Young Composer Program
Exams and study abroad
Music qualifications and studying abroad
What graded music exams are, which boards Prism prepares you for, what UCAS points and RQF/EQF levels really mean, and how music grades help when you apply to universities and music colleges abroad.
In short
The answers most parents ask for
- Our main exam board is ISoM (International School of Musicians), regulated in England by Ofqual under recognition number RN6131. We also take students through Trinity College London, RSL Rockschool, ABRSM and LCME exams.
- Grades 6 to 8 carry UCAS Tariff points. An ISoM Grade 8 in Music Performance is worth 24 to 30 points, depending on the result.
- For Indian students, points matter less than you might think. UK universities usually make offers on your Class 12 percentage, not on UCAS points.
- Grades matter most for music degrees. Many UK music courses ask for A-level Music or Grade 5 Music Theory, and music colleges everywhere decide mainly on your audition or portfolio.
- Prism helps at every step: exam preparation, theory, auditions and portfolios, plus free study-abroad counselling through our partner Uni Enrol.
Grades and the stage
Exams that build confident performers
Graded exams sit alongside real performances: Prism students at the June 2026 recital.
Exam boards
The exam boards we prepare students for
Exams are always optional. Your teacher recommends a board that fits your instrument, your style of music and your goals, and prepares you for it as part of your regular lessons.
| Board | What it offers | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| ISoM (International School of Musicians), our main board | Music Performance from Step 1 to Grade 8 and diplomas (DipISoM to FISoM), Music Theory Grades 1 to 8, Creative Music Production and Composition, and early-years exams | Ofqual-regulated (RN6131). Performance exams are taken live online or recorded. Grades 6 to 8 carry UCAS points. |
| Trinity College London | Classical and jazz grades, and a separate Rock & Pop syllabus, plus theory and diplomas | No theory exam is needed before the higher practical grades. |
| RSL Rockschool | Contemporary grades in rock and pop for guitar, bass, drums, keys and vocals | A popular choice for band instruments and modern styles. |
| ABRSM | Classical practical grades, theory and diplomas | Grades 6 to 8 need a Grade 5 pass in Music Theory, Practical Musicianship or a solo Jazz subject first. |
| LCME (London College of Music Examinations) | Graded exams across classical and popular styles, plus theory | Higher grades carry UCAS points. |
| Prayag Sangit Samiti, Gandharva Mahavidyalaya, Prachin Kala Kendra | Hindustani vocal and instrumental examinations | The traditional Indian route for Hindustani music students. |
ISoM
Why ISoM is our main exam board
ISoM is a recognised awarding organisation regulated by Ofqual, the qualifications regulator in England, under recognition number RN6131. Its qualifications are on the Ofqual Register from Step 1 (Entry Level 3) all the way to the FISoM fellowship (Level 7), so a child can start with an early Step exam and keep progressing with the same board for years.
It covers more than instruments and voice. Alongside Music Performance and written Music Theory, ISoM offers graded qualifications in Creative Music Production and Composition, which suits Prism's production and Young Composer students, and early-years music exams for young children. Performance exams can be taken live with an examiner online or as a recording, which makes scheduling easier for families.
Every ISoM qualification has its own Qualification Number, which anyone can check on the Ofqual Register.
UCAS points
What UCAS points are, and what a music grade is worth
The UCAS Tariff turns qualifications into points that some UK universities use in their offers. Music grades earn points only from Grade 6.
| ISoM qualification | Pass | Merit | Distinction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Music Performance Grade 6 | 8 | 10 | 12 |
| Music Performance Grade 7 | 12 | 14 | 16 |
| Music Performance Grade 8 | 24 | 27 | 30 |
| Music Theory Grade 6 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| Music Theory Grade 7 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
| Music Theory Grade 8 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
| Creative Music Production and Composition Grades 6, 7 or 8 | 4 | 8 | 12 |
For scale, a UK A-level is worth 56 points at A*, 48 at A, 40 at B and 32 at C. So a Grade 8 Distinction (30 points) sits between a C and a D at A-level; it is not equal to a full A-level. Other boards publish their own values, and universities decide whether to count music grades at all, so always check the official UCAS Tariff calculator and your chosen course.
RQF and EQF
What the qualification levels mean
The RQF shows the level of a regulated qualification in England, and each RQF level maps to a level of the European Qualifications Framework (EQF), which helps people in other countries understand it.
| ISoM stage | RQF level | EQF level |
|---|---|---|
| Step 1 and Step 2 | Entry Level 3 | Level 1 |
| Grades 1 to 3 | Level 1 | Level 2 |
| Grades 4 and 5 | Level 2 | Level 3 |
| Grades 6 to 8 | Level 3 (the same level as A-levels) | Level 4 |
| DipISoM, AISoM, LISoM, FISoM diplomas | Levels 4 to 7 | Levels 5 to 7 |
A level is a way of comparing qualifications. It does not oblige any university or country to accept a qualification, and Grade 8 sitting at the same level as A-levels does not make it equal in size to an A-level.
Studying abroad
Do music grades help you study abroad?
United Kingdom: most degree courses
Universities usually make offers to students from Indian school boards as a Class 12 percentage, and some count UCAS points only from school qualifications. Music grades still show commitment and achievement on your application, but they rarely decide an offer on their own.
