STATEMENT OF CENTRES

In addition to our terms and conditions, policies, other general rules and info and exam protocol, this is Nationwide Music Examinations Ltd Statement of Centres…

There is no pre-requisite of entry into any of our exams. A candidate can enter at any grade/level, which is felt to be appropriate.

Nationwide Music examination provide 2 types of centre:

  • NME Approved Examination Venue
  • NME Approved Examination Centre

NME Approved Examination Venue:

What constitutes a site being an NME Approved Examination Venue?

It is a site that Nationwide Music Examinations Ltd hire for the purpose of conducting examination sessions, these session are open to self-entry individual candidates or multiple/individual candidate entry by an Applicant (teacher/educational institute).

Assessment of NME Approved Examination Venue:

Before a site can become an NME Approved Examination Venue an assessment of suitability is carried out by Nationwide Music Examinations personnel, they visit the proposed site and complete an Examination Venue and Centre Assessment Form. Once this has been completed and if the site reaches our minimum requirements it becomes an Approved Examination Venue. Approved Examination Venues are reviewed annually by NME.

When an examination session is being held an NME Examination Attendant will be present at the Approved Examination Venue to greet and register candidates. Candidates should bring their issued candidate number when attending an exam, for further details refer to Exam Protocol.

Approved Examination Centres:

Approved Examination Centres promote a familiar environment for the candidate. Approved Examination Centres are where an examiner visits an Applicants’ own studio or educational establishment. The Applicant is usually a teacher or educational establishment and on occasion the Applicant can offer this centre for individual or multiple entries of other teachers students. A minimum entry of £350 or more is required by the applicant to warrant a visit from an examiner. The Applicant is responsible for the scheduling, registration and greeting of the candidates at an exam session.

A member of Nationwide Music Examinations personnel will visit an Examination Centre to check its suitability to become an Approved Examination Centre.

Approved Examination Centre responsibilities for examination:

It is the responsibility of the Applicant to be compliant with the Sex Discrimination Act, the Race Relations Act, the Disability Discrimination Act, Health and Safety at Work etc. Act and any other relevant legislation.

Approved Examination Centres are required to be fit for purpose. This should include but is not exhaustive of: a safe environment, well lit, toilet facilities, a tuned acoustic piano and digital piano (if required), and any other equipment a candidate may require such as a music stand. It is advantageous if a centre could provide: waiting area and rehearsal space.  Also required is a table and chair for the examiner located at a suitable distance from the candidate within the examination room.

Exam Scheduling.

Below are detailed the recommended timing that an Applicant should use when planning the examination schedule, NME recommend in addition to the timings listed below, that the Applicant should allow 3-5 minutes in between each candidates’ allocated time for set-up.

Instrumental/Vocal Graded Examinations

Grade Timing
Primary 1 8 minutes
Primary 2 8 minutes
Foundation 1 8 minutes
Foundation 2 8 minutes
Grade 1 12 minutes
Grade 2 12 minutes
Grade 3 12 minutes
Grade 4 16 minutes
Grade 5 16 minutes
Grade 6 20 minutes
Grade 7 20 minutes
Grade 8 25 minutes

Popular Songwriting Examinations

Level Timing
Debut Level 15 minutes
Breakthrough Level 20 minutes
Artist Level 25 minutes

Play and Sing Awards

Level Timing
Bronze 3 minutes
Silver 5 minutes
Gold 6 minutes
Platinum 9 minutes

* These times exclude set-up time.

Responsibilities for learning:

It is the Applicants (teacher and/or educational establishment) responsibility to…

Have familiarity with our syllabi along with the assessment criteria, ‘own choice’ remit/requirements, terms and conditions, policies, general rules and info and exam protocol.

Ensure the appropriate delivery of syllabi content and appropriate preparation for assessment requirement is delivered to their student(s).

The teacher and/or establishment should provide appropriate guidance to any student entering an NME exam concerning the learner’s preparation for assessments in accordance with Nationwide Music Examinations Assessment Offences Policy, terms and conditions, Exam Protocol and any other relevant policies.

Learner/ candidate responsibilities:

Candidates are responsible for providing any accompanist and/or page-turner, instruments (except piano), backing equipment, sheet music and any copies / ’own choice’ approval documentation required for the examiner.

Candidates are responsible for ensuring the instruments they bring to the exam centre and backing equipment used are compliant with Health and Safety Legislation.

In the case of self-entry to an NME exam (i.e. the candidate has not been entered for an exam by a teacher or educational establishment but has entered one self) the self-entered candidate is responsible for the requirements of Responsibility of learning and Learner/candidate responsibilities as outlined above.

Reasonable adjustments and special considerations:

For full detail please refer to our Reasonable Adjustments and Special Considerations Policy.