How will the backing tracks work in the exam?

Graded Music Exams > Exam content / procedure

The venue will provide backline equipment for your exam, i.e. amplifiers and PA system.

The examiner will provide the backing tracks for any pieces from a current Rockschool Grade Book or Hot Rock/Rockschool Classic series. (In some LVE studio scenarios, backing tracks will be played locally by the centre). If you are playing a piece from a previous syllabus as a Free Choice Piece you will need to provide your own backing track.

For all free choice pieces (including pieces from previous RSL syllabuses) and adapted repertoire where you are using your own backing track (see below), you will need to provide a device containing the downloaded audio. This can be any device with a 3.5mm minijack output eg. MP3 player, portable CD player, phone or tablet. Examiners will provide a 3.5mm (minijack) lead to connect the device to the PA.

We cannot guarantee that examiners will have adaptors for other connections, eg. lightning (iPhone) or USB-C (Android phones). 

You should not bring backing tracks on a USB stick or other device which needs to be plugged directly into the examiner's laptop. Examiners may refuse to do this because of the risk of viruses being transferred.

We recommend that two different sources are brought, one as a back-up. You will be expected to operate your own device.

NB. Audio cannot be live streamed directly as mobile devices must be turned off or to airplane mode during the exam. Examiners will be unable to stream or download any backing tracks on your behalf.

If you are submitting a recorded video exam you will need to play your own backing tracks/ provide your own accompaniment, if needed, or arrange for someone else to do so.

You may perform an RSL Grade book piece with a different backing track or accompaniment to the one provided, but this will be considered ‘adapted repertoire’; and if the adaptation is judged by the examiner to reduce the level of demand required for the grade, this will affect the marks awarded. This also includes instances where a backing track including the solo part (‘full mix’) is used. For more information see our guidance on Free Choice Pieces, Adapted and Benchmarked Repertoire.

You may use a mixture of backing tracks and live accompaniment in the same exam.

The use of a headphone splitter to enable candidate and examiner to listen to a backing track simultaneously is not allowed at public centres. The examiner will make their assessment based on the backing track played through the amplifier / PA system in the exam room. This arrangement may be used at private centres, so long as the centre has the necessary equipment / set-up and no additional tech support is required from the examiner.

Where required, a sound check will be given at the start of the exam, using your first piece, to ensure that you are happy with the balance / audio levels. You may request these to be adjusted at any time during the remainder of the exam.