We encourage you to visit this page on our website regularly. This site will continue to be updated and will have the most up-to-date information regarding Exams. Please bookmark this page for easy access.
Reminder: Changes to Musicianship Requirements
Updated March 24, 2025
Effective September 1, 2024, musicianship requirements (aural skills and reading skills) have been revised to support student success and to achieve consistency and uniformity across all disciplines in The RCM Certificate Program. Please review the Musicianship Addendum outlining all the requirements for each relevant discipline in advance of preparing students for examinations.
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Note that this addendum does not apply to Guitar, Voice, Violin, or Piano (which have already been updated). Please see rcmusic.com/syllabi.
Update: Receiving Printed Certificates
Updated January 28, 2025
We’re introducing a new process for parents to request a physical copy of their child’s certificates. Now, for a fee of $10, parents and students can order any earned certificate directly from the My Certificates tab in their MyRCM Account. This new process will replace the opt-in option to receive a printed certificate during the exam registration process.
This streamlined process allows for faster delivery times, greater flexibility, reduce waste, and allows parents to order one or multiple certificates at any time, whether it’s for showcasing their child’s achievements, replacing lost or damaged certificates, sharing with schools or programs, or adding to their personal portfolio.
Questions? Please visit our FAQ.
In-person Written History Exams Available May 2025
Updated December 19, 2024
We are pleased to announce that in response to feedback from teachers and students, Levels 9, 10, and ARCT History will once again be offered as in-person written examinations.
Recognizing that students have diverse learning styles and require different methods for evaluating progress, the reinstatement of in-person history exams will provide an alternative to the online experience and another option in support of all students.
Starting in 2025, students will have the opportunity to write their History exams in person once each academic year during the May theory session.
The in-person written exams will take place on May 9 and 10, 2025 at exam centers in both Canada and the US. Registration opens January 14, 2025 (Canada) and January 5, 2025 (US) through your MyRCM account.
Students will still be able to complete a History exam anytime online; for more information on the Online History Exam, please click here.
Reminder of Accompaniment Policy
Updated January 17, 2024
Performing with a collaborative pianist is an important aspect of music-making for students and a valuable part of the examination experience. It has been noted that some students have not been performing their remote and in-person exams with accompaniment where required.
To encourage students to perform with accompaniment during examinations, effective 1 February 2024 a deduction of up to 10 marks may be applied for any examination not adhering to the stated policy.
This follows a modified accompaniment policy that was in place from March 2020 to March 2023 and a generous grace period from March 2023 to January 2024, where no deductions have been applied.
View details of the current Accompaniment Policy here.
Up to 10 marks may be deducted in the following situations:
- Preparatory–Level 4:
- The student performs without a collaborative pianist or recording.
- Levels 5 and up:
- The student performs without a collaborative pianist, or
- The student performs with a recorded accompaniment.
Remote Exams
Updated November 29, 2022
RCM Remote Exams are still available all year ‘round! They are a convenient and flexible way to support achievement. Students can complete their practical (instrumental) exams, on their own instrument at a time and place that is convenient for them! Theory (written) exams can be completed online at any time.
We encourage students to discuss with their teachers how a remote examination can help them achieve the next step in their musical journey.