HANDBOOK

FOR
TEACHERS
Fun facts and helpful hints

Created by AMEB Tasmania

February 2020
Updated 1 February, 2023
CONTENTS
CONTENTS.................................................................................................................................................................................................. 2
GET IN TOUCH .......................................................................................................................................................................................... 2
DISCLAIMER .............................................................................................................................................................................................. 2
WELCOME .................................................................................................................................................................................................. 3
ABOUT AMEB – A BIT OF HISTORICAL CONTEXT ................................................................................................................... 4
AIMS, OBJECTIVES & ACTIVITIES OF THE AMEB ..................................................................................................................... 4
THE AMEB TEAM .................................................................................................................................................................................... 5
CONTACT AMEB ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 5
WHAT IS THE MANUAL OF SYLLABUSES? .................................................................................................................................. 6
SPEECH & DRAMA NEWS .................................................................................................................................................................... 7
MUSIC THEORY NEWS .......................................................................................................................................................................... 7
CLASSICAL MUSIC NEWS ..................................................................................................................................................................... 8
ENSEMBLE NEWS ................................................................................................................................................................................ 11
ROCKSCHOOL NEWS .......................................................................................................................................................................... 11
PERFORMANCE ARTS AWARDS (PAA) NEWS ........................................................................................................................ 12
MEDIA NEWS ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 12
IMPORTANT EXAM INFORMATION ............................................................................................................................................. 13
SCORE INFORMATION ....................................................................................................................................................................... 14
SCHEDULE AND FEE UPDATES ..................................................................................................................................................... 16
TEACHING AND LEARNING RESOURCES .................................................................................................................................. 16
GENERAL EXAM PREP POINTERS ................................................................................................................................................ 18
EXAM PREP CHECKLIST .................................................................................................................................................................... 19
MUSIC CANDIDATE PREPARATION TIPS .................................................................................................................................. 20
SPEECH & DRAMA CANDIDATE PREPARATION TIPS ......................................................................................................... 20
TEACHERS’ RESPONSIBILITIES ..................................................................................................................................................... 21
COVID-19 UPDATES ............................................................................................................................................................................ 22
CONTACT US ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 23

GET IN TOUCH
AMEB Tasmania AMEB Federal Office
Phone 03 6226 7337 Phone 1300 725 709
Email [email protected] Email [email protected]
Website utas.edu.au/ameb Website ameb.edu.au
Office 37 Hunter Street Post PO Box 12168
Hobart TAS 7000 A’Beckett Street
Post Private Bag 57 Melbourne VIC 8006
Hobart TAS 7001 SCORE score.ameb.edu.au

Please note that our building remains closed but we hope that this will change during 2023. In
the meantime, please reach out via phone or email for queries or to make an appointment for an
in-person chat – we’re here to help.

DISCLAIMER
This publication is intended as a guide to AMEB exams in Tasmania and is to be used as a
teaching resource. It is complementary to the current AMEB Syllabuses and should not be used
in place of it.
Information is correct at time of printing. Please refer to the AMEB Tasmania website for any
updates, changes or corrections – utas.edu.au/ameb.
WELCOME
Welcome to the Teachers’ Handbook for AMEB Tasmania. This resource is for teachers across
the state, emerging to established, and familiar to undiscovered with AMEB. You will find in this
document information about the support we provide to teachers and students of all levels, as
well as syllabus updates, and an overview of all that we offer across music, speech and drama,
dance, and performing arts education and accreditation.

The pandemic continues to present challenges that will no doubt continue for some time. While
many things seem to have returned to “normal”, we’re still working with care to ensue all exam
day attendees are as safe and supported as possible. We continue to provide opportunities for
your students to achieve their exam goals, and Video Exams remain an option for anyone unable
or unwilling to attend an exam venue. Pandemic-specific information has been included in this
edition, denoted in red but please ensure you read up on our Pandemic Processes and other
updates as they come to hand – we simply can’t predict what might happen next!

We have some exciting new publications available in 2023. While there are no new syllabuses
launched for this year, our publications team have been very busy with producing new
resources and working on other syllabus reviews in the pipeline.

Rockschool Media exams have now landed, for students who are looking to learn and develop
their techniques in Vlogging and Podcasting. The PAA offering also expanded to include Acting
and Screen Acting, which are great, complimentary syllabuses to our existing Speech and Drama
options.

Our music theory exams are almost fully online now, increasing accessibility and convenience to
take them at any time, from anywhere. Almost all theory exams for all syllabuses, at all grades
(except Diplomas) are now available through SCORE. Theory of Music exams and any that are
not supported online can still be done with pencil and paper. Diploma theory exams can be
taken on the August exam date but the others can be scheduled at a time that suits your
teaching studio. We have plenty of information on our website for the process involved,
minimum numbers, venue and supervision requirements, and so on so please have a look out
for Paper-Based Theory Exams if you’re keen.

A new version of SCORE launched last year and we continue to work on new features, which will
roll out as soon as they’re ready. SCORE now supports enrolments for all AMEB exams (but
please check our website details regarding Paper-Based Theory if you’re wanting that).

A personal thanks to all of you for working with us to get so many exams back on track last year,
despite the remaining complications and restrictions we were working with. It was so
wonderful to see so many happy young faces and to feel the support across the community. The
team and I are so excited to be forging ahead with this year’s plans.

I encourage you to stay in touch. Explore our websites, connect with our socials, read our eNews
but, most importantly, reach out if there’s something we can help with. We offer our support to
our community of arts learners and educators. Please stay safe, healthy, connected, and with an
abundance of music and artistic flair. We look forward to seeing you and your students soon!

All very best wishes,

Michelle Forbes

State Manager
AMEB Tasmania
ABOUT AMEB – A BIT OF HISTORICAL CONTEXT
Programs of music exams were initiated in Australia in 1887 by the University of Adelaide and
in 1901 by the University of Melbourne, with other states soon to follow. Subsequently the
Australian Music Exams Board (AMEB) emerged in 1918 as a national body with the purpose of
providing graded assessments for achievement in music.

We aim to offer a whole suite of exam options that have been developed to stay fresh and
relevant to the different ways students learn and achieve. Syllabuses have now expanded to
include Speech and Drama, Contemporary Music, Musical Theatre, and Dance.

