AMEB (NSW) has been inspiring excellence and supporting students' artistic achievements for over 100 years and provides quality assessments in music and speech and drama. Exams are held in NSW and the ACT, with more than 35,000 exams undertaken by students every year.

AMEB is the most widely used assessment system in its fields of study in Australia and the AMEB credentials are recognised professionally both in Australia and overseas.

AMEB (NSW) is a constituted entity under the agency of the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) and is self-funded, relying on income from examination fees.
 

The AMEB Advantage
 

AMEB provides a pathway for students to follow as they gain

• technical ability
• performance skills and
• confidence

AMEB also supports students and teachers through:

Quality syllabuses

• Beginner to tertiary entrance level music and speech and drama syllabuses
• Music theory and aural skills required for higher levels
• Teaching qualifications in music and speech and drama
• Wide repertoire ranging from classical to contemporary
• Commitment to Australian content and composers
• Regularly updated syllabuses that reflect best practice
• Teacher workshops in Sydney, regional NSW and the ACT

Experienced examiners

• Specialists in their instrument category
• Extensive knowledge in education, teaching and/or performance

State of the art facilities

• Sydney CBD location
• Purpose built examination studios

Regional access

• Examination locations throughout NSW and the ACT

Recognised standards of achievement

• Respected qualifications that can assist with high school music scholarships and entry into tertiary institutions Australia-wide
• Recognised by prestigious international institutions
• Detailed examination reports
• Annual diploma presentation ceremony

History

At the end of the nineteenth century there was support across Australia for examinations in music. The Universities of Adelaide and Melbourne agreed to offer a public examinations scheme in 1906. By 1918, universities from all other states had joined the agreement.

Initially called the ‘Central Board’, the name was changed to Australian Music Examinations Board (AMEB) in 1921. An Australia wide examination system for music, speech and drama had become a reality.

The AMEB program inspires learning in music, speech and drama across Australia. The addition of progressive syllabuses including:

• For Leisure programs
• Musical Theatre
• Contemporary Popular Music (CPM)

has ensured the AMEB remains at the forefront of arts education.

In 2018, AMEB commenced delivering exams on behalf of Rockschool UK.

From 2019, the AMEB began offering a new exam format alternative called Repertoire exams and is available across the board that allows candidates to simply present a program of works. In a Repertoire exam, no technical work, aural tests, sight reading nor general knowledge are examined, think of it as a repertoire-only exam. The Repertoire exam option is examinable alongside the traditional exam format (referred to from 2019 onwards as the Comprehensive exam) and available for all instruments and subjects, with a few syllabus exceptions. Please refer to the individual subject pages on our website for more specific syllabus information.

The AMEB is the most widely used assessment system in its fields of study in Australia. The AMEB pathway contributes to the high regard in which Australian musicians are held nationally and internationally.