for Oboe, trans. PongráczEditio Musica Budapest (Z.8318) More details |
| 3 | Debussy arr. Roxburgh |
The Little Shepherd Or La fille aux cheveux de lin |
|
| 4 | Field arr. Rothwell |
Nocturne | |
| 5 | Gershwin arr. Denwood |
Promenade (Walking the Dog) (observing top E♭ in b. 19) |
|
| 6 | Jan de Haan | Sweet Sunset | |
| 7 | Paul Hart | La Scala | |
| 8 | R. Hofmann | Notturno No. 1 from Four Pieces, Op. 81 |
|
| 9 | Mendelssohn trans. Walter |
Allegro con moto Or Andante un poco agitato |
 No. 42 Or No. 43 from Mendelssohn: Romances sans paroles, Vol. 6, trans. WalterBillaudot (GB8230) More details |
| 10 | Ennio Morricone | Gabriel's Oboe from The Mission |
| No. | Composer | Piece information | Publication(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | van Beekum | Square Dance Or Scala Paso doble from Ornamental Oboes |
|
| 2 | Blatt | Study in D Or Study in F No. 6 Or No. 13 from 15 Entertaining Etudes, Op. 24 |
|
| 3 | Ferling | Study in D minor Or Study in G minor No. 11 Or No. 19 from 48 Studies, Op. 31 |
|
| 4 | Garnier | Study in G | |
| 5 | Sadie Harrison | Spinning Jenny Or Creeping Jenny from Three Jennys |
|
| 6 | Hinke | Study in G minor Or Study in G♯ minor from Elementary Method for Oboe |
|
| 7 | Kreutzer, trans. Lamotte | Study in D | |
| 8 | Mike Mower | Tectonic Groove from The Good-Tempered Oboe |
|
| 9 | James Rae | Hurdles And Triathlon No. 11 And No. 12 from Track & Field for Oboe |
|
| 10 | Telemann | Grave And Allegro 1st movt And 4th movt from Fantasia No. 2 in A minor, TWV 40:3 |
Candidates for a Grade 6, 7 or 8 exam must already have passed ABRSM Grade 5 (or above) in Music Theory, Practical Musicianship or a solo Jazz subject; for full details, including a list of accepted alternatives, see Regulation 1d.
Download recordings of pieces from our Oboe syllabus.
Practice material for students preparing for Oboe exams.
New editions offering support to teachers preparing students for Practical exams.
Practice examples of the aural tests to use when preparing for an exam.
