UK based Rockschool specialises in music of the most popular genres in a range of rock, pop, metal and funk styles. They offer syllabuses, exams and qualifications for guitar, bass, drums, vocals, piano, band-based keyboards and bands.
Rockschool qualifications are internationally recognised with tens of thousands of exams conducted in the UK and around the world.
Rockschool syllabuses and exams are delivered in Australia through the AMEB.
Exams are offered in face-to-face or video exam format.
Changes from 2023
Progressive changes for Rockschool exams from 2023:
- Live accompaniment is now allowed for Free Choice Pieces in Rockschool exams. The new Vocals books now include piano accompaniment parts.
- Self-accompaniment is also now allowed for Free Choice Pieces in Rockschool exams. You can sing along to your guitar piece or play piano while you sing your vocal piece.
- Minor creative choices are now permitted when playing the notation in Grade book pieces. You can embellish the melodies and make small changes to the written score. You will not be penalised for these deviations.
- Backing tracks are no longer mandatory for Free Choice Pieces. You can play with or without a backing track or accompaniment.
Choose your exam
Face-to-face exam options
Grade Certificate (Debut to Grade 8) exams consist of:
- 3 performance pieces — 2 of which may be Free Choice Pieces
- technical work
- unseen tests: sight-reading or improvisation (or Quick Study Pieces from Grade 6), ear tests and general musicianship questions.
Performance Certificate (Premiere to Grade 8) exams consist of:
- 5 performance pieces — 3 of which may be Free Choice Pieces
- no technical work or unseen tests.
Video exam options
Grade Certificate (Debut to Grade 8) exams consist of:
- 3 performance pieces — 2 of which may be Free Choice Pieces
- all of the Technical work as outlined in the Technical work guidelines
- no unseen tests
- Grade Certificate exams are the online alternative for Grade Music Exams.
Performance Certificate (Premiere to Grade 8) exams consist of:
- 5 performance pieces – 3 of which may be Free Choice Pieces
- no technical work or unseen tests.
Enrol
Enrol in a Rockschool exam through AMEB Connect.
Enrolling for the first time?
Follow our step by step guide to enrol for an exam in AMEB Connect.
Who can enrol a student for an exam?
Rockschool exam dates
The Rockschool exam dates can be found on the Exam dates page.
Rockschool exam fees and codes
The Rockschool fees are available on the Exam fees and codes page.
Prepare for your Face-to-face exam
Purchase your grade books
Login to AMEB Connect to purchase your Rockschool grade books.
Syllabus information
- Electric Guitar
- Electric Guitar - Let's Rock
- Acoustic Guitar
- Bass
- Bass - Let's Rock
- Drums
- Drums - Let's Rock
- Vocals
- Piano
- Keys
- Ukulele
A note about Free Choice Pieces
Free Choice Pieces can be chosen from:
- songs in the public domain, including hits from the charts
- pieces from other exam boards
- the Rockschool Classics series (guitar and drums), or
- own compositions.
Please download and read the Free Choice Pieces guidelines carefully when selecting a work.
Sheet music (for the examined instrument line) must be provided for all face-to-face and video exams.
If the exam candidate is using a backing track for Free Choice Pieces, this must be provided at face-to-face exams on their own device.
Understand how many pieces you need to prepare and whether any technical work or unseen tests will be included in your chosen exam.
Other information
Here are some Useful exam tips.
Read this additional information on preparing for your Rockschool exam.
Prepare and record your Video exam
When is my video due?
You have up to 21 days from the date of enrolment to submit your video exam recording.
How to prepare
Before recording your exam you should read the following information about Rockschool Video Exams and the Technical Exercises for Graded Certificates (Debut to 8).
Free Choice Pieces
Sheet music (for the examined instrument line) must be provided for both face-to-face and video exams.
How to record your video
Follow these Rockschool Video Exam tips to give yourself the best opportunity for success.
For Rockschool Video Exams to be valid, there are rules you must adhere to.
- The exam needs to captured as a single, continuous shot in real time - you must not stop or pause the camera in between pieces.
- You must not use video editing software to cut out takes or reduce the time between pieces - the video should represent an exam taken in person as closely as possible, so do not worry about taking a little time setting up between pieces.
- Your face must be visible in the video, so we can identify the person taking the exam - please refer to the framing guide for further details.
- Candidates should introduce themselves by their full name, the date including the year, the exam grade and discipline they are taking, as well as introducing each piece.
- Drummers supplying video exams using mobile phones or cameras where it has not been possible to create a successful balance between drums and backing track only need to supply video of their drum performance. As well as introducing each piece, the candidate should audibly mark the second bar of the count in by clicking their sticks together. This will allow your examiner to sync the video to the backing track for assessment. Failure to indicate the count-in could make the synchronisation between video and audio impossible and may result in the exam being deemed inadmissible for assessment by a marker.
- Grade 6 - 8 only: DO NOT show your ID on the recording. Please email AMEB (NSW) regarding Rockschool's identification process.
- Another person is permitted to be present in the room to operate the camera. However, the other person is not permitted to interact with the candidate or intervene in the exam, except to introduce the candidate or to introduce each piece and/or the technical exercises section (Grade Certificate only).
- Check the video recording of your exam carefully before submission, making sure that each piece is introduced to camera, the picture and sound are of a reasonable quality and that the full exam has been captured.
Rejected for assessment
- Recorded video exams rejected scenarios: video submissions that fall into any of the rejected scenarios will be deemed unable to assess. If this is the case, you will be offered a rescheduling of the exam with payment of a rescheduling fee equivalent to 75% of the exam fee.
On the day of your face-to-face exam
Rockschool exam day checklist for face-to-face exams
Follow this checklist to make sure you have everything you need for your exam, including photo ID for Grades 6 - 8 and diploma.
Ready to upload and submit your Video exam?
Upload your video
For instructions on how to upload your exam to YouTube.
Submit your video
When you are ready to submit your video exam, complete the video submission form.
If you have included any Free Choice pieces, please contact our office for instructions for providing us with the sheet music for these pieces. Drummers will also need to provide backing tracks for Free Choice Pieces.
What happens next?
We will assign an examiner to view and grade the video. The following timeline provides an overview of the likely time frame for each step.
Changes to Rockschool exam dates
Under certain circumstances it is possible to transfer candidates to another date within the same year. These circumstances are outlined in our Transfer and rescheduling policy.
It is not possible under any circumstances to transfer exams from one year to another.
Rockschool results and certificates
Rockschool exam results, certificates and appeals
Find out about your Rockschool result or certificate.
Exam policies
AMEB (NSW) conducts Rockschool exams in accordance with AMEB (NSW) enrolment and administration policies. You can read more information about our policies here.