AMEB Syllabuses provide a tiered learning structure aimed at examinable criteria. That criteria
is designed to support the wholistic development of aspiring artists. This includes relevant
styles and genres, general knowledge, and technical skills.

The Tasmanian office has terrific relationships with the University of Tasmania through the
School for Creative Arts and Media. We continue to be supported by a grant provided by the
Minister for Education, Children and Youth, which is administered by UTAS. In 2018, the state
branch became part of the Federal AMEB Ltd and now has access to even greater resources and
support for our community.

Based in the Hobart office, Gabi Robin (Exams Coordinator) and Michelle Forbes (State
Manager) work to deliver exams across Tasmania and support teachers and learners in their
pursuit of quality arts education.

AIMS, OBJECTIVES & ACTIVITIES OF THE AMEB

Our values
Inclusion Excellence Leadership Community Creativity

AMEB is primarily an examining body in the fields of music, speech and drama, and the
performing arts. Through an international system of accredited exams, AMEB aims to develop
arts education by promoting the highest possible levels of attainment in examining and
teaching.

The AMEB system is designed to provide the means and incentives for raising standards of
proficiency, and to support and encourage teachers and institutions across arts education.

Further to exams, we are also involved in a range of related activities, including publishing,
special research projects, nation-wide inclusive activities, and the development of new and
revised syllabuses based on evolving educational principles and practices.

Through our ongoing relationship with UTAS, we work to link the community of teachers and
candidates to the influence and expertise of the UTAS School of Creative Arts and Media.
THE AMEB TEAM
For your exams, you’ll have regular contact with the AMEB Tasmania team, Gabi Robin (Exams
Coordinator) and Michelle Forbes (State Manager). We’re here to help, whether that be to
provide technical assistance with enrolments, advice about a Syllabus, or just a curiosity about
how exams “work”.

Our team of Examiners are experts in their field across both performance and teaching. They are
all specialists in their field, offering a unique assessment experience unlike other examining
bodies. They are trained to provide an assessment against our national AMEB accreditation
standards and thoroughly enjoy hearing young artists perform at their best.

On the day of exams, you’ll also meet our Exam Supervisors – a team of dedicated, supportive,
kind, and welcoming individuals who attend exams to support the flow of the day and assist
candidates to feel at ease with the process.

The Federal Team are based in Melbourne and include our CEO, Bernard Depasquale, Head of
Examining, Fiona Seers, Theory Editor, Andrew Raiskums, and lots of other terrific people who
look after syllabus revisions, finance and payroll, IT support and SCORE development, customer
service, marketing, and so many things.

CONTACT AMEB
We welcome you to get in touch but we do recommend starting with our website as we’ve
worked hard to include lots of the details you’re likely to be searching for. If you can’t find it
there, we are here to help. We are on hand to provide information about syllabuses, and
enrolment support.

If you’d like assistance with the online shop, or technical support with online Theory exams, our
Federal team are the best people to speak to. The Federal team includes the syllabus
department and our SCORE development team, who are best equipped to help you with those
areas. Our online platforms also feature a help desk and FAQs to help you trouble shoot.
Essentially, if your question relates to exams in Tasmania, the Tassie office is your best point of
contact and we’re happy to help put you in touch if we can’t get you what you’re after.

Where are we?

Our Tasmanian office can be found in the UTAS Centre for the Arts at 37 Hunter Street (office
115). The building is currently closed to the public but we hope that will change in 2023. We
encourage you to reach out as we can still be contacted by phone or email and are happy to
schedule up a face-to-face chat.

Where are the exams?

We hold exams in both the north and south of the State, with main exam centres across Hobart,
Launceston, Devonport, and Burnie. We also offer bonus brass sessions in Ulverstone and
Candidates can now undertake Video Exams if they can’t make it to a physical location. In
addition to our regular venues (and thanks to our supporters for making these available!), we
offer the flexibility to examine students within personal teaching studios – you can apply to get
yourself set up in SCORE, or get in touch if that’s of interest.
WHAT IS THE MANUAL OF SYLLABUSES?
It’s your one-stop-shop, your go-to place to find out about what you need to prepare for an
exam. We have a few different Manuals that are collations of the individual Syllabuses for each
genre:

Music Manual of Syllabuses

This includes all “classical” practical and theory exams for instruments and voices. You can
purchase the book, a PDF version, or select PDF sections of the full manual from the online
shop through the AMEB Federal website.
Schools and studios can also get an Institution License to share access across your team.

Individual syllabuses
Accordion and Ensemble syllabuses are digitally published separately to the Music Manual.
And did you know that you can buy select sections of the full manual for either individual
instruments or the family of syllabuses? These digital reductions are fantastic for the
teacher on the go and are available from the AMEB Online Shop.

Rockschool syllabuses
Each instrument has its own free, downloadable syllabus. There are additional, separate
resources, such as guidance for Free Choice, Diplomas, and Popular Music Theory. These
are available from our AMEB Federal Rockschool website.

PAA syllabuses
These are also free to download from our AMEB Federal Rockschool website. Other free
resources are in abundance with demos, tracks and teaching tools available for most
syllabuses.

Media syllabuses
Being another Rockschool suite of exams, these are also free to download. These have had a
name tweak and were originally under the banner of Creative Qualifications.

Speech & Drama Manual of Syllabuses

This includes all practical and theory exams for the Speech & Drama Syllabuses: Speech and
Performance, Drama and Communication, and Voice and Communication. This document
can also be obtained as a PDF download from the online shop through the AMEB Federal
website.

Navigating your Manual

The Manual is the book that collates all the individual, instrument/specialty-specific Syllabuses.
It also includes all of the regulations and important information that relates to all syllabuses and
exams. We recommend you read this general information at the beginning of each manual. This
section includes information that is relevant to all syllabuses contained therein and may not be
reiterated under each instrument or specialisation. There are important things like additional
Theory requirements for senior grades, the general expectations of musicianship for each level,
non-performance exam aspects such as General Knowledge, accreditation processes, exam
procedures, additional reference material and lots of other useful things.

The main chapters then go into detail for each specialisation. This starts with a general
overview of that specialisation before breaking down what must be prepared for each level and
then each grade. For almost all Syllabuses, you’ll find a list of required works to choose from –
this is a great resource if you’re looking for new repertoire inspiration for your students.
Don’t forget to double check which exam type you’re looking at – Syllabuses such as
Comprehensive vs Repertoire (music) will have slightly different requirements and it’s
important that you don’t overlook preparing your student for a component of the exam.

