Rockschool
The original contemporary syllabus: guitar, bass, drums, vocals, piano, keys, ukulele, and horns from Premiere to Grade 8.
About Rockschool
Rockschool is RSL Awards’ contemporary music syllabus - the qualification “tailor-made for the contemporary musician”. Every grade book pairs original and hit repertoire with backing tracks, technical exercises, and the supporting tests, and the e-book editions add video mentors and MatchMySound feedback.
The ladder runs from Premiere (on selected instruments) and Debut through Grades 1–8, regulated by Ofqual at Entry Level 3 through Level 3. Students choose between a full Grade Exam, a Performance Certificate of five pieces, or a recorded Graded Certificate of three pieces plus technical work.
- Levels
- Premiere (selected instruments), Debut, Grades 1–8
- Exam types
- Grade Exam · Performance Certificate · Graded Certificate
- Total marks
- 100
- Pass mark
- 60
- Formats
- Face-to-face, live-stream digital, recorded digital
- Free choice pieces
- Up to 2 in a Grade Exam, up to 3 in a Performance Certificate
What you can be examined in
- Electric Guitar
- Acoustic Guitar
- Bass
- Drums
- Vocals
- Piano
- Keys
- Ukulele
- Alto Saxophone
- Trumpet
- Trombone
- Harmonica
- Music Production
The grade ladder
Each rung, what it expects, and where it sits on the qualification framework.
Premiere
Pre-Debut (selected instruments)Just startedStart on the right note: a short, friendly first exam for absolute beginners on piano, drums, guitar, and other selected instruments.
Debut
RQF Entry Level 3A short time learningElementary skills, coordination, and musical understanding, with a first taste of improvisation.
Grade 1
RQF Level 16 months – 1 yearDebut skills secured with better technique and rhythm.
Grade 2
RQF Level 11 – 1½ yearsAdvanced beginner: improved coordination and a wider stylistic range.
Grade 3
RQF Level 11½ – 2 yearsThe final beginner stage - stylistic awareness and confident full-song performance.
Grade 4
RQF Level 22 – 3 yearsIntermediate: a sense of expression, complex rhythms, and genre-accurate feel.
Grade 5
RQF Level 23 – 4 yearsConfident intermediate musician able to handle demanding charts and improvise fluently.
Grade 6
RQF Level 3AdvancedAdvanced playing; Quick Study Pieces replace sight reading. First grade with UCAS points.
Grade 7
RQF Level 3AdvancedProfessional expectations of tone, control, and interpretation.
Grade 8
RQF Level 3AdvancedAdvanced improvisation, expressive phrasing, and professional-level performance - up to 30 UCAS points.
What is in the exam
Choose the format that suits you - the certificate is the same.
Grade Exam
The full exam: pieces, technical exercises, and unseen tests. Face-to-face or live-stream digital.
| Component | Marks | What it involves |
|---|---|---|
| Performance pieces | 60 | Three pieces from the grade book, up to two of which may be Free Choice Pieces. Each is marked out of 20 on command of instrument, sync/pulse, accuracy & understanding, and style & expression. |
| Technical exercises | 15 | Scales, arpeggios, chords, rudiments, or technical studies selected by the examiner from the grade’s list. |
| Sight reading or Improvisation & Interpretation | 10 | Your choice at Debut–Grade 5. At Grades 6–8 this becomes a Quick Study Piece prepared in the exam. |
| Ear tests | 10 | Two tests - typically melodic recall and harmonic or rhythmic recognition. |
| General musicianship questions | 5 | Five questions about the music you have just played and your instrument. |
| Total | 100 | |
Performance Certificate
Performance only - no technical work or unseen tests. Face-to-face, live-stream, or recorded digital. Premiere to Grade 8.
| Component | Marks | What it involves |
|---|---|---|
| Five performance pieces | 100 | Each piece is marked out of 20; up to three may be Free Choice Pieces. |
| Total | 100 | |
Graded Certificate
Recorded digital only, in one continuous take. Debut to Grade 8.
| Component | Marks | What it involves |
|---|---|---|
| Three performance pieces | 75 | From the grade book, up to two Free Choice Pieces. Each marked out of 20 then scaled. |
| Technical exercises | 25 | All the technical exercises listed for the grade, performed in full. |
| Total | 100 | |
Marks and result bands
UCAS points at Grades 6–8
| Grade | Pass | Merit | Distinction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 6 | 8 | 10 | 12 |
| Grade 7 | 12 | 14 | 16 |
| Grade 8 | 18 | 24 | 30 |
How to progress
From first lesson to the top grade - the steps most Artium students follow.
Start with Premiere or Debut
Premiere is for students who have just picked up the instrument; Debut for those who have had a few months of lessons. Both are short, friendly exams.
Choose your exam type
Grade Exam for the full qualification; Performance Certificate if you want to be judged purely on playing; Graded Certificate to record at home with technical work included.
Learn three (or five) pieces
Mix book pieces with Free Choice Pieces from the approved lists - a good way to bring songs you love into the exam.
Drill the technical exercises
They are only 15 marks in a Grade Exam, but they underpin the “command of instrument” criterion in every piece.
Practise the unseen tests
Sight reading or improvisation, ear tests, and general musicianship questions are where Merit becomes Distinction.
Grades 6–8 for UCAS points
Up to 30 points at Grade 8 with Distinction.
Common questions
What is the difference between a Grade Exam and a Performance Certificate?
A Grade Exam has three pieces plus technical exercises and unseen tests; a Performance Certificate is five pieces only. Both are regulated qualifications at the same level.
How is each piece marked?
Out of 20: Distinction 18–20, Merit 15–17, Pass 12–14, Below Pass 6–11.
Can I take the exam from home?
Yes - recorded digital exams are uploaded as a single continuous take, and live-stream exams are held over video with an examiner.
Courses that prepare you
Live, 1-on-1 classes following this syllabus.
Figures on this page are from the official RSL syllabus ↗. Boards update syllabuses periodically - check the official page before booking an exam.