Latest exam updates
Exam refunds
To support customers affected by ongoing COVID restrictions, for Practical and Performance Grade exams from 1 January to 31 May 2021 any absent candidate will automatically receive a refund. This includes Performance Grades where the candidate has been unable to record and upload their video. You do not need to contact us to request a refund. However, it will help us if you can log in to your account and cancel the exam.
For Online Music Theory exams and any paper based exams taking place outside of the UK/Ireland we anticipate COVID restrictions will not prevent candidates from sitting their exam so absentee candidates will not automatically receive a refund and our normal Withdrawal, Non-attendance and Fee Refunds Policy still applies.
Performance Grade booking
We will be offering Performance Grade exams every month for the remainder of 2021. Please check here for dates and fees.
Music Theory exams – March 2021
For more information click here.
Face-to-face practical exams, session 1 - USA
Due to current COVID restrictions, we will not be opening our normal booking period in January for face-to-face practical exams in April-June. We hope to provide a practical session later in the year, but need to keep all dates under review as we can only accept bookings if COVID travel and government restrictions are lifted. We will provide an update nearer to the next booking period.
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.