Fun fact: a vertical line next to a paragraph is an indication that the information is new or
amended.

The following sections provide an overview of some of the more significant changes in our
syllabuses this year.

SPEECH & DRAMA NEWS

It’s an easy read this year – there have been no changes, withdrawals, or releases for 2023. But
you may want to check out the new Acting and Screen syllabuses under the PAA offering –
they’re a great addition to the suite of exams and flexibility for students!

MUSIC THEORY NEWS

Online Theory Exams
All exams are now available online, with the exception of Diploma theory exams – these will
continue to be taken as Paper-Based exams – and a couple of others that we’re still working on.
Theory of Music exams can still be undertaken as a paper-based exam but, where others are
available online, they will be available only as Online Exams.
A reminder that we strongly recommend that smaller devices are not used for Online Exams as
the screens may not provide the breadth of information needed to excel in your learning and
assessment.

Theory of Music
The new Grade 5 Theory Course, including both the Online Course, and the integrated course
and workbook, is now available. Both are fantastic resources for teachers and learners alike.
And we’ve already started working on Grade 6...
Online Theory Courses are a great learning tool in preparation for an exam. Courses provide lots
of examples and practice questions and Online Exams offer unlimited practice exams until
either you take your exam or the purchase expires.

Online Exam extensions

Once you purchase an exam, you have 12 months to complete it, with unlimited practices in
between. We do recognise that unforeseen circumstances may arise before you manage to
undertake your exam so you can now purchase an extension directly through SCORE, which will
provide you with an extra 28 days before your exam expires.

Popular Music Theory

This syllabus is a great companion to the Rockschool contemporary music syllabuses. You can
enrol and take your exam online at any time. Our Federal team administer these exams but you
can now enrol directly in SCORE and track your students’ journey just like all other AMEB
exams.
Paper-Based Exams On Request
Our suite of Online Theory Exams now supports learning any time, anywhere, any syllabus, at
any grade. If you'd still prefer to do a paper-based Theory of Music exam, you can apply for your
own exam day, at a time convenient to you.

This model allows you to host your own exam session in your school or studio, at a time of year
that best suits your students. An On Request process has been developed to provide greater
flexibility for teachers and learners, and in response to feedback and requests for more session
dates.

Please note that Diploma Theory exams will only be available on the annual August date (16th in
2023).

Your Theory of Music Candidates may also undertake their exam on the August Diploma day or
you can plan for much earlier or later in the year to fit the learning trajectory of your students.

We have set the minimum number of candidates to five, however individuals or studios with
fewer candidates are encouraged to register and we’ll aim to pair you with a local venue and
host.

We’re still learning how best to manage these On Request enrolments so we’re currently asking
you to complete a separate application form to get us all the details we need. Once your exam
day is confirmed, we’ll pop everything into SCORE so that you can track your enrolments and
their reports. You can also set up and manage your own venue in SCORE.

Please visit the AMEB Tasmania website for more details and the On Request registration form.

CLASSICAL MUSIC NEWS

We have no new syllabuses released for this year, despite a lot of things in the pipeline.
However, the Federal team have just launched some new publications and resources that
expand the existing syllabuses.

More details on upcoming syllabus withdrawals can be found in the Manual of Syllabuses, page
vii.

Syllabuses currently under review

• Viola
• Teaching
Want to contribute? Head to the AMEB Federal website to get involved – we value your input!

For Leisure Syllabuses Own Choice works

IMPORTANT Syllabus clarification relating to Comprehensive exams in Piano for Leisure,
Singing for Leisure, and Saxophone for Leisure: General Knowledge questions may be asked of
any List pieces AND Own Choice works.
General Knowledge has previously been asked only of List works however, during national
discussions, this was found to be inconsistent with the intention of the syllabus. Candidates may
choose to perform a program of List works OR substitute one List for an Own Choice piece. The
intention of the syllabus is that the full program may be the subject of General Knowledge
discussions.
Please note that copies of Own Choice works must be supplied for Comprehensive exams but we
are also requesting that they are provided for Repertoire exams. The For Leisure syllabuses
encompass such a wide variety of genres – which is part of its appeal – but this does present an
unrealistic expectation for Examiners to be familiar with all works. To ensure Examiners are
able to provide appropriate and constructive feedback on these works, we ask for your
assistance in providing a copy of the music on the exam day.

Piano For Leisure Technical Work

Following the release of the new Technical Work (which now aligns with the current Piano
(2019+) syllabus), both old and new syllabuses are currently examinable, until the end of 2023.
The 2022 syllabus (and onwards) now publishes a subset of technical work that Piano for
Leisure Candidates must prepare for their Comprehensive exams (and would, of course benefit
from learning for their Repertoire exams, too). The Manual Lists remain unchanged (excepting
corrections).

It should be noted that candidates must prepare entirely one or the other set of Technical work
and are not permitted to select elements of each.

Harp withdrawal
The introductory overlap period has now concluded and only the “new” (ongoing) syllabus will
be available for enrolment. Please ensure you are referring to a syllabus from 2021 onwards
(and it’s always best to have the most up to date version to hand).

Accordion withdrawal
The introductory overlap period has now concluded and only the “new” (ongoing) syllabus will
be available for enrolment. Please ensure you are referring to a syllabus from 2021 onwards
(and it’s always best to have the most up to date version to hand).

Violin
Following the release of the new syllabus, both old and new syllabuses are currently
examinable, until the end of 2023.
Please ensure you are referring to a Manual from 2022 onwards (and it’s always best to have
the most up to date version to hand). The Manual Lists remain unchanged (excepting
corrections).

It should be noted that candidates must prepare entirely one syllabus or the other and are not
permitted to select elements of each.

Flute
There’s a new Flute Series 4 set of Grade Books for Level 1. There are no changes to the
technical work requirements or manual lists, other than to add these new works to the options
available to candidates. These new grade books are also complemented by Recorded
accompaniments from Preliminary to Grade 3, which may be used for exams as well as practice.

