The HKEAA administers the ABRSM online and paper-based Music Theory Exams, Practical Grades (face-to-face exams) and Performance Grades (digital exams). ABRSM exams are the most popular music exams in Hong Kong.

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Starting from 2021, applicants should register for the exam (except Choral Singing and Ensembles) and complete the payment through the ABRSM online booking service. For more details, please visit ABRSM website www.abrsm.org.

For Choral Singing and Ensembles, applicants are required to upload the completed ABRSM entry forms (PDF format) and complete the payment online during the registration period via: https://mip.hkeaa.edu.hk/mip/ABCHO

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Practical Grades and Performance Grades Examination Fees 2023

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• For Initial Grade to Grade 5 Practical and Performance Grade Exams, there are no specific entry requirements.
• For candidates entering Grades 6, 7 and 8 of Practical and Performance Grade Exams, a pass in Grade 5 or above of Theory / Practical Musicianship Examinations / solo Jazz subject is required.
• For candidates entering for ARSM, a pass in Grade 8 Practical or Performance in the instrument being presented (or listed alternative) is required.

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Click here to locate the entry forms for Choral Singing and Ensembles on ABRSM website.

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From 1 January 2023, interpreter service for ABRSM exams will not be arranged. This means that when candidates book or reschedule exams, they will be able to choose from all available dates, rather than being restricted to dates with or without an interpreter.

Candidates who need an interpreter must arrange this themselves, following ABRSM Interpreter Guidelines. To support candidates, ABRSM has published a list of possible interpreters on their website under "'Change to interpreter arrangements in Hong Kong".

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• For Practical Grade and Performance Grade Exams, no admission forms will be required. "Notes to Applicants and Candidates" will be emailed to the applicants 2 weeks before the first date of the Practical Grade exam session. Please contact the HKEAA if it is not received 1 week before the first date of the exam session.
• For Choral Singing and Ensembles, admission forms will be sent to the applicants 4 weeks before the first date of the exam session. It is subject to the schedule of ABRSM. Please contact the HKEAA if the Admission email is not received 2 weeks before the first date of the exam session.

Examination results will be released online via ABRSM website within one week of the exam date or submission of the exam video. Certificates will be sent to the applicant within 4 months after the exam date or submission of the exam video. The HKEAA will announce the posting of examination results and certificates via this webpage. Applicants should inform the HKEAA in writing if there are changes to the contact details.

*Applicants who have not received their candidates’ certificates should contact the HKEAA within 5 months after the issue of certificates. Otherwise, the certificates will be regarded as successfully received by the applicants. Uncollected certificates will be destroyed 5 months after the issue of certificates. After that, requests for uncollected certificate will be regarded as applications for replacement of certificates and supplementary fees will be levied.

Exam delivery concerns and result review must be submitted to ARBSM within 3 weeks of release of result. For details, please visit ABRSM website.

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Starting from 2021, applicants should submit their applications directly to ABRSM. For details, please visit ABRSM website.

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Applicants and candidates should observe the most updated information and regulations on ABRSM website:
https://hk.abrsm.org/en/our-exams/information-and-regulations/

Examination Syllabuses are available from the ABRSM website:
https://hk.abrsm.org/en/our-exams/exam-syllabuses/

Sheet Music
When taking face-to-face Practical Grade Exams, playing one or more of the prepared pieces from memory is optional. Candidates playing from memory must bring copies of the pieces for the examiner's use. No one is allowed to listen outside the examination room, nor is anyone allowed to remain near the door except the waiting room supervisors or other representatives of the ABRSM. Candidates may not bring any unauthorized material or equipment into the examination room. Any candidate infringing this rule may be disqualified.

If photocopies are to be used for this purpose, it is the candidate's responsibility to obtain written permission from the publisher/copyright holder. In the UK, certain publishers allow photocopies to be made for the examiner's use - for full details, see the MPA's Code of Fair Practice at www.mpaonline.org.hk.

