trinity, abrsm or rsl? a parent’s guide to choosing the right music exam board

If your child has been learning music for some time, there usually comes a stage when the teacher suggests working towards a graded music exam. This is when you may start hearing names such as RSL, Trinity or ABRSM.

For a parent/student who is not familiar with music examinations, these names can be confusing. You may wonder which board is better, which one is more recognised, or whether one exam is easier than another. The simple answer is that there is no single "best" exam board. All three are well-established UK examination boards. They offer graded examinations for different instruments and styles of music, and their qualifications are widely recognised.

What is different is the way each board approaches music learning and assessment

Let’s explore the core philosophies of each of these boards:

RSL: Academically Rigorous and Industry Relevant Qualifications 

RSL, widely known through its Rockschool examinations, has become a popular choice for students learning contemporary music. One of its biggest strengths of RSL is flexibility. Across all grades, students have opportunities to choose music outside the published syllabus. This can be very useful for a child who is motivated by particular songs, artists or styles. For example, a student learning piano, keyboard, guitar or vocals may be much more excited about preparing a song they already know and enjoy than learning a piece simply because it appears in an exam book.

RSL has a strong focus on contemporary styles such as pop, rock, blues and jazz. At the same time, RSL now also offers RSL Classical examinations for Piano and Violin.

RSL may be a good fit for someone who:

• Enjoys contemporary or popular music.
• Likes having some choice in what they play.
• Is motivated by songs and music they already know.
• Enjoys exploring different musical styles.
• Benefits from a little more flexibility in their learning.

The important thing is that the music can feel relevant to the student. This can make a difference to motivation, especially when preparing for an examination takes several months.

Trinity: Performance focused music qualifications

Trinity College London is another well-established examination board with a long history in music education. One of its strengths is the balance it provides between a clear structure and some choice.

Trinity offers different examination pathways, including Classical & Jazz and Rock & Pop. This gives students the opportunity to follow a route that is closer to their musical interests. The Trinity Rock & Pop examinations are particularly relevant for students who enjoy contemporary music. They provide a clear graded pathway while allowing students to work with music that is closer to what they listen to and enjoy. Trinity's classical examinations are suitable for students who prefer a more traditional approach to learning. Since Trinity is more performance focused, these exams lay less emphasis on technical work, making the exams more approachable where the exam itself feels more like a performance than an assessment.

Trinity may suit a student who:

• Likes having a clear structure to work towards.
• Enjoys having some choice in their repertoire.
• Is interested in classical, jazz or contemporary music.
• Enjoys performing but also wants to develop broader musical skills.
• Responds well to clearly defined goals.

For many students, this combination of structure and flexibility can work very well.

ABRSM: Structured Classical Music Exams

ABRSM is perhaps the examination board that many parents have heard of before.

It has a long history and is particularly well known for its classical music examinations.

ABRSM follows a fairly structured approach to musical development. Students prepare pieces for their grade while also developing other skills such as scales, sight-reading and listening.

This means that the focus is not only on learning a few pieces for an examination. Students are expected to develop a wider range of musical skills as they progress. For a child who enjoys classical music and likes a clearly defined learning pathway, this can be a very good option.

ABRSM may suit a student who:

• Has a strong interest in classical music.
• Enjoys a structured learning environment.
• Likes knowing exactly what they need to prepare.
• Wants to develop a broad foundation in traditional musical skills.
• May be considering a more formal or academic musical pathway in the future.

ABRSM is therefore an excellent choice for the right student. But being the most familiar name does not automatically make it the best choice for every child.

Key Questions to Ask:

Rather than asking "Which exam board is the best?", it is more useful to ask:

"Which exam board is the best fit for me?"

There are three simple questions that can help.

• What kind of music does your child enjoy?

A child who loves popular music, contemporary songs and modern styles may naturally connect with RSL or Trinity Rock & Pop.

A child who enjoys traditional classical music may be more comfortable with ABRSM, Trinity Classical or RSL Classical.

• What motivates my child?

Some children enjoy having a clear structure and knowing exactly what they need to achieve. Others become much more motivated when they have a choice in what they play. Neither approach is better. They simply suit different children.

• What are we trying to achieve?

For many families, an exam is simply a way of giving the child a goal to work towards. For others, it may be part of a longer musical journey. Some children want to perform. Some want to build confidence. Some enjoy working towards certificates and grades. Others may eventually want to study music more seriously. The examination should support that journey. It should not become the entire purpose of learning music.

What About Online Exams?

At Spardha School of Music, students prepare for recorded online music examinations. For many children, this can be a comfortable way of taking an examination. They can prepare in a familiar environment and focus on giving their best performance without having to travel to an examination centre.

However, an online examination is still an examination. Students need to understand what is expected of them and be properly prepared before recording their performance.

This is where the teacher's guidance becomes particularly important.

The Right Exam Is The One That Supports The Child

Parents sometimes worry that choosing one examination board means making a permanent decision. It doesn't! A student's interests can change as they grow. A child may begin with classical piano and later become interested in pop music. Another may start with contemporary music and later want to explore classical music. The examination board can change as the student's musical journey develops. Ultimately, the most important thing is not the name on the certificate. It is whether the child is learning well, enjoying music, building confidence and becoming a better musician.

The role of a graded examination is to mark your level of achievement, while providing direction and a sense of achievement along the way. So, when your teacher recommends an examination board, don't be afraid to ask why they feel it is suitable. A good teacher should be able to explain the reasoning in simple terms and help you choose a pathway that keeps your child motivated, appropriately challenged and enjoying the process of learning music.