The online exam
The exam at a glance
1½ hours at most, online, 75 marks in 7 sections. Pass 50, Merit 60, Distinction 65 marks.
- Rhythm, 15 marks
- Pitch, 15 marks
- Keys and scales, 15 marks
- Intervals, 10 marks
- Tonic triads, 10 marks
- Terms and signs, 5 marks
- Music in context, 5 marks
Booking, fees and the exam room
An online exam on a computer with a webcam, taken at home or at any suitable place. It is filmed and checked afterwards, then marked automatically. You may use your own blank paper (plain or manuscript) for working, shown to the camera at the start and destroyed at the end.
Booking: any time
Online exams are available on demand: you can book at any time, and then have 28 days to take the exam, on any date and at any time in that period. The result is available 28 days after the exam, after quality checks. The mark form shows the marks for each section. The fee for Grade 1 is 43.00 GBP (UK fees for 2026. A digital certificate is included; a paper certificate costs 3.50 GBP.) ABRSM exam dates and fees.
Checked against the ABRSM syllabus and exam pages, 9 October 2026. Source: ABRSM Music Theory qualification specification.
Its seven sections are the same seven as this course, in the same order. Music in context has two units here: a short melody, then a longer extract.
Quick check
How many sections does the Grade 1 exam have?
Pass, merit, distinction
Out of 75, you need 50 to pass, 60 for a merit and 65 for a distinction.
Quick check
How many marks does the Grade 1 exam have in all?
Remember
- Online, seven sections, 75 marks, up to an hour and a half.
- Pass 50, merit 60, distinction 65.
This question is in Brainlag Plus