Understanding Piano Exam Timelines

One of the most common questions students and parents ask is:
“When should we book the exam?”

The honest answer is that exam preparation follows a longer and more structured timeline than many people expect. Progress is not measured in weeks, but in months of consistent development, especially as students move into higher levels.

It’s also important to check in with Isaac if you are unsure which stage you are in, and to see whether you’re on track with your goals.

Below is a realistic guide to what the lead-up to a piano exam usually involves.

6–12 months before the exam: Building the foundations

This stage makes up the largest and most important portion of exam preparation.

During this time, students:

Learn the required repertoire gradually and securely
Develop the necessary technique to support the pieces
Build memory in a low-pressure environment
Learn correct fingering, articulation, and basic musical shaping

At this stage, the goal is learning, not performing.

Rushing this phase often leads to unstable technique, unreliable memory, and musical tension later on.

3–6 months before the exam: Consolidation and control

This is where preparation begins to shift from learning notes to refining control.

Students now focus on:

Playing pieces fluently from start to finish
Improving tone, balance, and dynamic control
Developing consistent tempo and rhythm
Strengthening technical work (scales, arpeggios, etc.)
Introducing or refining pedalling (where required)

By the end of this phase, the student should be able to play the program reliably, even if it still needs polish.

This stage becomes longer and more demanding as students move from Level 1 into Level 2 exams.

6–8 weeks before the exam: Performance preparation

At this point, the emphasis moves from practice to performance readiness.

Students should:

Play full programs without stopping
Practise under mild pressure (performing for others)
Develop strategies for managing nerves
Refine interpretation, pacing, and expression

Mistakes should now be small and recoverable, not structural.

If major issues remain at this stage, the timeline is usually too tight.

2–4 weeks before the exam: Polishing, not rebuilding

This final phase is about confidence and clarity, not major changes.

Focus areas include:

Maintaining consistency
Avoiding over-practising or last-minute changes
Strengthening memory and mental focus
Ensuring technical work remains secure

Good preparation at this stage feels calm and controlled, not frantic.

How timelines change across the three levels

Level 1 (Preliminary–Grade 4)

Typical preparation: 6–9 months
Focus: learning fundamentals, basic expression, confidence
Exams are often a student’s first experience with performance pressure

Level 2 (Grade 5–Certificate of Performance)

Typical preparation: 9–18 months
Focus: refined technique, expressive control, pedalling, consistency
Most students complete their exam journey at this level

Level 3 (AMusA–LMusA)

Typical preparation: 1.5–3+ years
Focus: recital-level performance, artistic direction, professional polish
Program planning is as important as practice itself