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You Are Here : Home ! FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

COVID-19 Response
Please contact your AMEB State Office regarding practical
examination queries during this time. All AMEB State Office
contact details can be found here.
Read the message to our community from AMEB Ltd CEO,
Bernard Depasquale.

Exams - General

Why should I do an exam?

I did an exam a long time ago, how do I get my
result/certificate?
How long do exams last?
How much does an exam cost?
How do I cancel or reschedule an exam?
I would like to be able to teach students and enter them for
AMEB exams. What qualifications do I need to do this?

Exams - Practical

How do I choose extra list pieces?

Can I use downloaded sheet music in my exam?
I’m taking a Level 1 (Preliminary to Grade 4 exam). What will I
be asked in the General Knowledge section of my exam?
I’m taking a Level 2 (Grade 5 to Grade 8 exam). What will I be
asked in the General Knowledge section of my exam?
What will I be asked in the Sight Reading section of my exam?
What will I be asked in the Aural Test section of my exam?
I started preparing last year to take my exam this year. How do
I know if my syllabus has changed since last year?
Do I need to do any music theory exams in order to pass my
practical exams?
I would like to purchase a digital piano for my child, who is
practicing for their AMEB exams. Do you have any
recommendations for digital pianos?
What happens in an AMEB P Plate Piano assessment?
What will I receive on completion of my AMEB instrumental
exam?
I passed my practical exam, but have never received my
certificate. How can I get a copy of it?

Exams - Written

I took a Music Theory grade exam with another examining

board (eg. Trinity, ABRSM etc.) Is my grade equivalent to the
same grade in the AMEB system?
What will I receive on completion of my AMEB written theory
exam?

Exams - Online

I’ve bought an online exam. How do I access it?

I accidentally purchased the wrong online exam. What can I
do?
How do I get to the practice exams for my online exam?
I can’t see the detailed results for my student’s online practice
exam. Where can I view the details of their results?
Can a family member supervise an online exam? Or do I need
to get a teacher to supervise my child?
What will I receive on completion of my AMEB online theory
exam?
How do I know when my online exam expires?

Courses - Online

There are no online courses available for the subject I am

studying, so how can I learn the material for this grade?

Syllabuses

What is the difference between the three music theory

syllabuses?
What is the difference between a gradebook and a syllabus?
Should I use an old or new syllabus?
What is a syllabus?
How are the CPM (Contemporary Popular Music) Syllabuses
different to the standard AMEB instrumental syllabuses?
What grades are the CPM levels equivalent to?

Publications

Can I still use Series 1 Piano for Leisure after the old syllabus
is withdrawn?
Which series of grade books should I use?
What is the difference between a grade book and a recording
& handbook?
Where can I find the repertoire for the higher grades that don’t
have AMEB grade books?
Can I use photocopies of pieces printed in AMEB publications
for eisteddfods or competitions?

Enrolment & Results

Where can I find my exam results?

Can I earn bonus points towards admission for taking an
AMEB exam? (ATAR)
Where do I login to AMEB Connect?

Online Shop

How long will it take for my items to be delivered?

When will my product(s) arrive?
What if I order the wrong thing?
Can I buy one past exam paper and photocopy it for my
students?
How do I purchase a digital syllabus? And how do I access my
digital syllabus once I have purchased it?
When I open a PDF digital download, there are errors. Why?

Exams - General

Why should I do an exam?

Having a clearly defined goal can be a powerful motivating force.
AMEB syllabuses set educationally appropriate goals and
examinations are an opportunity for students to measure
themselves against these goals. Performing in front of others also
helps to develop poise and confidence. Each candidate who
completes an AMEB exam receives a personal written report from
their examiner. This independent feedback encourages the student
to progress. Each successful AMEB candidate receives an official
certificate recognising their achievement. An AMEB certificate is a
tangible reminder of a milestone achieved and a source of great
pride.
Why take an exam?

I did an exam a long time ago, how do I get my

result/certificate?
Not a problem, just contact your local AMEB State Office.

How long do exams last?

Exams vary in length. See Regulation 13 for all exam times.

How much does an exam cost?

