LC Music

LCME describes itself as a university-owned, inclusive board for performance exams. It is London College of Music Examinations, based at the University of West London, St Mary's Road, Ealing, London W5 5RF. Its site says it was established in 1887 and offers qualifications in music, drama, communications and creative media.

The published subject list includes Piano, Singing, Musical Theatre, Guitar & Ukulele, Strings & Harp, Woodwind, Brass, Percussion, Keyboard/Organ & Accordion, Jazz, Traditional Music, Ensemble, Conducting, Composition & Thesis, Music in Worship, Creative Media, Drama, Communication, Early Learning, Stave House and Music Theory. Levels listed include Grades, Recital Grades, Leisure Play, Digital Exams, Performance Diplomas, Teaching Diplomas, Pre-Grade 1 and Early Learning, Theory Exams and Theory Diplomas.

Yes. LCME lists Digital Exams (Recorded & Live Online) as an exam level, and its booking area separates in-person exams, digital exams and RGT exams. If you enter digitally, read the published recording guidelines before you record, since they govern how your submission must be captured.

LCME says its new exam system, LCME ExamTrack, launches on 1 December with Digital Recorded exams and lets you book, upload and get results in one place. There is a dedicated ExamTrack Hub page. In-person entries are handled through the in-person booking area, and centre representatives have their own import files.

Entry fees and practical session dates are published on separate LCME information pages, and fees vary by subject and level, so check the page for your exact entry rather than relying on a general figure. The source material used here does not state a fee amount or session calendar, so confirm both directly with LCME before planning.

Difficulty scales with level, from Pre-Grade 1 and Early Learning up to diplomas, and LCME says exams cater for all ability levels. The most avoidable problems are entering against the wrong syllabus edition, ignoring the regulations and information document, and, for digital entries, submitting recordings that do not follow the recording guidelines.

A sensible route is Pre-Grade 1 and Early Learning, then Grades, with Recital Grades or Leisure Play if you prefer a performance-focused or less formal path, then Performance or Teaching Diplomas, and Theory Exams before Theory Diplomas. Confirm the current syllabus for your subject first, because syllabuses are revised; LCME advertises a 2026 Piano syllabus.

LCME publishes an Equity & Reasonable Adjustment page, and its footer links to an equality of opportunity page, so adjustments are handled through a defined process rather than negotiated at the exam door. Read those pages and apply in good time before your session or recording deadline, since approval usually has to precede the exam.

LCME publishes an Appeals page and a separate complaints procedure, so a result challenge follows the appeals route rather than an informal request. For lost or damaged certificates there is a Replacement certificate page. Check the deadlines and any conditions on those pages before submitting anything.

Yes. LCME advertises "An important update on Online Theory exams" and directs candidates to its Online Theory exams page for details. Because the source material used here does not state what changed, read that page directly before entering for a Theory Exam or planning a Theory Diploma.