What Are The Marking Criteria For The ABRSM Graded Practical Piano Exams?

Ever wonder how the ABRSM Graded Practical Piano Exams are being marked? Why is it that you feel you had played the prepared piece very well, but did not score a distinction? Will having a few slips during playing the scales and apreggios affect the marks a lot? If you cannot answer some aural test questions confidently, does this compromise the exam results significantly? How should you perform during the sight reading test to score high? Indeed, these are very common questions every candidate face, and probably uncommonly answered. Today, we take you to the secret chamber where the marking rubric is revealed!

A scoring rubric, as described in Wikipedia, is an attempt to communicate expectations of quality around a task. In many cases, scoring rubrics are used to delineate consistent criteria for grading. Because the criteria are public, a scoring rubric allows teachers and students alike to evaluate criteria, which can be complex and subjective. A scoring rubric can also provide a basis for self-evaluation, reflection, and peer review. It is aimed at accurate and fair assessment, fostering understanding, and indicating a way to proceed with subsequent learning/teaching. This integration of performance and feedback is called ongoing assessment or formative assessment.

The ABRSM Graded Music Exam Rubric shows tables of all assessible components in the syllabus with their marking criteria. The ABRSM piano exam syllabus comprises 4 components: (i) prepared 3 pieces, (ii) scales and arpeggios, (iii) sight reading, and (iv) aural tests.

Pieces
Scales and Arpeggios
Sight Reading
Aural Tests

Mark	Pitch	Time	Tone	Shape	Performance
Distinction 27–30	Highly accurate notes and intonation	Fluent, with flexibility where appropriate Rhythmic character well conveyed	Well projected Sensitive use of tonal qualities	Expressive, idiomatic musical shaping and detail	Assured Fully committed Vivid communication of character and style
Merit 24–26	Largely accurate notes and intonation	Sustained, effective tempo Good sense of rhythm	Mainly controlled and consistent Good tonal awareness	Clear musical shaping, well-realised detail	Positive Carrying musical conviction Character and style communicated
Pass 20-23	Generally correct notes Sufficiently reliable intonation to maintain tonality	Suitable tempo Generally stable pulse Overall rhythmic accuracy	Generally reliable Adequate tonal awareness	Some realisation of musical shape and/or detail	Generally secure, prompt recovery from slips Some musical involvement
Below Pass 17-19	Frequent note errors Insufficiently reliable intonation to maintain tonality	Unsuitable and/or uncontrolled tempo Irregular pulse Inaccurate rhythm	Uneven and/or unreliable Inadequate tonal awareness	Musical shape and detail insufficiently conveyed	Insecure, inadequate recovery from slips Insufficient musical involvement
13-16	Largely inaccurate notes and/or intonation	Erratic tempo and/or pulse	Serious lack of tonal control	Musical shape and detail largely unrealised	Lacking continuity No musical involvement
10-12	Highly inaccurate notes and/or intonation	Incoherent tempo and/or pulse	No tonal control	No shape or detail	Unable to continue for more than a short section
0	No work offered	No work offered	No work offered	No work offered	No work offered

Mark	Criteria
Distinction 19–21	Highly accurate notes/pitch Fluent and rhythmic Musically shaped Confident response
Merit 17–18	Largely accurate notes/pitch Mostly regular flow Mainly even tone Secure response
Pass 14-16	Generally correct notes/pitch, despite errors Continuity generally maintained Generally reliable tone Cautious response
Below Pass 11-13	Frequent errors in notes and/or pitch Lacking continuity and/or some items incomplete Unreliable tone Uncertain response and/or some items not attempted
7-10	Very approximate notes and/or pitch Sporadic and/or frequently incomplete Serious lack of tonal control Very uncertain response and/or several items not attempted
0	No work offered

Mark	Criteria
Distinction 19–21	Fluent, rhythmically accurate Accurate notes/pitch/key Musical detail realised Confident presentation
Merit 17–18	Adequate tempo, usually steady pulse Mainly correct rhythm Largely correct notes/pitch/key Largely secure presentation
Pass 14-16	Continuity generally maintained Note values mostly realised Pitch outlines in place, despite errors Cautious presentation
Below Pass 11-13	Lacking overall continuity Incorrect note values Very approximate notes/pitch/key Insecure presentation
7-10	No continuity or incomplete Note values unrealised Pitch outlines absent Very uncertain presentation
0	No work offered

Mark	Criteria
Distinction 17–18	Accurate throughout Musically perceptive Confident response
Merit 15–16	Strengths significantly outweigh weaknesses Musically aware Secure response
Pass 12-14	Strengths just outweigh weaknesses Cautious response
Below Pass 9-11	Weaknesses outweigh strengths Uncertain response
6-8	Inaccuracy throughout Vague response
0	No work offered

Certainly, what the examiner is looking for, are now no longer puzzles. The rubric has clearly listed down how a candidate is placed in the 'distinction', 'merit' and 'pass' band.

The candidate can advantageously use this rubric to help in his personal progress, or for fine-tuning his exam preparations. Additionally, the score sheet, which is returned to the candidate after the examination, presents the examiner's comments on each assessible component. This enables the candidate to gain a better insight where he can improve on, and the piano teacher to chart his piano lessons effectively to help his students in their weak areas.