Guide on

An MTB exam can either be conducted with a teacher/centre present (in person or via video webcam) to verify and oversee the exam or the candidate can take an exam in video without the teacher/centre present. To oversee/verify an MTB exam the teacher must be signed up as an individual music teacher or be part of a signed up organisation.

The best way to record an MTB exam is with our recording & submission app. Either the teacher/centre or candidate/candidate’s guardian can download the app and record & submit the exam.  The exam should always be recorded on a device in the room with the candidate. To learn more about the app click here.

Open the App and press ‘New Exam’.  Read through the guidance information before the recording starts and use the storage and recording level checkers to avoid any issues in these areas.  Once these have been checked, press: ‘Record’ on the MTB App and once the timer starts state the following: candidate name, instrument, grade, teacher/assessor’s name and the exam reference number (see top of the front cover).

If preferred teachers/candidates can use any other recording solution to record the exam and they can submit the exam and accompanying music via our website submission page.

Sign Up MTB App  

The elements of the exam may be performed in any order. We have produced detailed recording advice on how best to record the exam here.

For a classical practical exam for example you would ask the candidate to announce the title/exercise and perform:

• • Piece 1
  • Piece 2
  • Piece 3/study
  • All of the scales/arpeggios etc. for this grade
  • The technical exercises for this grade
  • The reading skills for this grade
  • The listening skills or duet for this grade*

*If the exam is conducted over webcam and the duet option has been selected, we recommend using a recording for the other part of the duet, with the candidate playing along with the recording.

Recording Guidance

Once you are sure all elements have been completed the candidate & teacher (if present) read out the verification statements on the recording. Then end the recording by pressing finish. Please note, the recording cannot be paused and the exam must be completed in one session. You can then review the recording and save it.

Once the recording is saved you are taken to the photo confirmation page of the app where you will need to enter the name of each piece you have performed in the recital section and take a photo of the music used.  Multiple photos can be added here for each piece and should the candidate be performing more than 3 pieces (in certain exams), you can add additional pieces in this section.  If you have used a piece from an MTB publication or our partner Tomplay then you do not need to provide photos of the music.

If you are completing a video exam, you will also need to attach a picture of the candidate’s photo identification. Guidance for this and photographing music can be found here, or in the ‘picture confirmation’ section of the app. The candidate’s ID is not required for an audio exam.

If submitting an exam through the website you will need to enter the same information and photo’s during submission.

Photo & ID Guidance

You will then have the option to save the exam for later or submit it for marking. Please note that you will need an internet connection to submit the exam.  Once submitted you will see a confirmation message and your exam will then be placed in the submitted section of the app.

If you are not using the MTB app to record and submit your exam you will need to ensure that the recording equipment is left running throughout and that it is not turned off at any point during the assessment.  You will need to go to the ‘submit exam’ page on the website to submit your exam.