Trinity Exams

Please click on the following links to browse Trinity Exams publications available from this website. If you're after a specific item, please check availability on this website. The system is live and linked directly to stock at both branches. If you need an item urgently, or if you wish to collect your order, please do call either Barbican or Kensington.  Staff will be happy to reserve any publication for you.

Graded exams

Stringed instruments
Violin, Viola, Cello & Double Bass
Guitar
Scottish Fiddle Exams

Piano & Keyboards
Piano
Organ
Electronic Keyboard

Woodwind
Flute
Oboe
Clarinet
Bassoon
Recorder
Saxophone

Brass
Soprano Cornet
Trumpet
French Horn
Trombone
Bass Trombone
Tuba
Baritone & Euphonium
E♭Tenor Horn

Percussion
Snare Drum
Drum Kit
Timpani
Tuned Percussion

Singing

Rock and Pop
Keyboards
Drums
Guitar
Bass
Vocal

Jazz
Flute
Clarinet
Saxophone

Post Grade 8

Diplomas

Additional Resources

This includes material in addition to publications from Trinity Exams.

< Exam Essentials

Additional information

Trinity Exams, founded in 1872, offers graded music examinations for Grades 1-8. Additionally, Trinity offers Associate, Licentiate and Fellowship diplomas and a Certificate for Music Educators.

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

Performance is at the heart of Trinity's graded music assessments as the exam board believes that musicianship is most effectively demonstrated through practical performance.

Trinity Exams approach

• recognises that flexibility is best, prioritising candidates' individual needs
• offers freedom of choice within assessments, enabling candidates to demonstrate their musicianship in the way that suits them best
• assesses real-life skills that translate naturally from real music-making to assessment
• assesses skills specific to each discipline
• allows candidates to express their whole musical personalities through options to demonstrate creativity in different ways
• provides precise and specific feedback to inform continued learning.

In addition, Trinity Exams chimes with many teachers, candidates and parents as the ethos is grounded in:

• an understanding of the trans-formative power of communication and performance
• qualifications designed to help ensure that candidates make progress by providing carefully levelled stepping stones to build confidence and enjoyment whilst extending and challenging
• designing assessments that have a positive impact on student learning, engagement and achievement
• encouraging candidates to bring forward their own choices and interests into the exams process. This seeks to motivate candidates, making assessments, in whatever format is chosen, more relevant and enjoyable
• flexible exams to give candidates the opportunity to perform to their strengths and interests
• providing accessible qualifications to candidates from all cultures and of all ages
• rigorously training qualified, friendly examiners who prioritise putting candidates at ease and providing maximum encouragement.

Trinity Exams also provides

Outside of the comprehensive music provision the following additional qualifications:

• English Language exams (encompassing Trinity Stars, Graded Examinations in Spoken English, Integrated Skills in English, ESOL Skills for Life, ESOL Steps 1 & 2, Secure English Language Tests (SELT) and English Language Teaching Qualifications.)
  Drama Exams (encompassing Acting, Communications Skills, Musical Theatre,
• Performance Arts and Speech and Drama.)
• Arts Award

Music publications and syllabus errata

Trinity Exams publish these here

Accreditation

Trinity Exams is an awarding body recognised by the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual) in England and Northern Ireland, and by Qualifications Wales.

Publishing

TCL Press publishes music titles for students, teachers and musicians at all levels supporting exam-related activity and developing new music titles. Established in 2016 TCL Press took on all music publishing activity of Trinity College London and develops new music titles in addition to Trinity's exam-related music publications.The TCL catalogue includes:

• Repertoire collections

  Take your Bow (violin, viola, cello, double bass, full score)
  Raise the Bar (violin book 1: initial to grade 2, book 2: grades 3 - 5, book 3: grades 6 - 8)
  Raise the Bar (piano: initial to grade 2, grades 3 - 5, grades 6 - 8)
  Raise the Bar (guitar: initial to grade 2, grades 3 - 5, grades 6 - 8)
  Raise the Bar (drum kit: grades 1 - 2, grades 3 - 5, grades 6 - 8)
  Trinity Performance edition: Violin & Piano: Twelve Pieces, Journey, Pieces, Studies & Ragas, Constellations Set I
  Trinity Recital Anthology: High Voice, Low Voice, Piano

• Exam pieces

  Violin Exam Pieces from 2020
  Piano Pieces plus exercises from 2023: initial extended ed., grade 1 extended ed., grade 2 extended ed., grade 3 extended ed., grade 4 extended ed., grade 5 extended ed., grade 6 extended ed., grade 7 extended ed., grade 8 extended ed.
  >Flute Exam Pieces from 2023 with audio: initial grade, grade 1, grade 2, grade 3, grade 4, grade 5, grade 6, grade 7, grade 8.
  >Trumpet, Cornet & Flugelhorn Pieces from 2019 (initial, grade 1, grade 2, grade 3, grade 4, grade 5, grade 6, grade 7, grade 8)

• Sight-Reading and other supporting tests
• Books on musicianship
• Music Theory exam papers and model answers.

Merger

In 2004, Trinity Exams's performing arts examinations division merged with the external examinations department of the Guildhall School of Music & Drama to form the Trinity Guildhall examinations board. The name Trinity Guildhall was dropped in 2012, and the board's performing arts examinations are now offered under the Trinity College London brand.

If you're after a specific item, please check availability on this website. This system is live, and linked directly to stock at both branches. If you need an item urgently, or if you wish to collect your order, please do call either Barbican or Kensington.  Staff will be happy to reserve any publication for you.

Photocopies & downloads
Candidates should not perform from unauthorised photocopies (or other kinds of copies) or illegal downloads of copyright music in examinations. There are limited circumstances where copies can be used in an examination in the UK. The MPA's Code of Fair Practice gives further guidance. Before making a copy an application should be made to the copyright holder and evidence of permission should be brought to the exam. Candidates and Applicants must act within the law with regard to copyright.