Drum kit exam books and repertoire

Choose the Drum Kit Exam Pieces from 2024 book that matches your exact grade. There is a printed book for Initial Grade and each of Grades 1 to 8. Use Syllabus Finder to check your piece choices and the requirements before ordering.

Our drum kit exams are Performance Grades, assessed from a video recording, from Initial Grade to Grade 8. Check our official drum kit guidance for recording, submission and programme requirements.

Prepare a programme of four pieces: one from each of Lists A, B and C for your grade, plus an own-choice piece. Check the full requirements, including programme timings, in the current syllabus before making your final selection.

You only need another score if your choice is not already in music you own. Check that the piece meets the standard, minimum duration and programme requirements for your grade. Ask your teacher for help choosing suitable music.

Drum Kit Performance Grades assess your programme and performance as a whole. There are no separate scales, sight-reading or aural test components. Choose the music you need for your programme and check the recording guidance before your exam.

Our official drum kit page links to recordings by grade and explains the available streaming and MP3 options. Check the current syllabus for how to perform each piece. Do not use a click track or metronome for an unaccompanied piece, and remove headphones for that performance.

The printed grade books and individual digital sheet music are separate products. Check the product format and details before you buy. If you already own the printed book, check its contents before purchasing a digital score of the same piece.

Before booking Grade 6, 7 or 8, check the entry requirement: Grade 5 or above in Music Theory, Practical Musicianship or a Jazz Practical Grade, or an accepted alternative. Our official drum kit guidance also explains candidate identification and programme timings. Check the current syllabus before submitting your recording.