For all practical and traditional written exam prices, contact your
local State Office. Online written exam prices are available
in AMEB Online or your state's AMEB Connect page (Victoria or
NSW/ACT). Online Theory of Music Courses are $29.95 for Grade
1, $31.95 for Grade 2, and $34.95 for Grade 3.

How do I cancel or reschedule an exam?

Exam cancellation and rescheduling can be done by contacting
your AMEB State Office.

I would like to be able to teach students and enter

them for AMEB exams. What qualifications do I need
to do this?
There are no standard qualifications related to teaching
instrumental music in Australia. You may wish to communicate
with someone at your state’s Music Teacher Association to talk
more about what they recommend.

Exams - Practical

How do I choose extra list pieces?

It is the responsibility of the candidate (or teacher) to choose
repertoire with an educational value similar to that already
prescribed in the syllabus. The AMEB does not provide any type of
pre-approval of Extra list or Own choice repertoire. From Second
to Seventh Grades inclusive, candidates in Singing (except Singing
for Leisure) and all Instrumental subjects (except Piano for Leisure
and Saxophone for Leisure) must submit a list of extra pieces
studied, other than those presented for examination. The Extra List
should have an educational value similar to that already prescribed
in the syllabus. For example, candidates might wish to present
another work from the syllabus, the current grade book, or earlier
editions of grade books. The candidate may present a work of
educational value similar to those listed in the syllabus from a
source other than those listed above. Candidates will be required
to demonstrate familiarity with these pieces by performing the
whole or any part of them at the discretion of the examiner. The
music must be brought to the examinations room. Accompaniment
of Extra List pieces is not required, even if the work is written with
accompaniment. Two Extra List works are required in all
instrumental syllabuses and singing from Second Grade to
Seventh Grade, both inclusive. Extra list works are not required for
Piano for Leisure, Saxophone for Leisure or Singing for Leisure.

Can I use downloaded sheet music in my exam?

It is up to the candidate (and their teacher/parent) to be aware of
their copyright obligations and to verify that the music they are
using in an exam has been purchased as a legal download or
legally downloaded from a public domain site.

Candidates who present for examination using scores obtained

through free download from websites should note that they bear
responsibility to ensure copyright clearance for their use of this
material has been obtained. Candidates should note that heavy
penalties apply for the improper use of copyright material.

Please also refer to your AMEB State Office regarding their

requirements for sheet music in exams.

I’m taking a Level 1 (Preliminary to Grade 4 exam).

What will I be asked in the General Knowledge section
of my exam?
In your practical examination, you can expect to be asked:

# At least one question about each List piece presented;

# Between 6 and 10 questions in total;
# In Level 1, examinations on solo instruments and voice,
questions will be asked from the candidate’s part (not the
accompaniment part).

If you are taking an exam in CPM, or Organ, you should also

consult the General Knowledge requirements in these syllabuses
as they contain certain requirements specific to these syllabuses.

General Knowledge questions will not be asked about Extra List

pieces.

I’m taking a Level 2 (Grade 5 to Grade 8 exam). What

will I be asked in the General Knowledge section of
my exam?
In your practical examination, you can expect to be asked:

# At least one question about each List piece presented;

# Between 6 and 10 questions in total;
# In Level 2, examinations on solo instruments and voice,
questions will be asked from the accompaniment part (not the
candidate’s part).

From Grade 7 and above, you will be asked about the composer;
candidates should interpret ‘period’ as an historical timeframe;
‘style’ as the features, attributes and characteristics of the music
or period (for example texture, phrasing, articulation, use of
dynamics, motif, harmony, ornamentation, tempo, agogic
accentuation etc.).

If you are taking an exam in CPM, or Organ, you should also

consult the General Knowledge requirements in these syllabuses
as they contain certain requirements specific to these syllabuses.

General Knowledge questions will not be asked about Extra List

pieces.

What will I be asked in the Sight Reading section of

my exam?
In your practical examination, for Preliminary (For Leisure
syllabuses only), Grades 1 and 2, you will be set a test consisting
of a simple phrase of an elementary nature. For Piano for
Leisure (Preliminary) and Piano (Grade 1) and Piano for Leisure
(Grade 1) – hands separately only.

For Grades 3 to 8, you will be set a test within the limits of the
technical standard of the grade you are taking.

