Piano Examination Details
AMEB offers a few different options for a piano exam. These include Comprehensive, Repertoire and Piano for Leisure. Select an examination format below to view exam criteria:
Piano Comprehensive (Full Examination)
Piano Repertoire (Song-only Examination
Piano for Leisure (Smaller, Modern Examination)
Below is a table outlining the difference between the available examinations.
| Piano (Comprehensive) | Piano (Repertoire) | Piano for Leisure (Comprehensive) | Piano for Leisure (Repertoire) |
| For aspiring pianists seeking to acquire a comprehensive range of artistic and technical skills. • Promotes the sequential development of technical and musical abilities • Encourages development of a comprehensive range of supporting skills – aural, sight-reading and general knowledge | For aspiring pianists seeking a repertoire-only assessment. • Promotes the sequential development of performance skills in a range of styles • Based on the broad range of carefully-graded repertoire in the Piano Comprehensive syllabus • Offers an ‘own choice’ option | For busy students seeking achievable goals. • Repertoire includes popular classics, jazz & film music • Fewer requirements in each section (Technical Work, Pieces and Section III) • Offers an ‘own choice’ option | For busy students seeking achievable goals with a repertoire-only assessment.• Repertoire includes popular classics, jazz & film music• Offers an ‘own choice’ option |
| Level 1 Preliminary to Grade 4 Section I. Technical Work Section II. Studies & Pieces: 3 works selected from the Lists plus 2 Extra List works (Grades 2 to 4) Section III. Aural tests, Sight-reading, General Knowledge | Level 1 Preliminary to Grade 4 Studies & Pieces: 4 works (3 works selected from the ‘Comprehensive’ syllabus Lists plus 1 Own Choice) | Level 1 Preliminary to Grade 4 Section I. Technical Work Section II. Pieces: 3 works (1 Own Choice permitted) Section III. Aural Tests or Sight-reading, General Knowledge | Level 1 Preliminary to Grade 4Studies & Pieces: 4 works (2 works selected from the Piano for Leisure syllabus Lists plus 2 Own Choice pieces) |
| Level 2 Grades 5 to 8 Section I. Technical Work Section II. Studies & Pieces:4 works selected from the Lists, with a ‘Collaborative’ option (see above), plus 2 Extra List works (Grades 5 to 7) Section III. Aural tests, Sight-reading, General Knowledge | Level 2 Grades 5 to 8 Studies & Pieces: 5 works (3 works selected from the ‘Comprehensive’ syllabus Lists plus 2 Own Choice) | Level 2 Grades 5 to 8 Section I. Technical Work Section II. Pieces: 3 works (1 Own Choice permitted) Section III. Aural Tests or Sight-reading, General Knowledge | Level 2 Grades 5 to 8Studies & Pieces: 4 works (2 works selected from the Piano for Leisure syllabus Lists plus 2 Own Choice pieces) |
| Level 2 Certificate of Performance Section I. Pieces: A program of 4 or more works within a minimum and maximum performance time Section II. General Knowledge | (Certificate of Performance available in the Piano Comprehensive syllabus) | Level 2 Certificate of Performance Section I. Pieces: A program of 4 or more works within a minimum and maximum performance time Section II. General Knowledge | (Certificate of Performance available in the Piano for Leisure Comprehensive syllabus) |
| Level 3 Associate and Licentiate Diplomas Section I. Pieces: A program of 4 or more works within a minimum and maximum performance time Section II. General Knowledge | (Diploma exams available in the Piano Comprehensive syllabus) | (Diploma exams available in the Piano Comprehensive syllabus) | (Diploma exams available in the Piano Comprehensive syllabus) |