Oboe
The Manual lists for Grades 6 through to Licentiate have been refreshed with new works being
added. The timing requirements for Diploma exams have also been changed and, to better suit
those requirements, some of the existing listings have been altered. This may mean that one or
two movements of a concerto are required, where previously the full work was the expectation.
No List pieces have been removed entirely.
The length of Diploma programs has been revised to:
Associate must be between 25 and 40 minutes.
 Licentiate must be between 35 and 50 minutes.
These timings include gaps between pieces. These adjustments have been made to bring greater
consistency across our woodwind syllabuses.
If you’d like to see a full list of those Manual List changes, please visit our AMEB Online Shop
here: https://www.ameb.edu.au/2023-manual-of-syllabuses-cau

Clarinet
The Manual lists for Level 3 have been refreshed including the addition of new works. The
timing requirements for Diploma exams have also been changed and, to better suit those
requirements, some of the existing listings have been altered. This may mean that one or two
movements of a concerto are required, where previously the full work was the expectation. No
List pieces have been removed entirely. The length of program has also been revised:
Associate must be between 25 and 40 minutes.
Licentiate must be between 35 and 50 minutes.
These timings include gaps between pieces. These adjustments have been made to bring greater
consistency across our woodwind syllabuses.
If you’d like to see a full list of those Manual List changes, please visit our AMEB Online Shop
here: https://www.ameb.edu.au/2023-manual-of-syllabuses-cau

Trumpet
Two additional Grade books for Series 2 have been released for Grades 5 and 6. These are an
additional resource for the current Trumpet syllabus, and include orchestral excerpts for the
first time. These are also available for you to choose for your next exam. All works and excerpts
in these new publications have been added to the syllabus but no further changes have been
made.

Horn
Following the release of the new syllabus, both old and new syllabuses are currently
examinable, until the end of 2023.
Please ensure you are referring to a Manual from 2022 onwards (and it’s always best to have
the most up to date version to hand). The Manual Lists remain unchanged (excepting
corrections).

It should be noted that candidates must prepare entirely one syllabus or the other and are not
permitted to select elements of each.

Lower Brass withdrawal: Euphonium, Trombone, Bass Trombone, Tuba

The introductory overlap period has now concluded and only the “new” (ongoing) syllabus will
be available for enrolment. Please ensure you are referring to a Manual from 2021 onwards
(and it’s always best to have the most up to date version to hand).

A reminder that these new syllabuses have been expanded to include Preliminary and
Certificate of Performance (except Tuba).

Comprehensive and Repertoire exam options

A repertoire-only exam option was introduced in 2019 and has now expanded to include all
syllabuses (except Band). To differentiate the two options, the traditional exam familiar to most
teachers and candidates is now known as the Comprehensive exam. Repertoire exams allow
candidates to present only a program of pieces, using works selected from the AMEB Syllabus
Lists along with Own Choice options. The Technical Work, General Knowledge, Aural Test and
Sight Reading elements are not examined in separate sections in the Repertoire exam. Rather,
they are still assessed through the pieces themselves. Candidates should be advised that these
are still considered to be essential elements of a well-rounded musician. Fun fact: the Examiners
can tell when someone has been prioritising only their pieces during their practice sessions.

ENSEMBLE NEWS
Video Exams
Ensemble exams may be undertaken as Video Exams. This was introduced as a temporary
solution for pandemic purposes but has been retained to help all learners access exams. We
recognise that some ensembles may find to getting to an AMEB exam centre prohibitive, so we
hope that Video Exams will help more generally with accessibility, for example it may assist
schools in keeping excursion costs down (and the load on teachers to organise and attend
everything!).

Choirs
While it is not explicitly stated, choirs are very welcome to undertake the ensemble exam. No
repertoire is provided but please ensure all selected works adhere to syllabus requirements.

ROCKSCHOOL NEWS
Vocals
The introductory overlap period has now concluded and only the “new” (ongoing) syllabus will
be available for enrolment. Please ensure you are referring to a syllabus from 2021 onwards
(and it’s always best to have the most up to date version to hand).

A reminder that this new syllabus includes a newly added Debut grade, and a complete overhaul
of repertoire, which has removed the gender split and moderated a bit more age-appropriate
content. Piano accompaniment is provided for a human to use if you wish. The backing tracks
are provided as MIDI files so that you can transpose songs to suit the candidate.

Band
Band exams are being withdrawn at the end of 2023. The uptake of this option doesn’t seem to
have been hugely popular, however you can now work with a live accompanist in your exam.

Backing tracks and accompaniment

Due to cyber security risks, we’ll be phasing out the use of USB sticks for Free Choice (and
transposed) backing tracks in the exam room. After 2023, all Free Choice backing tracks must be
brought on a personal device. We’ll be providing adaptors for candidates to plug into amps in
each venue but please help your students prepare ahead of time: get them used to practicing
with their tracks on their personal devices well ahead of the exam day. Please note that tracks
should be downloaded ahead of time as internet is not guaranteed (particularly in our regional
venues) and streaming issues may result in the candidate performing without their
accompaniment. This year will be a bit of a trial of using devices, so please provide us with your
feedback about how things are working (or not) and what information you’d find helpful in
preparing for exam days.

A reminder that Rockschool Candidates can now work with a live accompanist in their exam.
The report criteria of “sync” will remain as an examinable area but it will evolve to include the
Candidate’s ability to maintain pulse and work with their associate artist.
Video Exams
Please double check the website for updated guidelines. We now have more information about
framing requirements and file sizes so it’s important to ensure you have the latest instructions.
For example, it’s essential that the framing includes the face and hands of the candidate.

PERFORMANCE ARTS AWARDS (PAA) NEWS

All exams can now be enrolled directly through SCORE – it really is your one stop shop for your
enrolments! Our AMEB Federal team look after these exams but you get to nominate when you
want them scheduled. And don’t forget – the Examiner comes to you.

PAA exams area available in Jazz Dance, Street Dance, and Musical Theatre. And we’ve just
added Acting and Screen Acting to the offering!

Syllabuses are free to download from the Federal PAA website and no teacher registrations are
required. Resources online also include tracks and examples of steps.

These exams are great for schools and studios as the Examiner comes to you and can assess all
your students in the one performance. This can be a studio (internal) show for the Examiner
alone, or during of your fully-staged performance. The former is recommended as the Examiner
does require the ability to ask for a section to be repeated but, if your audience is willing to see
more of your production, that’s totally fine!