What will I be asked in the Aural Test section of my

exam?
What you will be asked to do in the Aural Test section of your
practical exam is specific to each grade and this information is laid
out in detail in ‘Test Requirements for Candidates in Practical
Examinations – Aural Tests’ in the front matter section of the AMEB
Manual of syllabuses (which is also included with all syllabus
digital downloads).

Aural Tests (2002) is a collection of graded practice tests and

recordings at each grade level that assists candidates preparing
for the Aural tests portion of AMEB practical exams.

I started preparing last year to take my exam this year.

How do I know if my syllabus has changed since last
year?
Sometimes AMEB releases new syllabuses. In such cases, AMEB
will give notice that the ‘old syllabus’ will still be able to be used for
two more years from the time of the release of the ‘new syllabus’.
Therefore if you have been preparing using an ‘old syllabus’, you
will still have two years in which to take an exam using this
syllabus from the time a new syllabus is released.

Sometimes there is confusion between grade book series and

syllabuses. Often two or more series of AMEB grade books are
listed for use with a syllabus. For example, currently Piano
students can use Series 18, or Series 17 grade books with the
current piano syllabus. The syllabus is the document of exam
guidelines that shows which books pieces can be taken from. To
make sure you have the most up-to-date information for taking
your exam, please consult the document relating to your syllabus
in the current Manual of syllabuses (or in the current digital
download for your syllabus). Both the Manual and the digital
downloads are available from the online shop at
www.ameb.edu.au.

Occasionally individual works are removed from the Manual List for
reasons relating to copyright or availability changes. To make sure
you have the most up-to-date information for taking your exam,
please consult the document relating to your syllabus in the
current Manual of syllabuses (or in the current digital download for
your syllabus). Both the Manual and the digital downloads are
available from the online shop.

Do I need to do any music theory exams in order to

pass my practical exams?
For exams from Preliminary to Grade 5, passing a music theory
exam is not mandatory, although you may wish to, and be
encouraged to, take theory exams as part of your development as
a musician.

However, from Grade 6 practical exams and up, you will need to
pass a music theory exam in order to pass your practical exam.
We call this an ‘Additional Requirement’. Theory exams can be
taken either before or after practical exams. However, you won’t
receive your practical exam certificate until you have passed the
theory component (Grade 6 exams and up). Exact grade
requirements can be found in Table A of Regulation 19.

I would like to purchase a digital piano for my child,

who is practicing for their AMEB exams. Do you have
any recommendations for digital pianos?
AMEB does not recommend any particular brand or model of
piano. However we do specify the following for digital pianos to be
used in exams:

# Keyboard size – 88 notes

# Action – weighted and touch sensitive
# Pedals – fixed, and functioning as for acoustic pianos

AMEB doesn’t provide any digital pianos for use in the

examination. However in the lower grades (Preliminary – Grade 4),
studio teachers who offer their studios for exams may make use of
their own digital pianos.

If your child plans to go on to Level 2 (Grades 5 to 8; Certificate of

Performance) or Level 3 (Diplomas) in classical piano, access to an
acoustic piano is recommended.
Digital vs. Acoustic Pianos.

What happens in an AMEB P Plate Piano assessment?

Optional non-graded assessments are available at the completion
of each of the three P Plate Piano books. Students can perform
pieces selected for assessment alone or in groups and parent and
teacher participation is encouraged. There is no requirement for
technical work, sight-reading or general knowledge in a P Plate
assessment.

At the end of the performance an AMEB examiner will provide an

assessment report with a certificate acknowledging the student’s
achievement issued by the AMEB. On completion of the P Plate
Piano three-book series, students will receive a credit card style P-
Plate Piano license.

Please note that the way assessments in P Plate Piano are

conducted may vary from state to state. Contact your State Office
for more information.

What will I receive when I complete my AMEB

instrumental exam?
You will receive an examination report, and if you fulfil the
requirements of the award, you will also receive a certificate.

A report from the examiner is provided for the information of

candidates and teachers. The examiner’s report shows the
examination result.

Certificates will be awarded to candidates who fulfil the

requirements of the award. Certificates specify the subject and
grade or diploma of examination and the result obtained.
Certificates are posted to candidates from AMEB state offices. If
your postal address changes, please contact your state office to
let them know.

