Rockschool
AMEB is proud to continue its partnership with RSL Awards to deliver Rockschool exams in Australia. Based in the UK, Rockschool specialises in music in a range of contemporary and popular styles. Its qualifications are recognised globally with tens of thousands of exams conducted in the UK and over 40 countries around the world.
Rockschool Grade Exam
The Rockschool Grade Exam syllabuses provide a framework for the progressive development of a wide range of musical and technical skills, over a series of grades and diplomas from beginner to expert level. Performance pieces are focused on the most popular contemporary genres and selected by experts to suit the needs of students at their particular stage of development, while technical, aural and sight-reading skills are acquired in a sequential way.
Rockschool Grade Exams are available for Acoustic Guitar, (Electric) Guitar, Bass, Drums, Keys, Piano, Vocals and Ukulele.
A Rockschool Grade exam (from Debut to Grade 8) typically includes:
• 3 Performance Pieces – two of which may be Free Choice pieces
• Technical Exercises
• Sight-reading, Improvisation & Interpretation (Debut to Grade 5) or Quick Study Pieces (Grades 6 to 8)
• Ear Tests
• General Musicianship questions
Rockschool Performance Certificates
A Performance Certificate exam includes:
• 5 Performance Pieces (Debut to Grade 8) – three of which may be Free Choice pieces
There are no Technical Exercises, Ear Tests, Sight-reading or General Musicianship requirements in a Performance Certificate exam.
Free Choice pieces
Free Choice pieces can be:
• Songs in the public domain, including hits from the charts
• Pieces from other exam boards (including AMEB)
• A piece from the Rockschool Classics series (guitar and drums)
• Own composition
Self-accompaniment is allowed for Free Choice Pieces. You can sing along to your guitar piece or play piano while you sing your vocal piece.
Backing tracks are no longer mandatory for Free Choice Pieces. You can play with or without a backing track or accompaniment. Sheet music for the instrument being examined must be provided for the examiner, including for video exams.
Rockschool video exams
Rockschool video examinations will open for enrolment and submission on 1 April 2025
Video examination performances are uploaded to YouTube, Vimeo, Googld Drive (or similar) and the video link submitted to AMEB Victoria via our submission form. (If using YouTube the visibility setting should be set to unlisted.) Please note that if photo ID is required (Grades 6 to 8) YouTube should not be used and a copy of the ID should be sent to AMEB Victoria by email.)
Click here to download the Rockschool video exam guide.
Click here to download the Video Exam Tips information sheet.
Click here to download Rockschool exam options.
Click here to read about uploading to YouTube.
Examination requirements
It is essential that teachers and candidates consult the current year’s syllabus for details of examination requirements. Rockschool Syllabuses are available as a digital (PDF) file free-of-charge from the Rockschool Australia website: www.rockschool.ameb.edu.au
Support Materials
A range of publications to support Rockschool teaching and learning are listed on the AMEB Victoria website and may be purchased from AMEB Connect.
Exam tips can be accessed from the Rockschool Australia website: www.rockschool.ameb.edu.au/exam-tips/
Enrolling for examinations
Rockschool Grade Exams and Performance Certificates are offered in two Special Subject Sessions. <Click here for exam dates>
Enrolments are received via our online service centre AMEB Connect (Victoria).
Popular Music Theory and Music Production Exams are administered by the AMEB Federal Office. For further information go to: www.rockschool.ameb.edu
Rockschool awards will be printed on AMEB certificates and will be posted to enrollers within 5-7 weeks of the examination date. (A Rockschool UK e-certificate will be available to successful candidates, on request.)
Rockschool Resources
Rockschool Acoustic Guitar Grade Books (Debut – Grade 8) (2019+)
Rockschool Bass Grade Books and Online Audio (Debut – Grade 8) (2018 to 2024)
Rockschool Let’s Rock Start Playing Now (Bass, Drums, Guitar)
Rockschool Drums Grade Books and Online Audio (Debut – Grade 8) (2018 to 2024)
Rockschool Classics Drums Grade Books (Grades 1 – 8)
Rockschool Hot Rock Drums Grade Books (Grades 1 – 5) (2014)
Rockschool Let’s Rock Start Playing Now (Bass, Drums, Guitar)
Rockschool Guitar Grade Books and Online Audio (Debut – Grade 8) (2018 to 2024)
Rockschool Classics Guitar Grade Books (Grades 1 – 8)
Rockschool Hot Rock Guitar Grade Books (Grades 1 – 5) (2014)
Rockschool Let’s Rock Start Playing Now (Bass, Drums, Guitar)
Rockschool Keys Grade Books (Grade 1 – Grade 8)(2019+)
Rockschool Piano 2019+ Grade Books (Grade 1 – Grade 8)
Rockschool Ukulele 2020+ Grade Books (Debut – Grade 8)
| Rockschool Fees 2025 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Let's Rock Premiere* | $ | 113.00 |
| Grade Exam Debut | $ | 136.00 |
| Grade Exam Grade 1 | $ | 177.00 |
| Grade Exam Grade 2 | $ | 182.00 |
| Grade Exam Grade 3 | $ | 195.00 |
| Grade Exam Grade 4 | $ | 212.00 |
| Grade Exam Grade 5 | $ | 224.00 |
| Grade Exam Grade 6 | $ | 241.00 |
| Grade Exam Grade 7 | $ | 253.00 |
| Grade Exam Grade 8 | $ | 265.00 |
| Performance Certificate Debut | $ | 136.00 |
| Performance Certificate Grade 1 | $ | 177.00 |
| Performance Certificate Grade 2 | $ | 182.00 |
| Performance Certificate Grade 3 | $ | 195.00 |
| Performance Certificate Grade 4 | $ | 212.00 |
| Performance Certificate Grade 5 | $ | 224.00 |
| Performance Certificate Grade 6 | $ | 241.00 |
| Performance Certificate Grade 7 | $ | 253.00 |
| Performance Certificate Grade 8 | $ | 265.00 |
* Let’s Rock Premiere only available for Bass, Drums & (Electric) Guitar
All prices are in Australian dollars and include GST.