These exams are administered by the AMEB Federal Office so please contact our team there for
more information and to enrol.

Musical Theatre
The Musical Theatre Syllabus differs from our existing Voice exams in that it assesses the “triple
threat”: singing, dancing, and acting.

Acting and Screen Acting

If you’re familiar with our Speech & Drama syllabuses, you’ll probably want to check these out.
They are something new and different again so you now have even more avenues to support
your students’ learning goals. With Acting, you’ll focus on bringing a scene to life and exams can
be taken solo, or in groups of two or three. Screen Acting, as the name suggests focuses on acting
to camera and includes the industry-specific elements of working with framing and technical
equipment. These exams can be taken individually or in pairs.

MEDIA NEWS
Media includes Vlogging and Podcasting syllabuses and was initially referred to as “Creative
Qualifications”, but we’ve made this a bit clearer and simpler.
These exams will be administered by the AMEB Federal Office but you can enrol in SCORE at any
time.

All of these exams are fully online and can be enrolled and completed at any time. Exams include
a portfolio of work, plus an accompanying reflection. Syllabuses are free to download and super
flexible to engage and support any student. With topics to suit any individual taste, it makes for
a very handy format for classroom assignments.
IMPORTANT EXAM INFORMATION
Exam requirements
It is essential that teachers and candidates consult the current year’s Syllabus for details of
exam requirements, and are familiar with what is required.

Exam types
Whether your student wants a comprehensive study of music, or if they are just learning pieces
for fun, there’s a syllabus to support, and an exam type to suit.

We have a great variety of options for your students. We have provided a thorough comparison
on our Tasmanian website to help guide you to the best syllabus and exam type for each
individual personality. It’s essential, though, that your enrolment details are accurate.
Examiners will be equipped with the materials relevant to the enrolments on that day.
Furthermore, the timing of exams varies and late changes may not be possible to accommodate.

Music and copyright

Even if playing from memory, you will need to have all the music with you to answer your
general knowledge questions.

A reminder that photocopies are not acceptable in exams. In general, the Copyright Act prohibits
the use of photocopied music. If you are using photocopied music, it is the candidate’s
responsibility to ensure that a Copyright exception applies, or the relevant music publisher has
granted permission for the copy. Even if playing from memory, you will need to have all the
original music with you to answer your general knowledge questions. If an extra copy is
required for the Examiner, a photocopy is fine as that music is not being performed.

Remember to obtain permissions for any photocopied material, which should be accompanied
by the APRA AMCOS Copyright Declaration Form. Teachers are recommended to familiarise
themselves with Copyright Law. A teacher handbook is currently under review however the
APRA AMCOS website has a lot of information, or teachers can email [email protected].

What to expect in the exam

Examiners really want every candidate to do well. They are listening for what a candidate CAN
do, not what they can’t. Examiners really don’t want to give any candidate a failing grade so
please make sure you’ve checked the syllabus and that your students are prepared.

Trainee Examiners
To ensure that the AMEB’s high examining standards are maintained there may be a Trainee
Examiner present during Level 1 and 2 exams. Candidates should be aware that they will only
receive their Report from the Supervising Examiner. We’ll let you know on the day of the exam
that an Examiner in Training will be present. If you feel your candidate will require more notice
or it will be a serious issue for them, please contact the office.

Exam warm up and practice

Access to venues prior to the day is available to Level 3 Candidates only, with venue approval.
We greatly appreciate the support of our partners for the use of their venues but it should be
noted that AMEB does not own these premises. Access for exams is by negotiation and warm up
rooms are never guaranteed – they are a bonus, rather than an inclusion. We also aim for a
standard venue offering across the state and, in fairness to candidates who may not be able to
access the venue ahead of time in some locations, we are unable to offer such a service
anywhere.
If such a room is available, it should be noted that the time each Candidate has in the room is
brief – it’s for the purposes of WARM UP, and not rehearsal. Please ensure that your student and
their accompanist have had ample time to prepare ahead of exam day.
Rockschool have changed the venue requirements to now include a dedicated warm up room.

SCORE INFORMATION
Coming this year...
UniqueID is almost here. It’ll enable us to do a lot more fancy things for you so watch this space
for its release later this year. Also on the cards is an automated process to request a refund, and
transfer exams (where sessions haven’t closed yet).

How to get started

Head to SCORE at score.ameb.edu.au. We recommend adding it to your browser favourites but,
if you lose this web address, we’ll always have a direct link on the home page of our website.
We’ve changed some of the language to be a little less impersonal. If you’re enrolling people,
you’re now the “Enroller” (previously Account Holder). You can even set yourself up in SCORE
without enrolling anyone (as long as you’re 18+). We have a great FAQ section that has more
information and step by step guides on creating your account and so much more.

Creating an enrolment
Once you’ve logged in, you’ll be greeted with your Dashboard. The large buttons will update to
reflect your exam enrolments but, to begin, the shortcut menu on the left includes My
Enrolments and Enrol now.

We’ve added a few more buttons to the next step to help you find your way to the right form.
Also new with this new version of SCORE is that your candidate comes first. No more selecting
random locations to get started – you start with your human. Please ensure their name and
details are entered correctly. This is the name that will appear on their certificate, and other
details enable us to cross-reference other accreditation.

Please do enter teacher and parent information – it’s really helpful for when we have questions
about availability, accompanists and other occasional variables of the scheduling process.
Candidates with special needs should include some information regarding their situation, what
assistance would be of use on the day, and anything else that we should be aware of in order to
best support them.

You can add multiple candidates in one sitting and pay for them all at the end. And you can even
search for people you’ve enrolled previously and prefill some of their details to save you time.
Please note that group enrolments do need to be completed with separate transactions,
otherwise they’ll come through as additional candidates in the one group. Don’t worry – all your
enrolments are saved and waiting for when you’re ready in the shopping cart.

Once you’ve entered all your candidates, click the little shopping trolley in the top, right corner.
You can double check all the details here and edit anything that needs to be changed before
proceeding to payment. Please note that payment is required at this point, otherwise your
enrolment remains unconfirmed.

What happens next?

You’ll receive an automated email, confirming the enrolment/s. This will be accompanied by an
invoice (with $0 balance), which you can always look up later from My account /My transactions.
When your exam has been scheduled, you’ll receive an email to let you know. Log into SCORE
again and click on My Enrolments to view and download the exam time, venue, and other
information. You’ll find details for each enrolment under the Options menu.

