Booking exams at Private Visits

Please also see our additional information for Private Visits.

Private Visits take place at an approved venue provided and organised by the Visit Organiser (a teacher, school or other organisation). For practical Private Visits we normally request a minimum number of exams/candidates. There is no minimum number of candidates for Music Theory exams (Grades 6 to 8) but the venue must be an educational institution.

Visit Organisers book and run Private Visits. The Visit Organiser is responsible for organising their Private Visit and for sharing their Venue Code with any Permitted Applicants.

Permitted Applicants are applicants who have received permission from the Visit Organiser to book their candidates at their Private Visit

To find out more about requesting a Private Visit please contact your local ABRSM representative.

Organ, Percussion, Harpsichord and Choral Singing exams

Applicants will need to organise a Private Visit for these exams as we are unable to hold them at our Public Venues. Please contact your local ABRSM Representative for more information.

Closing dates and late booking

The booking period, when you can book exams at Private Visits is usually around two weeks long. If you miss the booking period, you may be able to make a late booking if space is available. Late booking opens once the booking period has closed and the Private Visit booking has been confirmed. We are unable to accept late bookings for Music Theory exams.

Find out more about late booking.

Confirming practical Private Visits

Once booking has closed we will email the Visit Organiser and any Permitted Applicants to let them know that the visit is confirmed and that they can log in to view their exam dates and times. Candidates (or parents/carers) with an account will also receive a confirmation email.

At this point, the Visit Organiser can log in and view all candidates at their Private Visit, including those booked by Permitted Applicants. They can also download a list of all candidates booked at the visit (at any time), rearrange their timetable and choose to ‘lock’ the timetable when they are happy with it. The Visit Organiser can make changes or lock the timetable up to 48 hours before the start date. It is the responsibility of the Visit Organiser to inform their candidates and any Permitted Applicants of their finalised exam dates and times.

Find out more about rearranging and locking timetables.

Confirming Music Theory Private Visits (Grades 6 to 8)

Once the booking period has closed, we will email the Visit Organiser and any Permitted Applicants to let them know that they can log in to view their confirmed Music Theory exam details. Candidates (parents/carers) with an account will also receive a confirmation email.

How to book

For additional guidance, see our user guides and videos.

1. Check exam dates, booking periods and fees
2. Check our additional information for Private Visits and read our Terms and Conditions for Visit Organisers (PDF).
3. Get in touch with your local representatives to discuss your request for a Private Visit.
4. Register and create an account, if you don’t have one already.
5. Make sure you have approval for your venue. This can take up to eight working days. Once you have approval, make a note of your Venue Code. You will need to pass this on to any Permitted Applicants.
6. Log in to our exam booking service, click Private Visit and select your Private Visit venue.
7. Enter your candidate details. Before you begin, have all your candidate information ready: Contact ID (if known), name, date of birth, exam subject and grade/level, any access arrangements and candidate email address (optional). You can enter these details directly into our exam booking service or you can use our bulk upload option to add a list of candidates.
8. You can then book and pay for your exams. 

Booking remotely-assessed exams

Performance Grade and ARSM exams

For these exams, candidates record their exam performance and the candidate/applicant then submits this to us for assessment. The candidate/applicant can choose where and when to record the exam, as long as the location meets our requirements. When you book you can select an exam submission date from a list of options available during the exam session. The exam submission date is the latest date by which you must upload and submit the exam recording.

For the widest choice of dates, you should book your exams as soon as the booking period opens. Once the booking period has closed and dates are confirmed, it may be possible to make late bookings if space is available. However, you should not rely on late booking to secure an exam slot. Any available slots are likely to be limited and we cannot guarantee that you will be able to book a slot once the booking period has closed. Find out about late booking.

We will email applicants, and candidates (parents/carers) with an account, to let them know when they can log in to view their confirmed submission dates. At this point applicants, and candidates (parents/carers) with an account, can log in to change a submission date, subject to availability. You can do this up to 48 hours before the exam date. Find out more about changing an exam date.

Online Music Theory exams (Grades 1 to 5)

Candidates can take the exam in their own home or in any other suitable location that meets our requirements. It is also possible for multiple candidates to take an exam at a single venue such as an educational institution that has previously hosted exams.

The booking period for Music Theory exams is usually two weeks long and we are unable to accept any late bookings.

How to book: remotely-assessed exams

1. Check exam dates, booking periods and fees.
2. Read the relevant guidance documents: Online Music Theory.
3. Before you book, have all your candidate information ready: Contact ID (if known), name, date of birth, exam subject and grade/level, any access arrangements and candidate email address.
4. Register and create an account, if you don’t have one already.
5. Log in to our exam booking service and click Public Venue. You can then enter your exam details, enter your candidate details, and book and pay for your exams.