ABRSM-aligned, grade by grade.
Work through grades from notation basics to late-grade repertoire. Pieces unlock as you progress; stars track how clean each run was.
Not sure which grade you’re on?
The placement check takes about three minutes: pick a rough level, adjust it against a real piece, then play it. No account needed.
Find your levelWhat does each grade cover?
Initial Grade
How we build these
We keep Initial exercises to 4–6 bars, in C major or D minor, in 4/4 or 2/4. Each hand plays on its own, five fingers from tonic to dominant. Simple note values, the odd slur, and mf, p and f.
Grade 1
How we build these
Builds on Initial Grade.
At Grade 1 we bring in G major, F major and A minor, and 3/4 along with them. Hands still play on their own, but the five-finger position can sit anywhere. Expect the odd accidental in the minor keys, plus slurs, accents, mf and mp, and cresc./dim. hairpins.
Grade 2
How we build these
Builds on Grade 1.
Grade 2 stays at 4–6 bars and adds D major, D minor and staccato. We write in C, G, D and F major and A and D minor, in 4/4, 3/4 or 2/4, hands still separate.
Grade 3
How we build these
Builds on Grade 2.
We stretch Grade 3 to 6–8 bars and go up to three sharps or flats: A major, B♭ major and E minor come in here. This is where dotted rhythms and 3/8 first appear. Hands are still separate.
Grade 4
How we build these
Builds on Grade 3.
Grade 4 is where hands come together: right hand in the treble, left in the bass, five fingers each. Around 8 bars, no more than two sharps or flats. Two new things we ask for: 6/8, and a tonic held under the melody in the left hand.
Grade 5
How we build these
Builds on Grade 4.
Grade 5 runs 8–12 bars, goes up to four sharps or flats, and we add E major, A♭ major, B minor and F minor. The left hand starts taking two notes at once, tonic and fifth. Time signatures: 4/4, 3/4, 2/4, 6/8 or 3/8.
Grade 6
How we build these
Builds on Grade 5.
Grade 6 runs 10–16 bars, and we add C♯ minor and F minor to the four-sharp range. 9/8 and 5/4 arrive, and the dynamics open right out: pp through ff.
Grade 7
How we build these
Builds on Grade 6.
At Grade 7 we’re writing 16–20 bars. Every key up to four sharps or flats is in play, and every time signature we use. The right hand starts picking up thirds.
Grade 8
How we build these
Builds on Grade 7.
Grade 8 is the longest we write: 18–26 bars, up to five sharps or flats, including B major, D♭ major and G♯ minor. 12/8 joins the time signatures, and the right hand carries fuller chords.
Notation Practice
How we build these
A standalone set for practising specific notations, one at a time. Each piece takes a single marking and explains what it means and how it sounds. Everything sits between C3 and G5, so the on-screen piano works too.
SightReader is not affiliated with or endorsed by ABRSM.
Frequently asked questions
How many grades does SightReader cover?
Ten tracks in all: Initial through Grade 8, plus a standalone Notation Practice set. Each grade holds progressive levels, and pieces unlock as you work through them. The free tier covers the first five levels of every grade from Initial to Grade 5.
Which grade should I start at?
Take the placement check: pick a rough level, adjust it against a real piece, then play it. It takes about three minutes and needs no account. If you already sit exams, start a grade below the one you are working towards — sight reading always lags repertoire.
Are these the real ABRSM sight-reading tests?
No. Real exam tests use unseen, single-use music handed to you on the day, and we are not affiliated with ABRSM or endorsed by them. Our exercises are newly written to the same published parameters — keys, time signatures, hand position, length — so the difficulty curve matches.
Is the grade content free?
The first five levels of every grade from Initial to Grade 5 are free, alongside 54 study pieces and unlimited note and scale drills. Pro opens the remaining levels, Grades 6 to 8 in full, and the rest of the 4,000-piece library, at £5 a month.
What happens when I finish a grade?
We issue a certificate you can download as a PDF, share by link, or put on the fridge, and the next grade opens up. Levels count as complete only on hands-together runs: a one-hand pass records your accuracy but does not advance the grade.
Do I need a MIDI keyboard for grade practice?
No, but it is the best way to work. A MIDI keyboard lets us mark every note as you play it. Without one, use the on-screen piano — fine for the early grades, harder once both hands are in play — or your own instrument in honour mode.