I passed my practical exam, but have never received

my certificate. How can I get a copy of it?
There are a few reasons why you may not have received your
certificate. If you had to fulfil an additional theory requirement (take
a theory exam) in a particular grade in order to pass your practical
exam, you won’t receive your certificate until you have passed
your additional requirement. Once you have passed the theory
requirement, you will also need to let your AMEB State office know
that you have passed this requirement. The AMEB State office will
then post your certificate out to you.

Another reason you may not have received your certificate is if the
State Office does not have the correct postal address for you (or
for your teacher, where relevant). Please contact your AMEB State
office to verify your postal address if you are concerned that they
may not have your correct address.

Exams - Written

I took a Music Theory grade exam with another

examining board (eg. Trinity, ABRSM etc.) Is my grade
equivalent to the same grade in the AMEB system?
AMEB considers an AMEB Music Theory grade to be two grades
higher than a grade of another examining body. For instance, an
AMEB Grade 1 in Theory of Music, Musicianship or Music Craft is
considered equivalent to a Grade 3 in ABRSM or Trinity Theory.
For more details, you may wish to refer to Table A in AMEB
Regulation 19.

What will I receive when I complete my AMEB written

theory exam?
Candidates will receive an examination report, and if they fulfill the
requirements of the award, they will also receive a certificate.

The report from the examiner is provided for the information of

candidates and teachers. The examiner’s report shows the
examination result. For all theoretical written examinations, the
report will show the total marks obtained, and the marks obtained
under each section of the examination.

Certificates will be awarded to candidates who fulfill the

requirements of the award. Certificates specify the subject and
grade or diploma of examination and the result obtained.
Certificates are posted to candidates from AMEB state offices. If
your postal address changes, please contact your state office to
let them know.

Exams - Online

I’ve bought an online exam. How do I access it?

Please go to AMEB Online. AMEB does have several other
websites, so please check that you are definitely on the Online
Exam website.

You will need to select ‘Exam Candidate' login (not Account

Holder) in order to start practicing your exams, or take the actual
exam.

Enter your Exam Key exactly as it was emailed to you; that is, it
will be your state, followed by a series of numbers. This is your
whole exam key and all letters and numbers need to be entered.
You will then need to enter the Exam Pin. You should then be able
to login to your account.

I accidentally purchased the wrong online exam. What

can I do?
Don’t panic if you have purchased the wrong exam, AMEB can
help you to get the right exam and to be reimbursed for the wrong
exam. Due to the way the AMEB system works, if you have already
bought an incorrect exam, please then go ahead and buy the right
exam. Then email online@ameb.edu.au attaching copies of both
your sales emails and let us know which exam is the incorrect one
(the one you would like to be reimbursed for). We will then be able
to process a reimbursement for you.

How do I get to the practice exams for my online

exam?
Once you have purchased an exam, you will have access to
practice exams.

In order to access the practice exams, go to AMEB Online and

login as the Candidate with your Exam Key and the password that
was emailed to the Account Holder after the exam was purchased.
You will then be able to access unlimited practice exams in the
grade and subject of the exam that you purchased.

I can’t see the detailed results for my student’s online

practice exam. Where can I view the details of their
results?
The primary purpose of AMEB practice exams is to familiarise the
student with the online exam format. The practice exams are not a
teaching tool as such. For the lower grades of AMEB online
exams, as these exams are computer marked, no detailed report is
available. You will only be able to view the candidate’s final mark
out of 100.

For manually marked, higher grade exams, students and teachers

can review the student’s exam and discuss their answers. For
these exams, as they have to be marked by a human examiner,
practice exams are not marked.

Can a family member supervise an online exam? Or

do I need to get a teacher to supervise my child?
Yes, a family member may supervise an online exam. Any adult 18
years or older can supervise the exam. Supervisors are required to
make an online declaration when the candidate begins the exam.
AMEB does regularly check in with supervisors to ensure they are
18 years or older and that they supervised the conduct of the
exam appropriately.

What will I receive when I complete my AMEB online

theory exam?
You will be able to view their results online, and if you fulfil the
requirements of the award, you will also receive a certificate.

For a computer marked examination, you will be able to view your

results directly after you have taken the exam.

