Rockschool (RSL Awards) Electric Guitar
Rockschool Electric guitar grades
Rockschool exams are built around playing real music. There are two ways to take them: the Performance Certificate, where the whole exam is playing — and the full Graded exam, which adds technical work and supporting tests. I usually start students on the Performance route, because it keeps the focus on sounding great, then move up to Graded exams when they want the extra challenge.
Performance Certificate
Start hereAll playing, no supporting tests — the route I recommend first
The student performs five pieces, start to finish, along to backing tracks. There are no scales, ear tests or musicianship questions — it is judged purely on the performance, exactly like playing a short set.
Graded exam
The full syllabus — performance plus technical work
The classic Rockschool grade. Three pieces plus technical exercises, a supporting test and ear tests. Grades 6 to 8 carry UCAS points, and it builds the underlying technique fastest.
I run these as digital exams by default — recorded in the lesson and submitted to RSL — unless a student would rather sit an in-person exam, which I'm happy to arrange.
Rockschool ElectricDebut
The very first step — simple riffs, single notes and two-string power chords.
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Rockschool ElectricGrade 1
Full power chords, simple open chord changes and a first taste of soloing.
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Rockschool ElectricGrade 3
Moveable shapes across the neck and more expressive lead playing.
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Rockschool ElectricGrade 4
The first of the higher grades — stamina, accuracy and tone all count.
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Rockschool ElectricGrade 5
A recognised milestone — worth UCAS points and a real sense of achievement.
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Rockschool ElectricGrade 8
The top grade — professional-level technique, tone and stagecraft.
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