For a full review of policies and procedures for attending an examination, please refer to the Enrollers' Handbook.
Preparing for an examination
Enrollers and parents should take into consideration their candidate's age and development when selecting a suitable grade for the candidate.
Practical examinations are defined in the current year's
Manual of Syllabuses and are conducted under examination conditions. AMEB Qld examiners assess the performance they hear on the day against the Regulations, Grading Descriptors and Syllabus Objectives for the grade, as outlined in that year's
Manual of Syllabuses.
It is the responsibility of the candidate, teacher and/or parent to be aware of all the syllabus requirements for the examination. This includes having instruments and materials prepared accordingly and ready for performance prior to entering the examination room.
Examiners and supervisors cannot assist with preparing instruments (unless stipulated otherwise in the syllabus) or rectify any non-compliance with the syllabus.
View our
examination preparation and enrolment checklist to assist you in preparing for an examination.
Practice sessions for Grade 8 and diploma examinations—Ashgrove studios
A free practice session is only available for Grade 8 and diploma candidates and is subject to room availability. Please contact the office to schedule practice times. Available studios can be used free of charge for the first hour then at a $37 per hour rate thereafter. Candidates may not always be able to practice in the room they will be examined in.
Care and supervision of candidates
Parents/guardians are responsible for the care and supervision of candidates younger than 18 years of age at all times during attendance at and travel to and from the examination venue. This includes authorising and making any arrangements for a responsible adult other than the parent/guardian to supervise on their behalf if they wish (for example the enrolling teacher).
Australian Music Examinations Board (AMEB) staff may give direction to candidates attending the venue to facilitate the conduct of examinations or other services.
AMEB Qld staff may direct a person to leave the premises at any stage if they are concerned that it is in the interests of the safety or wellbeing of the person or others, and/or the proper conduct of AMEB business.
All AMEB Qld staff hold current Blue Cards or exemption from holding Blue Card registration pursuant to the
Working with Children (Risk Management and Screening) Act 2000.
Attendance at practical examinations
Candidates should arrive at least 10 minutes prior to the examination start time and must be ready to start their examination as notified and scheduled. Numerous examinations are scheduled in a block, so turning up late has an effect on all candidates and examiners.
AMEB Qld incurs all costs of conducting the examination whether or not a candidate attends. Failure to attend on time on the scheduled examination day will result in the candidate forfeiting their examination fee.
View our
‘On the Day’ checklist prior to your examination day to assist you in preparation.
Pre-examination warm-up
Warm-up rooms are not guaranteed nor are they always available at any venue; however, where facilities allow and time permits, candidates may warm-up 5 minutes prior to the examination or 15 minutes before a diploma examination.
Candidates may be accompanied to the warm-up room by their accompanist or associate artist. Warm-up rooms are provided for the purpose of warming-up and candidates should not expect to have sufficient time to rehearse their full program. AMEB Qld cannot guarantee that there will be a piano in warm-up rooms.
Teachers and parents are not permitted in the warm-up rooms, unless a special request has been submitted at the time of enrolment for anxious candidates, first time candidates, or particularly young candidates who may require assistance with preparation and/or tuning of instruments. Candidates sitting examinations in any location are strongly encouraged to make final preparations at home before travelling to the examination venue.
Photocopies
In general, the
Copyright Act prohibits the use of photocopied music. Photocopies should not be used by candidates in AMEB Qld examinations, unless an exception to copyright applies, or the relevant music publisher has granted permission for the candidate to make a copy. Candidates are permitted to use photocopies for ease of page turning, however the original version of the score, from which the copy was made, must be in the examination room with the candidate.
In some circumstances, a copy of music may be required for use by the examiner. In these cases, if performing from memory, candidates should provide the relevant published edition of the music to the examiner. Diploma candidates must supply a copy of their music to the examiner.
If you are unsure of the provisions of the
Copyright Act please refer to the Guide to Music Copyright for Australian Educators on the Australasian Performing Right Association/Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society
(APRA/AMCOS) website or contact APRA/AMCOS on 1300 852 388 or
apra@apra.com.au.
Proof of identification
All candidates sitting examinations for Grade 8 and above
must present photographic identification to the AMEB Qld supervisors.
All candidates sitting Rockschool examinations Grade 6 and above
must present photographic identification to the AMEB supervisors.
Identification options are:
- school identification cards
- university student cards
- passports
- driver licences.
If photographic identification is not provided on the day of the examination, candidates are required to bring the identification in person to the AMEB Qld State Office within 48 hours of the examination. Examination results will be withheld if identification is not provided.
Candidates who present without photographic identification in regional areas must send a certified copy of their identification to AMEB Qld within 48 hours of sitting the examination. AMEB Qld will withhold results until receipt of relevant identification.
In regional areas a JP certified copy of the candidate's identification must be emailed to
enquiries.AMEB@qed.qld.gov.au within 48 hours of the examination.
Use of electronic or digital devices or resources
It is the responsibility of the candidate to ensure that all of their own equipment is in working order and all resources are ready to go for the start of their scheduled examination time.
It is strongly suggested prior to attendance at the venue that candidates check/test that any devices or electronic or digital resources are working as intended, and where relevant, are compatible with any AMEB Qld requirements. This applies, for example, to laptops, tablets, PowerPoint presentations, speakers, recordings or supporting resources of any type.
Candidates should ensure they are very familiar with the equipment and know how to troubleshoot common issues to avoid delays in presentation.
It is not the role of AMEB Qld supervisors or examiners to provide IT support.
Recorded accompaniments
Accompaniment is required wherever the pieces presented are provided with piano accompaniments, with the exception of extra list pieces (refer to 'Accompanist' on page x in the general requirements Practical examinations section of the current year's
Manual of Syllabuses). This should be checked with the retailer at the time of purchase of the solo part.
Voice and all instrumental subjects (other than piano, accordion, organ, harp and classical guitar) are to be accompanied. Where AMEB Qld recorded accompaniments are available, candidates may perform with those recordings in their examination as an alternative to using an accompanist if permitted in the syllabus requirements.
Note: It is the candidate's responsibility to provide and operate suitable equipment for the examination.
AMEB Qld recommends that teachers take into account their candidate's age and technical ability when using recorded accompaniments. It is strongly recommended that teachers ensure students have practised with their recorded accompaniment, including operating the equipment to ensure they can use it, prior to their exam. It is not the role of AMEB Qld staff or examiners to operate equipment or recordings.
Candidates should refer to the foreword of the relevant instrumental syllabus in the current year's
Manual of Syllabuses for further information on recorded accompaniments for their instrument.
Where candidates are performing with recorded accompaniments in an examination, they must use the '100%' or 'performance' tempo.
Extra lists may be performed unaccompanied, even if written with accompaniment.
Recording examinations
AMEB Qld does not record examinations for a number of reasons, including equity across regions, access issues and expense. Candidates are not permitted to film or record their own examinations.