Once the exam has been completed, we’ll upload the Examiner’s Report. Again, you’ll receive an
email to let you know that it’s ready for you. Log in and go to the same place – My Enrolments. A
new option will have appeared in your Options menu so you can view your results.

We’ll then post out (eligible) certificates as normal.

New feature: Private venues

If you’re requesting paper-based Theory of Music exams, or want to hold an exam day at your
own studio, you can set up your own venue within SCORE. Head to the Venues section of the
menu and pop in your details.

New feature: Federal enrolments

You can now enrol for any of the following Federally administered exams and syllabuses
directly through SCORE:
• FMusA
• Rockschool Popular Music Theory
• Rockschool Music Production
• Rockschool Professional Diplomas
• Rockschool PAA
• Rockschool Media

SchoolPay update: Theory Course access

Please note a change to SchoolPay enrolments for Online Theory Courses. SchoolPay enables
you to pay on invoice. We acknowledge that some practical exam enrolments are entered
immediately prior to the enrolment close date, leaving the invoice as pending when we begin
scheduling. We’ll continue with scheduling and administering those enrolments on good faith
that that invoice will be paid in an appropriate timeframe. Online Theory Courses are slightly
different – in the past, we’ve provided access to these as soon as the enrolment was complete,
regardless of payment status. However, the software provider is now charging us as soon as a
new candidate has accessed the Course. As such, we now require payment prior to access being
granted. If you’ve paid but we haven’t allocated that payment yet, and you need access urgently,
please get in touch and we’ll get our Finance team to check for your transfer.

Did you know…

• There are Autofill options at various stages of the enrolment form that you can use so
you don’t need to complete the same details again.
• You can manage your details in SCORE, such as correct an enrolment, or change
information at any time. Please make sure you keep your address up to date so your
certificates reach their destination. Some details need to be brought to the attention of
the AMEB Tasmania Office so, if you’re unable to change them, please just get in touch.
• There’s a help desk where you can lodge a query or a request for help. This can be found
in the side menu under Contact Us.
• There are more SCORE fun facts on our website on the Exam Information page.
• We’re here to help. If you’re having difficulty navigating your way through SCORE, can’t
find the session or specialty you’re looking for, or perhaps are just nervous using it for
the first time – give us a call and we’ll happily walk you through it.
SCHEDULE AND FEE UPDATES
We made very few adjustments to the exam session dates this year, except to shift Session 2
back to its usual spot without the interruption of the SCORE rollover again.
Thanks for your feedback on the schedules. You told us that you wanted to enrol string students
in Session 1 (in Hobart), so we’ve added that as an option.
A reminder that the final week of Session 5 is prioritised for our Candidates undertaking TCE
exams.

You’ll be able to enrol in two main sessions for any and all practical exams. Furthermore, there
are two weekend-long sessions for which the following syllabuses and grades can enrol:
Piano: all grades, all syllabuses (except Rockschool)
Associate Diploma (all specialties)
Each of these weekends will be available in both Hobart and Launceston.

We set our enrolment closing dates with the intention of scheduling exams and providing
confirmation 4 to 6 weeks in advance of your exam day. If you happen to miss the closing date
for a session, please do give us a call as we may be able to slot you in. Please just be aware that
this will attract an admin fee due to the manual and slightly fiddly nature of this process.
We do have a new feature in SCORE that we’re trialling this year – you’ll be able to add a late
enrolment for one week without having to call the office. There’s still an admin process involved
for us to make sure we don’t miss you so the admin fee still applies. But you can pay online as
part of the process.
Enrolments for the shorter (weekend) sessions will close as close as possible to the session
itself – we appreciate your feedback on this, and the knowledge that you don’t need quite as
much of a heads up as to your scheduled exam time.

Some syllabuses and grades, such as Teaching, may be assessed in discussion with the
Tasmanian office – please get in touch to chat about your options.

Our full schedule of session dates is available in a downloadable version from our website and
can be found at the back of this handbook. Annual exam fees are also listed on the website. Fees
vary depending on the duration of the exam and grade, and contribute to administration and the
related costs of Examiner, Supervisor, and venue fees.

TEACHING AND LEARNING RESOURCES

The Syllabus is our number one source of information and thoroughly outlines all that you need
to prepare for an exam.

Publications
We support teaching and learning with our range of highly regarded publications, including
carefully graded repertoire books (Grade books), technical work books, handbooks, sight
reading examples, and so on. Your favourite local retailer will have copies of most publications
but you can always head to our AMEB Online Shop for any AMEB and Rockschool products.

Recorded accompaniment
CDs of recorded accompaniment have been developed (in some instruments) up to Grade 3, to
support the pieces in the AMEB Grade books. These are fantastic practice tools to help with
solidifying rhythm and pitch. To support our learners in remote communities, or with difficult
financials situations, these recordings may be used in exams (although we do acknowledge that
there’s no substitute for working with a live associate artist!). Please note that the candidate
must provide the device to play their accompaniments in their exam. All CDs are available
through the AMEB Online Shop. If you’re just looking for one or two tracks, or simply prefer
digital, they can be found on a number of platforms, such as iTunes and Google Play.

Apps for learning

The MyTempo App is a great resource to get the most out of your AMEB Recorded
Accompaniments, and enables the user to change the speed of the recording for enhanced
practice. The MyTempo app features a range of new and enhanced functions to better support
students and is available for both Apple and Android devices.

The REPLAY App specifically supports Rockschool syllabuses and allows learners to change the
tempo of their backing track, select bars to loop repeatedly, change the key and more. The App
can be downloaded via the Rockschool UK website.

Theory
Practice exams are available as downloadable PDFs from the AMEB Federal website and the
online courses have excellent walkthroughs and demonstrations of how to use the software.
Online Exam purchases include unlimited practice exams. If you enrol your students, you can
track their practice exams, and identify those areas that you might need to continue to work on.
Analytical notes and prepared scores are also available through the AMEB Federal website.

Workshops, seminars and masterclasses

We aim to curate and present topics of interest to teachers and students. Please let us know if
you would like support with a particular teaching topic, or if you have an idea for a workshop.

Teacher Vitality Day!