Wrong Music Pieces
Candidates offering a wrong piece or study or not being prepared to perform the whole of the work specified in the current or previous year's syllabus for the Grade under examination will be liable to disqualification. Teachers and candidates are requested to pay particular attention to the current "Exam Information & Regulations".

Accompanists
Candidates must provide their own accompanist in instruments where an accompaniment is required. Their teacher may act as the accompanist but the examiner will not do so. Accompanists must therefore be punctual. Particular attention should be paid to the capability of the accompanist. A poor accompanist can jeopardize the success of a soloist particularly in the higher grades where the set pieces call for a high degree of technical proficiency from both players.

Stringed & Wind Instruments
Candidates examined in stringed or wind instruments are reminded that their instruments need to be tuned to the piano in the examination room immediately before the examination either by themselves or the accompanist. According to the syllabus, in Initial Grade to Grade 5, the teacher or accompanist may tune the candidate's instrument (or advise on tuning) before the exam begins. The examiner will not do so. In Grade 6 to Grade 8 and ARSM, candidates must tune their instruments themselves.

Choral Singing and Bulky Instruments
Applicants and candidates examined in Choral Singing or the following subjects should make their own arrangements for the exam venue. Their instruments should be set in a suitable room, which is easily accessible and free from noise and other disturbances. For Practical Grade Exams, transportation for the examiners must be provided without cost to ABRSM or the HKEAA.

As stipulated in ABRSM "Exam Information & Regulations", applicants hosting a Visit have a duty of care towards examiners as well as candidates and their escorts and, as such, they are advised to carry out a risk assessment and to make appropriate arrangements to comply with health and safety legislation. ABRSM or the HKEAA cannot accept liability for any damage, injury, expense or loss (including consequential loss) incurred during the course of a Visit.

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Personal data of applicants/candidates are used by the HKEAA and the Examination Board for delivery of examination and assessment services. Whether you provide the requested personal data is voluntary. However, if you fail to provide all the data, or if any of the data are inaccurate or incomplete, the HKEAA may not be able to accept your entry or provide all or part of the examination and assessment services. The personal data submitted may also be used for:

• Assisting tertiary institutions and other government/public organisations in their admission processes;
• Assisting tertiary institutions and other government/public organisations in respect of their requests for information in granting scholarships;
• Assisting tertiary institutions and other government/public organisations to confirm the candidates' eligibility for financial assistance or other forms of subsidization, in which case, the necessary personal data of the candidates may have to be disclosed to the concerned organisations for verification;
• Certifying candidates' examination results in response to legitimate requests;
• Processing any refund or payment in relation to the examination;
• Conducting educational research and analysis in an anonymous format in which the identities of candidates are not traceable; and
• Marketing the services and products of the Examination Board (including examination services, courses, events, publications, and other examination materials or resources) subject to the consent of the applicants/candidates.*

The HKEAA may also transfer the personal data of applicants/candidates to third parties for use for the above purposes or other directly related purposes, including government/public organisations, schools and educational institutions, banks (for processing refund or payment), and service providers providing various administrative or technical services to facilitate the delivery of the examination and assessment services including but not limited to data punching, registration process, despatch of examination documents, and the capture, disposal or other processing of data.

In compliance with the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance, access to all personal data will be made available, on payment of a fee, to anyone who can establish his/her right to be informed of such data as are retained by the HKEAA. Please also note that applicants’/candidates’ personal data/correspondence/other information received by the HKEAA may be transferred to the Examination Board concerned for delivery of examination and assessment services and for any of the abovementioned purposes or other directly related purposes. In general, upon completion of an examination or examination series and all the connecting examination services, the HKEAA will transfer all such data to the Examination Board who will then assume full control of such data. By then, applicants/candidates should approach the Examination Board direct for their personal data/information handling policies if necessary.

 * If you have given consent to the Authority but wish to withdraw your consent for your personal data to be used for this purpose, please send a letter of request to the Authority.

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