Trinity College of Music

Trinity College London offers graded musical qualifications for musical theory and for performance in a range of string instruments, singing, piano, electronic keyboards, brass, woodwind instruments and percussions. The grading begins with the Initial Grade then are numbered from Grade 1 to Grade 8 in increasing difficulty. Candidates are rated under three categories – the performance of musical pieces, technical work such as scales, and supporting tests such as sight reading and improvisation. Candidates are graded on a scale from 1 to 100, with 60 being the pass mark. Candidates have some flexibility in the choices of pieces and tests prepared for each of these sections.

In addition to graded examinations, TCL also offers foundation, intermediate and advanced certificates in music. TCL also offers diplomas in music at three levels - Associate (ATCL, which is equivalent to the standard of work required for a UK Certificate of Higher Education) and AmusTCL, Licentiate (LTCL, which is equivalent to the standard of work required for a UK Bachelor's degree) and Fellowship (FTCL, which is equivalent to the standard of work required for a UK Master's degree).

In 2012, the exam board introduced Rock & Pop graded examinations for bass, drums, guitar, keyboard and vocals and Dance.