Rockschool was founded in 1991 on the ethos of providing structured qualifications for contemporary musicians that, at the time, were only available to Classical disciplines, making the options for pop, rock and jazz players severely limited in terms of progression in their music education.
With the advent of contemporary music qualifications led by RSL, there is now no shortage of options and choices for aspiring contemporary performers, whether they be musicians, thespians, or dancers! With so many choices though, many may ask “which exam is right for me”?
We’re here to break that down starting with the Music Exam structures offered by RSL: Grade Exams and Performance Certificates!
What’s the difference?
A Grade Exam consists of 5 main sections:
| 3 Performance Pieces (two of which may be Free Choice Pieces) | Candidates choose to play either Performance Pieces or Technical Exercises first | These account for 60% of the exam mark |
| Technical Exercises (Section A, B, C and D for Level 3 qualifications) | Candidates choose to play either Performance Pieces or Technical Exercises first | These account for 15% of the exam mark |
| Choice of either Sight Reading or Improvisation & Interpretation (Debut to Grade 8 for Piano & Keys, Debut to Grade 5 for all other instruments); Quick Study Pieces (Grade 6 to Grade 8, except for Piano & Keys) | Candidates are given an unseen test to prepare and perform | This accounts for 10% of the exam marks |
| 2 Ear Tests | Candidates respond to 2 aural tests. | These account for 10% of the exam marks |
| 5 General Musicianship Questions | Candidates answer 5 questions based on one of the pieces performed | These account for 5% of the exam marks |
The Grade Exam gives the most all-round experience, assessing both the candidate’s technique, musicality & performing skills, as well as listening ability, music knowledge and just being able to think on your feet and adapt to real-world situations (session work, jamming, improvisation, etc.).
The Performance Certificate consists of 5 Performance Pieces (3 of which may be Free Choice Pieces) only with no additional tests. Each Performance piece accounts for 20% of the exam marks.
Both these exam formats are available in full when you take the Live Video Exams!
Wait, what’s a Free Choice Piece?
RSL allows use of Free Choice Pieces (FCP) – in essence, you can even play your favourite song in the exams!
Commercially available play-along books and compilations are great sources for Free Choice Pieces and most already come with notation and backing tracks!
These FCPs are selections/repertoire/songs candidates can play in the exam that are not found in the exam books. These can be sourced from many different publications (Play-along books, older versions of the RSL syllabus, RSL’s old Hot Rock Series or Rockschool Classics series, or even pieces from a higher or lower grade in the RSL syllabus that have been adapted to suit the candidate’s current level).
Remember the Hotrock Series? Some Copies are still available at RS Event Center!
With the exception of previous RSL syllabuses from 2015 onwards, candidates must provide fully notated sheet music for all Free Choice Pieces. Candidates should also provide the appropriate backing tracks for their Free Choice Pieces and bring these with them to the exam on a USB drive.
You can find more information on RSL’s Free Choice Pieces guidelines here.
The Bottom Line
When it comes to choosing between the Graded Exam or Performance Certificate Exam Formats, it boils down to a few factors, including but not limited to: Do I need to use the certification for a specific purpose?
Is it the UCAS Points for a Higher Education Application to your dream school in the UK? Is it a personal goal to give yourself direction in your music learning?
UCAS points awarded for both the Grade Exam and Performance Certificate are equal, so you may wish to look deeper into the institution you are applying to in order to better decide on the Exam Format you wish to register for.
Is it a personal goal to give yourself direction in your music learning?
If you are learning mainly for leisure or personal achievement, then you can perhaps consider your objectives: learning for fun & just want to play songs? Take the Performance Certificate!
Enjoy the thrill of improvising a solo on the spot, or showing off how hard you’ve worked on building your dexterity through technical exercises, or testing your skills overall? Take the Grade Exam!
If you have a specific purpose for the qualification, such as applying to a teaching position, or if the institution you are applying to places an emphasis on technical work & theory knowledge, the Grade Exam is your best bet. If the program focuses primarily on performing, maybe the Performance Certificate will serve the best purpose.
Regardless of any decision, it’s great to know that RSL has a qualification suited to every skill level!
Need some tips on preparing for your next Rockschool Exam? Check out our Blog Page for all that and more!
We hope this information has been helpful. Find out more about the RSL Examinations in Singapore at www.rs-event.sg.