What Happens on Exam Day

You’re all booked in. You know your pieces back to front. Now what?

To help you prepare, and so you know what to expect on the day, we’ve put together a useful guide. If you have a question, please reach out to our Exams Team.

1. Leave enough travelling time

You should plan to arrive at least 20 minutes before your allocated exam time. Check train times and traffic updates in advance. If you arrive late, you may not be able to take your exam, in which case you’ll need to rebook and pay your exam fee again.

Check that you have everything you need, including:

• Learner Examination Report – make sure it’s all filled in and ready
• ID – if you’re 16 or over on the day of the exam
• Legible copies of the pieces you’re performing 
• Any equipment or props you need for your exam

2. Remember your ID and forms

If you are taking an exam which asks you to choose your own pieces, the Learner Examination Report is the place to tell us what you are performing.

In the space provided write the titles of the pieces, the writers’ names and the names of the characters. Make sure that you also bring a legible copy of the text along with you for the examiner to see. 

If you are 16 or over on the day of your exam, you will need to bring ID with you.

3. Check your props

If you require any equipment or props for your exam, you’ll need to check that you have them and that they are working.

We do not provide musical or sound equipment, pianos, keyboards, page turners or accompanists – so if you are planning on using these in your exam make sure you have all of this arranged beforehand.

4. When you arrive

As soon as you arrive in the centre, go to the registration desk and tell them who you are and what exam you are taking. 

Once you are signed in, you will be asked to wait. Take a seat. Go over your pieces again, or just relax.

When your examiner is ready for you, a steward will call your name. They will take you to the room where you will be doing your exam and introduce you to the examiner.

5. During the exam

Your examiner will guide you through your exam. Remember to tell them which exam you’re doing and introduce the pieces you’re performing.

When you’ve finished your pieces, the examiner will ask you a few questions. You are encouraged to ask for questions or instructions to be repeated if they are unclear to you. The examiner will happy to rephrase any questions or instructions if necessary.

6. After the exam

That’s it! One of the stewards will take you back to the waiting area and then you’re free to leave. 

Your examiner will forward their report to us. We’ll check that everything is in order and send your results out within 6 weeks of the exam event finishing.