Board: Royal Conservatoire of Scotland

Like exams delivered by the Associated Board of Royal Schools of Music, the Conservatoire’s Scottish Traditional Music Graded Exams are divided into four sections and last 15-20 minutes depending on the grade.
Total possible marks in each Scottish Traditional Music Graded Exam are 150. 100 marks are required to reach a Pass; 120 marks to pass with Merit; and 130 marks to pass with Distinction. The four sections of the exam are:

• PERFORMANCE – 90 marks
• TECHNICAL WORK – 18 marks
• QUICK STUDY – 21 marks
• PRACTICAL AND AURAL MUSICIANSHIP – 21 marks

The performance part of the exam has 3 pieces: 1) Airs, 2) Dance Tunes and 3) Recently-composed Tunes. Each piece is marked out of 30.

As the grades progress, you are allowed more time and scope to perform your programme of music, chosen from the increasingly challenging repertoire lists:

• At Grades 4 and 5, you are allowed a total of 9 minutes to play two stand-alone tunes and one set of three tunes. The set of three tunes should be varied in the tunes’ timings and keys. At least one tune from each of the three categories should be played.

For more information visit the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland website.