United Kingdom: music degrees
Here grades matter more. Many courses ask for A-level Music or Grade 5 Music Theory. King's College London, for example, asks for Music or a Grade 5 pass in Music Theory and does not accept an instrument Grade 5 instead, and the University of Manchester accepts ABRSM Grade 5 Theory in place of A-level Music. If a UK music degree is the goal, plan a Grade 5 Theory exam early.
Music colleges and conservatories, anywhere
Admission is by audition or portfolio. A graded certificate shows the level you have reached, but the panel decides on how you play, sing or compose on the day, so a strong audition recording matters most.
United States, Canada and Australia
Music grades do not usually earn admission points. For music programmes, prepare your audition or portfolio, and use your grades as supporting evidence of your training.
How Prism helps
From your first grade to your university application
- Graded exam preparation with ISoM, Trinity College London, RSL Rockschool, ABRSM and LCME, built into weekly lessons
- Music theory teaching, including the Grade 5 Theory many UK music degrees ask for
- Mock exams and a Student Progress Report, so you sit an exam only when you are ready
- Audition and portfolio preparation through our Pathways, the Performers Program and the Young Composer Program
- Real performances at our recitals and the monthly Jam'In, which give you recordings and stage experience
- Free study-abroad counselling for students and parents through our partner, Uni Enrol
Our study-abroad partner
Study abroad with Uni Enrol
Prism has partnered with Uni Enrol, an international education consultancy, so Prism students and parents can plan university applications abroad, in music and in every other subject.
Uni Enrol Offers
- Online One-to-One Counselling: Dedicated online sessions for students and parents, with complete transparency and scholarship guidance based on each student's course and calibre.
- AI-Driven Matchmaking: Smart matching to foreign universities and courses that fit each student's interests, qualifications and goals.
- International Pathways: Explore programmes across music, performing arts, business, technology, humanities, sciences and more.
Uni Enrol counselling sessions with students and parents.
Find your course
Music classes at our Delhi NCR schools, and online
Gurgaon, Sector 3811 courses
About this schoolSouth Delhi, CR Park11 courses
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About this schoolOrigin Story, Sushant Lok10 courses
About this schoolOnline, from anywhere12 courses
FAQ
Questions about exams and studying abroad
Which music exam boards does Prism prepare students for?
Our main exam board is ISoM (International School of Musicians), an Ofqual-regulated UK awarding organisation. We also prepare students for Trinity College London, RSL Rockschool, ABRSM and LCME, and for Hindustani music with Prayag Sangit Samiti, Gandharva Mahavidyalaya and Prachin Kala Kendra. Your teacher recommends the board that best fits your instrument, style and goals.
Are ISoM exams recognised?
Yes. ISoM is recognised and regulated by Ofqual, the qualifications regulator in England, under recognition number RN6131. Its qualifications are listed on the Ofqual Register from Step 1 (Entry Level 3) to the FISoM fellowship (Level 7), and its Music Performance and Music Theory qualifications at Grades 6 to 8 carry UCAS Tariff points.
How many UCAS points is a Grade 8 music exam worth?
For ISoM Music Performance, Grade 8 is worth 24 points with a Pass, 27 with a Merit and 30 with a Distinction, according to ISoM's published table. Grade 6 is worth 8 to 12 points and Grade 7 is worth 12 to 16. For comparison, a UK A-level is worth 56 points at A* and 32 at grade C. Always confirm current values in the official UCAS Tariff calculator.
Do UCAS points help Indian students get into UK universities?
Usually only a little. UK universities normally make offers to students from Indian school boards as a Class 12 percentage, not in UCAS points, and some universities count points only from school qualifications. Music grades still show commitment and achievement, and they matter most when you apply for music degrees.
Do I need Grade 5 Theory to study music at a UK university?
Many UK music degrees ask for A-level Music or a Grade 5 pass in music theory instead. King's College London, for example, asks for Music or Grade 5 Music Theory and does not accept an instrument Grade 5 in its place, and the University of Manchester accepts ABRSM Grade 5 Theory in place of A-level Music. Check each course's entry requirements.
Do music grades matter for universities in the US, Canada or Australia?
They do not usually earn admission points there. For music programmes, the audition or portfolio is what admissions panels judge, and a graded certificate is supporting evidence of the level you have reached. Prepare a strong recording or audition and use your grades to back it up.
What do RQF and EQF levels mean?
The RQF (Regulated Qualifications Framework) shows the level of a regulated qualification in England, and each RQF level maps to a level of the EQF (European Qualifications Framework), which helps people in other countries understand it. ISoM Grades 6 to 8 sit at RQF Level 3, which maps to EQF Level 4. A level helps comparison; it does not oblige any university to accept a qualification.
Can Prism help my child apply to study abroad?
Yes. Our teachers prepare students for graded exams, theory, auditions and portfolios, and through our partnership with Uni Enrol, students and parents get online one-to-one counselling, university and course matching and scholarship guidance for study abroad, in music and in every other subject.
Sources
Where these facts come from
ISoM recognition, qualification levels and UCAS tables: ISoM's regulation and recognition page and the Ofqual Register (RN6131). UCAS A-level values: the UCAS Tariff. Trinity College London and ABRSM exam rules: their published syllabus regulations. University examples: King's College London and University of Manchester music entry requirements. Facts last checked on 22 October 2026. Exam rules, points and entry requirements can change, so always confirm with the board and the university.