Exam Information

To ensure a affirmative experience, we encourage enrollers and parents to take into consideration their candidate's age and development when selecting a suitable grade.

Practical examinations are defined in the current year's Manual of Syllabuses and are conducted under examination conditions. AMEB WA 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 important to know it is the responsibility of the candidate, teacher and/or parent to be aware of the syllabus requirements for the examination. This includes having instruments and materials prepared accordingly and ready for performance prior to entering the examination room.

As per the national policies and guidelines, examiners and supervisors cannot assist with preparing instruments (unless stipulated otherwise in the syllabus) or rectify any non-compliance with the syllabus.

Please be mindful that parents and 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. For some candidates, this includes authorising and making arrangements for a responsible adult other than the parent/guardian to supervise on their behalf.

AMEB staff may give direction to candidates attending the venue to facilitate the conduct of examinations or other services. In the case of inappropriate behaviour, AMEB staff may direct a person to leave the premises at any stage if they are concerned or believe it is in the interests of the safety or wellbeing of a person or others, and/or to ensure the proper conduct of AMEB business.

All AMEB WA examiners hold current Working with Children Check cards.

It is a requirement that Candidates arrive at least 15 minutes prior to their scheduled examination and be ready to start their examination within this time. At times, examinations may run a little early. Please be mindful of your arrival time as numerous examinations are scheduled in a block.

Please be advised that a late arrival will likely mean a candidate has missed their examination slot. All costs of conducting the examination are incurred regardless of a candidate presenting. Failure to attend on time on for scheduled examination day will result in the candidate forfeiting their examination fee.

When facilities and time permit, tuning rooms are provided for the purpose of a 5-minute warm-up and/or tuning of instrument. An accompanist or associate artist may enter the tuning room with a candidate.

When possible and desired, an AMEB staff member escort candidates for a 5-minute warm-up prior to their examination (or 15 minutes before a diploma examination).

Please note candidates will not have sufficient time to rehearse a program. Final rehearsals with an associate artist/accompanist should be conducted prior to attending an examination. We ask that this is respected as refusal to rehearse may offend.

In general, the Copyright Act prohibits the use of photocopied music, and original music should be used by candidates for AMEB examinations. Candidates are permitted to use photocopies for ease of page turning, or to supply the examiner with a copy of non-current Manual of Syllabus music, however the original music from which the copy was made, must be in the examination room. Prior to attending the exam, the enroller must complete the online APRA/AMCOS Copyright Declaration or complete the linked form.

AMCOS Form [PDF, 107KB]

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, www.apraamcos.com.au or contact APRA/AMCOS on 1300 852 388 or [email protected].

All candidates sitting examinations for Grade 8 and above must present photographic identification to the AMEB supervisors.

All candidates sitting Rockschool examinations Grade 6 and above must present photographic identification to the AMEB supervisors.

Identification options are:

• school identification card
• university student card
• passport
• driver licence
• AMEB Photo ID form
• Rockschool Photo ID form

Grade 8+ AMEB and Grade 6+ Rockschool candidates who present without photographic identification must send a certified copy of their identification to the AMEB State Office within 48 hours of sitting the examination. AMEB WA reserves the right to withhold results until receipt of relevant identification.

Candidates must ensure their equipment is in working order and all resources are ready for the start of a scheduled examination.

To ensure a positive experience, it is strongly suggested, prior to attendance, candidates check/test their devices or electronic or digital resources are working as intended, and where relevant, are compatible with any AMEB WA requirements. This applies, to laptops, tablets, PowerPoint presentations, speakers, recordings or supporting resources of any type.

AMEB WA has USB-A to HDMI and USB-C to HDMI adapters available in Claremont campus for speech candidates’ seeking to connect their laptops to the data projector.

Candidates should ensure they are very familiar with equipment and know how to troubleshoot common issues to avoid delays in presentation.

Please note is not the role of AMEB WA supervisors or examiners to provide IT support.

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).

Voice and all instrumental subjects (other than piano, accordion, organ, harp and classical guitar) are to be accompanied. Where AMEB recorded accompaniments are available, candidates may perform with these recordings in their examination as an alternative to using an accompanist if permitted in the syllabus requirements.

Note: We wish to advise candidates are responsible to provide and operate suitable equipment for the examination.

We recommend teachers take into account their candidate's age and technical ability when using recorded accompaniments and strongly recommend teachers ensure students have practised with their recorded accompaniment, including operating the equipment to ensure they can use it, prior to their exam. If a candidate is unable to use a device effectively, this may impact how much of their program is delivered in the allotted examination time and adversely impact their result. Across Australia, AMEB staff (including examiners) are not permitted to operate equipment or recordings during an examination.

Further information on recorded accompaniments is provided in the foreword of the relevant instrumental syllabus of the current year Manual of Syllabuses.

Candidates performing with recorded accompaniments must use the '100%' or 'performance' tempo.

Extra lists may be performed unaccompanied, even if written with accompaniment.

Upon presentation of a medical certificate, transfers are accepted at 50% of exam cost for no-shows on the day and up to 7 days after the exam.

All costs associated with conducting an exam (examiner, supervisor, venue hire, etc.) are incurred regardless of a candidate presenting. After an examination has been scheduled a transfer fee is required to change the examination date.

Candidates who do not present for an examination without prior notification regrettably forfeit their examination.

To request a transfer, please contact [email protected] or call 6488 3059.

Download the AMEB CCTV Policy [PDF, 616KB]