LC Music exam-day guide
LC Music · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Photo ID matching your registration name
Bring the original government-issued photo ID whose name matches your exam registration exactly. If your name differs (nickname, married name, transliteration), confirm with the provider before test day which additional documentation they accept.
Confirmation / admission letter
Print or save the confirmation showing your appointment time, test center or online-proctoring link, and candidate number. Confirm with the provider whether a printed copy is required or a digital copy is accepted.
Know your test-center route and arrival buffer
Rehearse the route and check local transport disruptions. Arrival cut-off times and late-admission policy vary by provider and site, so confirm the exact arrival window with the provider rather than guessing.
Instrument and accessories you plan to use
If your exam involves a practical performance component, confirm with the provider which instruments, sticks/mallets, reeds, strings, or pedals are supplied on site and which you must bring yourself. Label personal items.
Printed repertoire list and copies for the examiner
Prepare a clean list of the pieces you will perform, with composer/arranger, movement, and timing. Confirm with the provider how many copies are needed and whether photocopies of scores are permitted.
Original scores (no annotations that give an unfair advantage)
Bring legible originals or authorized copies. Check the provider's rules on written markings, tablature, and memory requirements; some boards restrict annotations, others allow them.
Warm-up plan and a quiet way to warm up
Plan a short physical and instrumental warm-up. Confirm with the provider whether a warm-up room or instrument is available and how long you get; do not assume access.
Water, a snack, and any permitted medication
Bring water in a permitted container and a light snack for breaks. Check the provider's rules on food, drink, and medication in the test room before you rely on them.
Layer clothing and hearing protection if relevant
Rooms can be cold or loud. Confirm with the provider whether earplugs or in-ear protection are allowed during the practical component, since rules differ between acoustic and amplified settings.
Watch or silent timer
A simple non-smart watch helps you pace yourself. Smart watches and phones are commonly prohibited in the test room; confirm with the provider what timekeeping is allowed.
Read the current candidate handbook and syllabus
The syllabus defines assessed components, weighting, and permitted materials. Download the version in force for your exam session and confirm with the provider that it is current.
Backup plan for online or remote components
If any part is delivered remotely, test your camera, microphone, and connection in advance, and have a phone hotspot as backup. Confirm with the provider the platform, check-in time, and room-scan requirements.
Plan the day
Re-read the current syllabus and candidate handbook for your session and note every rule that affects what you bring and how you perform. Reconfirm your appointment time, venue or link, and ID requirements with the provider. Do a full timed run-through of your programme, including spoken introductions and transitions if they are assessed, and record it so you can hear pacing problems. Fix any instrument or equipment issues now, not on the day: replace worn sticks, reeds, or strings and test any backing tracks or click if permitted.
Run a second, shorter rehearsal focused on the weakest sections rather than the whole programme. Assemble your bag with ID, confirmation, scores, repertoire list, and instrument accessories, and check the printed scores are legible and in order. Practise sight-reading or aural tasks if your exam includes them, under time pressure. Confirm travel arrangements and, for a remote component, run a full platform check with the same equipment you will use.
Do a light technical warm-up and one slow run of tricky passages; stop before fatigue sets in. Lay out clothes, ID, confirmation, scores, water, and snacks by the door. Check the provider's site or email for last-minute changes to time, venue, or link. Set two alarms and plan to arrive with a buffer. Avoid learning new repertoire or making major tempo or arrangement changes at this stage. Get a normal night's sleep rather than an unusually early one.
Eat a normal meal and hydrate moderately. Do a short physical warm-up and a brief instrumental warm-up if a space is available, keeping it light. Re-check that ID, confirmation, scores, and accessories are packed. Leave earlier than the route suggests. On arrival, follow staff instructions for registration and waiting; keep conversation minimal and focus on your starting tempo and first entry.
Follow the examiner's or invigilator's instructions exactly and ask for clarification if a procedure is unclear. Breathe and set your tempo before starting each piece; if you make a mistake, keep going rather than restarting unless the rules allow it. Watch the time and respect any per-piece or overall limits. If a task is unfamiliar, attempt it rather than leaving it blank. At the end, thank the panel, collect your belongings and scores, and leave quietly without discussing content with other candidates.
Rules to check
Bring original photo ID that matches your registration; if your name or documents are unusual, confirm with the provider in advance what will be accepted, because entry may be refused without valid ID.
Arrive within the provider's stated arrival window. Late-admission and rescheduling policies differ by center and by whether the exam is in person or remote, so confirm the exact cut-off with the provider rather than assuming you will be admitted.
Follow all instructions from examiners, invigilators, and proctors. Do not argue with a decision during the exam; raise any concern through the provider's official complaints or special-consideration process afterwards.
Do not bring unauthorized materials or devices into the test room. Phones, smart watches, and notes are commonly restricted, and rules on scores, annotations, and permitted accessories vary by syllabus, so check the current handbook and confirm with the provider.
Breaks are usually only at times the provider specifies, and leaving the room may be escorted or recorded. Confirm with the provider whether comfort breaks are available during your practical component and how they affect timing.
Scoring is against published assessment criteria, not against other candidates. Read the criteria for each component so you know whether marks reward accuracy, interpretation, technique, or communication, and confirm the weighting with the provider's current syllabus.
Maintain exam confidentiality. Do not record, photograph, or share exam materials or specific tasks, and do not discuss content with candidates who have not yet taken the exam.
If illness or an emergency affects your performance, tell staff at the time if possible and follow the provider's special-consideration procedure, including any deadline and evidence requirements you must confirm with the provider.