For a manually marked examination, you will be notified by email

once your exam has been marked and your results are available
for viewing. This usually takes 3-5 business days.

Certificates will be awarded to candidates who fulfil the

requirements of the award. Certificates specify the subject and
grade or diploma of examination and the result obtained. The
Certificate is posted to the candidate from the AMEB office in their
state. Certificates are generally sent out within 10 working days of
the exam being marked. If your postal address changes, please
contact your state office when you take the online exam, so the
certificate can be posted to the correct address.

How do I know when my online exam expires?

Your online exam is valid for one year from the date of purchase.
The date of purchase can be viewed on the sale email you
received that confirmed your purchase of the online exam, so it is
a good idea to save this email somewhere. You will probably also
be able to find this date on your personal credit card statement.
One month before your online exam expires, an email will also be
sent to the email address of the parent/teacher who purchased the
exam.

Courses - Online

There are no online courses available for the subject I

am studying, so how can I learn the material for this
grade?
The AMEB Online Theory Courses are still relatively new and more
courses are currently in development. However prior to the release
of more courses, the usual way for students to study music theory
has been through individual or group music theory lessons. A
number of teachers in each state are well versed in helping
students learn the requirements of the AMEB Theory syllabuses.

Syllabuses

What's the difference between Theory, Music Craft

and Musicianship?

Theory and Musicianship are quite closely linked up to Grade Four

level. Both syllabi focus on Keys and Scales, Intervals, Chords,
Time and Rhythm, Transposition, Terms and Signs and Rhythmic
Invention but Musicianship tends to introduce Keys, Scales and
Intervals at a faster rate than Theory. As Theory progresses there is
a greater focus on the creative aspects: Harmonisation, Melody
Writing and questions about General Knowledge. At Grade Four
level Musicianship introduces an Aural component. This features
recognition of scale forms, intervals, triad positions, motion and
cadence recognition questions. There are also Time and Rhythm,
Expression and Mood and Form questions. From Grade Four to
Associate, Musicianship exams comprise a Written and an Aural
component. Theory has no Aural component.

Music Craft was developed to teach the theoretical and aural

aspects of music in different ways to Theory and Musicianship.
Thus, pitches are described using the Helmholtz system,
harmonies are described using a mixture of Roman Numerals and
figured bass, cadences are described differently to the Theory and
Musicianship syllabi (e.g. Authentic rather than Perfect). Also,
terms include German and French words. The teacher guides we
publish for Music Craft cover all areas in great detail and include
plenty of examples. There are also workbooks for each grade for
students to apply what they have learned in lessons. These
workbooks include CDs that cover all the aural material. Lessons
in Music Craft also include material from all the syllabus areas
rather than working through these sequentially on their own.

So the short of it is: Theory has no aural component but focuses

more on the creative aspects of Music Theory as the grades
ascend. Musicianship has an aural component from Grade Four
onwards but up to that point the two syllabi are quite similar. Music
Craft was conceived to provide alternative ways of teaching the
theoretical and aural aspects of music and these are introduced
right from the start.

What is the difference between a gradebook and a

syllabus?
The syllabus is like a curriculum or the "building blocks" of a
program of study. It specifies, in detail, all skills that will be
acquired in each area of study for each level of assessment. An
area of study may include Technical Work, Pieces, Aural Tests,
Sight Reading, General Knowledge etc. Grade Books, on the other
hand, are AMEB publications containing selected and graded
pieces for use with the AMEB syllabuses and produced in one or
more publications. Over time, there may be more than one series
of grade books published for a particular syllabus. A syllabus tells
you which gradebooks you can use for examination.

Should I use an old or new syllabus?

AMEB recommends that as far as possible, you use the most
current syllabus. Over time changes are made to regulations or
other important aspects of examinations. Old syllabuses are still
examinable for two years after the introduction of a new syllabus.
During the first year of its use, a new syllabus undergoes
evaluation. At the completion of the evaluation period, any
necessary adjustments are made and a year's notice of the
Board's intention to withdraw the old syllabus from examination is
given. No sharing of syllabuses is permitted. Candidates should
prepare for an exam from only the new syllabus or the old, but
should never mix the two.

What is a syllabus? $
The syllabus is like a curriculum or the "building blocks" of a