We’ve completely thought the Open Day concept and present to you a day aimed to invigorate
and energise. We’ll be presenting some workshops with wellbeing experts, along with the not-
to-be-missed syllabus updates. There’ll also be networking opportunities (or just the chance to
catch up with your colleagues over some nibbles). We’ll present Teacher Vitality Day in the
north and the south. This year’s north venue will be Devonport. Pop these dates in the diary so
you don’t miss out and stay tuned to our eNews for further announcements and how to register
for the free event.
Saturday 18 March – Hobart
Sunday 19 March – Devonport
Facebook
Like us on Facebook (/AMEBTasmania) to stay up to date with all sorts of things – events, PD
opportunities, sales and discount offers, research that supports the case for more arts for
everyone, and so much more.
GENERAL EXAM PREP POINTERS
We have a section on our website with lots of helpful hints for your students, and we strongly
recommend you (and they, and their parents) have a read as part of your exam preparation. You
can also have a look at our News items on our website to read a summary of our Examiners’
observations from last year. They’ve identified some exam elements that were often under
prepared and might be a handy reminder to help with your exam preparation.

When preparing for Comprehensive exams, include aural, sight reading, and general knowledge
as integral parts of your normal lesson routine. These are equally important for Repertoire
exams – despite not being examined separately in the exam, they’re still fundamental elements
of musicianship and will be assessed through the pieces presented.

Encourage students to be calm at and during their music exam. Nerves can manifest in all
manner of ways so, where possible, arrange performances for groups of your students before
the exam so that they have some opportunities to present to an audience (eg Eisteddfod, studio
soiree, mock exam). And be mindful of the stressors that parents and you can inadvertently
place on them – kids in particular are really great at picking up when someone else is nervous or
concerned.

Instil in their performances a thoughtful and measured preparation before commencing each
requirement, they won’t have the luxury of 10 minutes but they’re not actually expected to
commence immediately after being invited.

Suggest to students that they ask politely for clarification if they are unsure about the
requirement or question being asked of them by the examiner. It’s perfectly ok to do this and
the Examiners would really rather this than assuming they’re understood and the candidate not
performing their best.

Remind students that pauses during the exam are probably because the examiner is making
their assessment notes and is an indication of neither positive nor negative progress.

Instruct students to wear appropriate clothing that is also neat and comfortable, including shoes
(eg suitable for pedalling, or heels that won’t disrupt breathing).

After the exam

We appreciate that you and your student will be very anxious to hear of their results. These can
take up to a few weeks to get to you (especially in longer sessions). A number of things can
delay getting reports issued: Examiners may hold onto a batch of reports until they’ve
completed all of their exam days; the admin team might need to prioritise ongoing exam days
before issuing reports; there may have been an error in an enrolment that needs clarification
before reports can be issued; and so on.

Please help us to manage expectations by letting students and parents know about this timeline
and rest assured that we’re not withholding reports just because we feel like it.

When reading the report, be receptive to comments and suggestions. Read your students’ exam
reports with an understanding that you were not present in the exam itself. Be aware that what
you covered in preparation may not have translated to the day (despite everyone’s hopes that it
will!).
Interpret your students’ results as one person’s opinion on one day of a student’s learning life,
not as a definitive statement of their potential or ability. Use comments and suggestions to
reflect upon your own ideas and teaching strategies and as a guide for continued growth of the
student.

Certificates for eligible exams will be posted to the Enroller, following the end of the exam
session. If an additional theory component is required, we’ll withhold the certificate until that’s
complete. If the theory component is completed after the practical exam, we have no automatic
way to match up a theory result with the pending certificate (well, at the moment at least).
We’re continuing to work on SCORE to help us automate this but, in the meantime, we need
your help – just send us an email to let us know that you’ve done the theory part and request
your certificate. We even have a handy form on our website for this!

EXAM PREP CHECKLIST

Double-check all technical, repertoire and other requirements against the relevant Syllabus
you’ve enrolled in (do not mix old and new syllabus material). Grade Books, Manual List
repertoire and other details do change from time to time so we always recommend having the
latest version of the Syllabus.

Prepare your repertoire form. We have a new system in SCORE that will allow you to do this
ahead of the day but please remember to complete this a minimum of 72 hours ahead of your
exam. If you’re not able to do that, please print the form (on the final page of your Exam
Notification), and complete it manually to bring with you on the day. We’ll have more detail in
the Exam Notification.

Write the titles of the works by referring to the current syllabus as your guide, rather than
referring to the music books being used. This is a handy double-check of the repertoire you’ve
selected.

You no longer need to print out your Exam Notification but the Exam Supervisor on the day will
need to sight it – this could be on a device or the printed paper.

Have all music/text ready.

For Music, this includes:

• Originals or photocopies accompanied by permissions;
• Put tabs on the pages to make the pieces easy to find;
• Page turning has been included in lessons and rehearsals (eg memorising or
photocopying relevant pages);
• Erase any general knowledge references on the music well before the exam so that they
get used to the appearance of the presentation copy in preparatory practice;
• Rockschool: remember to photocopy any page turns you need – you are not permitted to
have a page turner in the exam room with you.

For Speech & Drama, this includes:

• Any memorised interpretations should be accompanied by one copy of all passages
presented in the program (bringing a copy is optional for original talks in senior
grades);
 • Two copies of reading material, including prose, poetry and drama readings – one for
the student, and one for the examiner, including anthology poems in Drama &
Performance, and any reading task for Voice & Communication (Note: it is not necessary
to bring a second copy of the candidate’s choice of consecutive reading pages from a
prose text. The prose text itself will be sufficient to enable the examiner to choose a
short passage to be read);
• Drama & Communication Folios should include the words of all the texts and self-
devised dialogue used in the performance;
• Any edited passages should either be copied or re-typed so that only the character
and/or words the candidate is presenting are shown
• Written material should be neat, accurate and easily accessible – place tabs on pages of
text to find easily and quickly.
• Help the Examiner by presenting all material in a display file or similar, in order of
presentation.

Check the venue address and assist your students with instructions on how to get there.
Consider where to park ahead of the day.

Remind students to arrive at the exam venue at least fifteen minutes before their allocated exam
time. Have a strategy you can suggest for parents to use if they arrive too early, or if the exam
start is delayed unexpectedly.

