Trinity College London
Performance-first graded exams, from Initial to Grade 8 and on to diplomas - Classical & Jazz, Rock & Pop, and Theory.
What is Trinity?
Trinity College London is a UK exam board regulated by Ofqual whose graded music exams are taken in over 60 countries. Its philosophy is that musicianship is best shown through performance: pieces carry most of the marks, candidates choose their own repertoire and supporting tests, and there is no theory prerequisite for any practical grade.
Trinity offers two graded pathways - Classical & Jazz and Rock & Pop - plus Theory of Music, performance-only Music Certificate exams, and ATCL/LTCL/FTCL diplomas. Grades 6–8 sit at RQF Level 3 and carry UCAS points.
- Regulated by
- Ofqual (England), Qualifications Wales, CCEA
- Levels
- Initial → Grade 8 → ATCL → LTCL → FTCL
- Results
- Pass 60, Merit 75, Distinction 87 (out of 100)
- Formats
- Face-to-face at centres across India, or digital recorded exams
- UCAS points
- Grades 6–8, practical and theory
Trinity certifications
Each syllabus has its own page with the grade ladder, exam structure, marks, and a step-by-step path.
Classical & Jazz
Graded exams from Initial to Grade 8 for piano, singing, strings, guitar, woodwind, brass, and percussion.
Explore Classical & Jazz →Rock & Pop
Play real hits on bass, drums, guitar, keyboards, or vocals - three songs plus session skills, Initial to Grade 8.
Explore Rock & Pop →Theory of Music
Written grades 1–8 covering notation, rhythm, harmony, form, and history - on paper or online.
Explore Theory of Music →Music Certificate Exams
Performance-only recitals at Foundation, Intermediate, and Advanced level - for soloists and groups.
Explore Music Certificate Exams →Diplomas
ATCL, LTCL, and FTCL performance diplomas - from first-year undergraduate to postgraduate recital standard.
Explore Diplomas →How results are graded
Every graded exam is marked out of 100 and reported in these bands.
UCAS points at Grades 6–8
Grades 6 to 8 sit at Level 3 on the UK Regulated Qualifications Framework and count towards UK university applications.
| Grade | Pass | Merit | Distinction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 6 | 8 | 10 | 12 |
| Grade 7 | 12 | 14 | 16 |
| Grade 8 | 24 | 27 | 30 |
| Grade | Pass | Merit | Distinction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 6 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| Grade 7 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
| Grade 8 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
Artium courses that prepare you for Trinity
Live, 1-on-1 classes that follow the syllabus - your teacher picks the grade and Artium’s exam team handles enrolment.