ABRSM and RIAM are the two most recognised piano examination boards in Ireland. Which is right for your child — or for you? Here’s an honest side-by-side from a Dublin piano school that prepares students for both.
The Short Version
- ABRSM (Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music) is the UK-based international board. It’s the most widely recognised piano exam qualification in the English-speaking world.
- RIAM (Royal Irish Academy of Music) is the Irish national board. It sets the Irish gold standard, is accepted by the CAO for Leaving Cert bonus points, and is taught by nearly every music teacher in Ireland.
Neither is better. They suit different students for different reasons — and many of our students sit both across their musical lives.
ABRSM at a Glance
- Grades: Prep Test, Initial, and Grades 1–8 (plus diplomas: DipABRSM, LRSM, FRSM)
- Exam structure: 3 pieces + scales/arpeggios + sight-reading + aural tests
- Held: Three sessions per year at exam centres in Dublin and across Ireland
- Global recognition: Excellent — ABRSM certificates are recognised in the UK, Asia, Australia, North America
- Syllabus renewal: Every two years, with fresh pieces each cycle
RIAM at a Glance
- Grades: Preparatory, Grades 1–8 and Recital grades, plus diplomas (Senior Certificate, Licentiate, Fellowship)
- Exam structure: Pieces + technical exercises + sight-reading + aural + viva voce
- Held: Once a year (late spring/early summer) with smaller additional windows
- Irish recognition: Excellent — deeply embedded in Irish music education and accepted by the CAO for Leaving Certificate bonus points (Grade 6+ typically)
- Syllabus: Updates less frequently but offers a broad and rich repertoire
Which Should Your Child Take?
Take RIAM if:
- Your child is in Irish school and may want Leaving Cert bonus points for Music
- You want the Irish national qualification
- You like a single annual exam window rather than multiple sessions
Take ABRSM if:
- Your child may move abroad for school or university
- You want flexibility to book exams in different windows through the year
- You prefer a more compact exam structure (no viva voce)
Take both if:
- Your child is a committed learner aiming at diploma level
- You want them exposed to both syllabi over a decade of study
How Preparation Differs
ABRSM tends to test scales more exhaustively; RIAM weights pieces and technical studies slightly more heavily. ABRSM’s aural tests are shorter and pattern-based; RIAM’s aural component includes a short viva voce where the examiner asks about the pieces. Neither is harder — the work is simply distributed differently.
At the Piano Academy of Ireland, our music theory classes are aligned with both syllabi, and our one-to-one piano tuition has prepared students for exams from Grade 1 through DipABRSM and LRSM.
Do We Need to Sit Exams at All?
No. Exams are optional, not mandatory. Many of our students — children and adults alike — play piano for pure enjoyment and never sit a graded exam. Exams are a tool for external motivation and measurable progress; they’re not the point of playing piano.
Ready to Start Preparing?
Whether you’re targeting ABRSM, RIAM, both, or no exam at all, the structure of weekly one-to-one piano lessons is the same. Book a trial, tell us your goals, and we’ll build the plan backward from there.
Related reading: Meet our piano faculty · Online piano lessons