Remind all visitors (including teachers and parents) that they are required to follow the
directions of Exam Supervisors.

Remember that waiting rooms (and warm up room, if available) are not a teaching studio.

MUSIC CANDIDATE PREPARATION TIPS

Observe and include minimum speeds for technical work in your preparatory lessons.
Exceeding these tempi a little in practice is a useful strategy to ensure that students achieve the
minimum tempo with comfort.

SPEECH & DRAMA CANDIDATE PREPARATION TIPS

Appropriate choice of clothing can aid in the overall impression a Speech candidate makes in
the exam. Encourage candidates to select one outfit that is functional and can accommodate all
the various characterisations, eras and styles of delivery being presented, and is suited to the
movements, gestures or props supporting their delivery. Clothing should not be distracting
either to candidate or to Examiner. School uniforms are acceptable.
TEACHERS’ RESPONSIBILITIES
Communication
If you’re the Enroller, whether you’re registered as a teacher or representing a school, it is your
responsibility to ensure all exam notifications, reports, and other communiques are provided to
your students and/or their parents.

We will do all we can to keep you up to date with new opportunities, changes to the Syllabuses,
and important things you might need to know. You can stay in the loop through our eNews, and
our AMEB Tasmania Facebook Page.

Exam sessions
Please be prepared for an exam to be scheduled at any time during the selected session. Yes, this
does include all seven days of the week.

Conflicts of interest
Many of our Examiners hold their position due to their excellent teaching capabilities, and we
recognise that Tassie’s a small place. For this reason, there is a section on the enrolment form
for you to let us know of any Examiners we should avoid assigning to your exam. Please note
that requests for specific Examiners are viewed as potential conflicts of interest and will not be
indulged.

Can’t make an exam

There is a section in the enrolment form for you to note compulsory school activities and
religious holidays. Please note that we can not be held responsible for scheduling an exam at a
time your student isn’t available if you haven’t provided this information.

If something comes up and availability changes, please get in touch – the sooner the better!
Shifting an exam time has many flow on effects, but we will certainly take a look at it the options
for you. The earlier you let us know, the more likelihood of an alternative being available,
especially if it’s before the exam has been scheduled. Also, check our policies to know where you
stand regarding refunds and transfer fees.

Last minute situations preventing a candidate from attending their exam, may be eligible for
special consideration, IF we’re aware ahead of time. Operationally, advanced warning also
allows us to get the message to the Examiner, Supervisor, and anyone else who needs to know,
and there may even be a hopeful candidate waiting in the wings for your timeslot.

We appreciate that life happens and, from time to time, a change may be needed to your
scheduled exam time. Please understand that there are a lot of considerations that go into
setting these times, and many factors are at play, which may mean a change can not be
accommodated. As such, we have listed the main scenarios, possible alternatives, and associated
fees on our website in our Enrolment Policies document.

Policies
Our policies sit on our website and are complemented by our social media Code of Conduct
(available on our Facebook Page). The majority of our candidates are under 18 and, while we
take everyone’s welfare seriously, we pay special care to ensure that those who are more
vulnerable are protected. If, at any time, a member of the AMEB team requests you to modify
your behaviour or leave a venue, you must comply.
We respect the privacy of candidates, and all those for whom we store personal details, and use
our best endeavours to maintain confidentiality and respect. All AMEB communication about
exams is normally with the Enroller, who might be the teacher, parent or guardian or (in the
case of 18+ years) the candidate themselves. Please note that we may ask you to provide
information that will allow us to confirm your identity before we can discuss a candidate’s exam
details.

COVID-19 UPDATES
Safety and wellbeing
Keeping our team, candidates, and community safe is our first priority. We continue to take
guidance from the health and Government advice, and we aim to remain agile in response to this
continually changing environment. Thank you for your support and cooperation with these
measures and understanding throughout the challenges.

If you feel that you should not attend a face-to-face exam, Video Exams remain an option for all
syllabuses (except Diplomas). Please have a read of those options on our website, on our
Syllabuses page.

Please ensure you remain up to date with your responsibilities for exam day. Our website has
our Pandemic Processes, which outlines what we’re doing to keep you safe, and how we need
your help.

Vaccination requirements
We have updated our webpage (See News and events) with the 2023 venue requirements. These
are now much more accessible

We’re here to help

Wondering what options might be available to you? Worried about your personal
circumstances? Unsure if you should turn up on exam day?
Please get in touch. We’re humans, too, and we want to see you safe and your students thriving
through this craziness.
CONTACT US
Quick reference contacts:
[email protected]
03 6226 7337

The team in the AMEB Tasmania State Office is here to help.

Please note, however, that our UTAS building is still closed to public. This is no longer due to the
pandemic but is related to an unsafe area that is pending new doors. As such, we’re very happy
to welcome you to our office but you’ll need to let us know that you’re coming (and on arrival)
so that we can let you inside. So please get in touch to make an appointment – we’d love to see
you! Our office is located in the Centre for the Arts, UTAS:
37 Hunter Street
Hobart
Level 2, Room 115

Exams Coordinator – Gabi Robin

[email protected]
03 6226 7337

Please note that Gabi works part time, with hours in 2023 as follows:
Monday, 9am to 1:30pm
Tuesday, 9am to 5pm
Thursday, 9am to 1:30pm
Friday, 9am to 1:30pm

State Manager – Michelle Forbes

[email protected]
03 6226 7337

AMEB Federal team

SCORE and other Federal support: 1300 725 709 or [email protected]
AMEB Online Shop: ameb.edu.au

Please remember to keep us updated with any changes to your contact details either via SCORE,
or by contacting the office.

Please find on the back page of this document our newly designed exam session dates. Yes, the
dates are upside down. But follow the fold prompts and you’ll have a handy desk calendar!

Our AMEB Online Shop has many great resources and publications including:
• grade books
• technical workbooks
• recordings and handbooks
• aural and sight-reading books
• manual of syllabuses
• recorded accompaniments
• theory analysis and resources
• practice exams
H ere to Help
The AMEB Federal website has a page dedicated to all of these things and we hope that all our
teachers find something useful and remain connected during these challenging times:
https://ameb.edu.au/here-to-help

The AMEB Tasmania office continues to operate remotely. Emails are operational and the
phones are diverted to Gabi Michelle so please get in touch with any queries.