Music exams with a university on the certificate.
The University of West London.
LCME has examined musicians since 1887, and today it belongs to the University of West London. That is the name your result carries, and the standard your teacher works to.
At Rīgas Privātā Mūzikas Skola we prepare students for LCME graded exams, from first Steps to Grade 8, on the handbooks the examiners themselves use.
University of West London
- Owned by the University of West London
- Established 1887
- Steps 1 and 2, then Grades 1 to 8
- In person or digital
- Children and adults
- Own-choice repertoire on guitar from October 2026
What LCME is, and why it matters
London College of Music Examinations (LCME) is the examinations board of the University of West London. It is described by the university as an inclusive board for performance exams, with qualifications in music, drama, communication and creative media recognised around the world. For a music student in Riga this means something simple and rather fine: the certificate that arrives after the exam bears the name of a university, and the exam itself is built to reward real musicianship, not mere drilling.
A university stands behind every result.
Many examining bodies are independent companies. LCME is different, and the chain of authority is short.
University of West London
- 1
The University of West London
A university in London, which owns and governs LCME. Its name is the one your certificate carries.
- 2
London College of Music Examinations
Established in 1887 and now university-owned: the board that writes the syllabuses, publishes the handbooks and sets the standard.
- 3
Your teacher at RPMS
A professional who prepares you in lessons against the official handbook, so nothing in the exam room is a surprise.
- 4
Your certificate
The result, issued in the name of the University of West London: something to keep, to frame and to build upon.
A certificate is only as good as the name on it. Ask any admissions tutor.
- Year LCME was established
- 1887
- Grades, after the two Steps
- 8
- Ways to sit: in person or digital
- 2
- University behind every certificate
- 1
The LCME ladder, one rung at a time
Choose a level to see what it asks of you.
Grade 3: a steadier sound and the first signs of a musical voice of your own.
Beyond Grade 8, LCME also offers Recital Grades, Performance Diplomas and Teaching Diplomas for those who wish to go further.
How an LCME exam is built
Components vary a little by instrument and grade, but every exam looks at the whole musician, not merely one prepared piece.
Performance
Pieces or studies played with character, chosen from the official handbook and, from October 2026 on guitar, in part from your own choice.
Technical work
Scales, arpeggios, rhythm playing and the fundamentals that make everything else sound secure.
Musicianship
Questions from the examiner about the music, its notation and its context, so that you understand as well as play.
Aural
Listening tests that train the ear, the sense of rhythm and the ability to recognise what you hear.
The very books your examiner knows.
Every LCME level has its own handbook, with the repertoire, the requirements and the guidance you need. Your teacher will choose the right edition and work through it with you, week by week.
Classical Guitar Handbook
Grade 5
Popular Music Vocals
Grade 1
Piano
Step 2
LCME publishes the Rock Guitar handbooks as free PDFs, and the Electric and Acoustic Guitar books in digital and physical editions. Always confirm the current edition with your teacher before you buy.
Learn like a musician. Be examined like a scholar.
A university-owned board brings academic seriousness to performance, and a warmth of encouragement to the exam room. That is a rare and agreeable combination.
Guitar syllabuses: your own choice of music.
LCME has revised the Electric, Acoustic, Rock and Bass Guitar graded exams to give far greater choice in repertoire. The existing requirements remain available too.
Electric Guitar
Steps 1 and 2, Grades 1 to 8
- Rhythm Playing (Component 3): perform either the Rhythm Playing exercise given by the examiner, or one piece of your own choice of similar standard and duration.
- Lead Playing or Improvisation (Component 4): perform either a Lead Playing exercise over a chord progression from the examiner, or an improvised section over a piece or backing track of your choice.
- Grades 6, 7 and 8 (Specialism, Option 4): choose one option from Component 3 or 4, with own-choice available in both.
- The Electric Guitar books are offered with a 50% discount, in digital and physical editions.
Worth knowing before you choose
- The changes come into effect from 5 October 2026. Candidates already preparing under the previous syllabus may continue with it.
- For an own-choice piece you must give the examiner a copy of the music before the exam begins.
- Where your choice needs a backing track, the candidate is responsible for ensuring suitable audio equipment is available at the centre. We will plan this with you well in advance.
- Recorded exams have their own updated requirements; ask your teacher which format suits you.
Based on the LCME Guitar Syllabus Updates 2026, revised 8 October 2026. These changes apply to in-person graded exams.
Digital exams, downloads and books, a click away.
LCME offers Digital Exams, both recorded and live online, so that a student need not be tied to a single room or a single date. Handbooks, eBooks and audio downloads are published online too.
- Digital ExamsRecorded and live online formats, with published recording guidelines to follow.
- Downloads and eBooksHandbooks, audio files and eBooks available online, many free of charge.
- Official informationSyllabuses, regulation and news are published by LCME at lcme.uwl.ac.uk.
From the first lesson to the certificate
Choose the level
Your teacher listens, assesses and recommends the right Step or Grade, with no pressure and no haste.
Learn from the handbook
Repertoire, technical work and listening are prepared lesson by lesson against the official LCME requirements.
Rehearse the real thing
Mock exams and calm run-throughs, including your own-choice music and backing tracks where they apply.
Sit the exam
In person or digitally, as appropriate, and then the certificate arrives bearing a university's name.
Questions
LCME exams: frequently asked questions
What is LCME?+
LCME is London College of Music Examinations, the university-owned examinations board of the University of West London. It was established in 1887 and offers graded exams, recital grades, diplomas and theory exams.
Whose name is on the certificate?+
The University of West London, which owns LCME. The certificate is therefore issued in the name of a university and not of an independent company.
Are the exams compulsory?+
Not at all. Many of our students learn purely for enjoyment. Exams are there for those who like a goal, a challenge and something to show for their effort.
Can adults take LCME exams?+
Yes, most certainly. Adults sit the same exams as children, and many find the structure of a grade a wonderful incentive to practise.
Can I choose my own music?+
On the Electric, Acoustic, Rock and Bass Guitar syllabuses, yes: from 5 October 2026 the in-person graded exams allow own-choice repertoire, subject to the requirements for each grade. Your teacher will advise which choices suit your grade.
In person or online?+
LCME offers in-person graded exams and Digital Exams, both recorded and live online. We will advise which format suits you and your instrument.
How do I begin?+
Enrol for lessons or write to us. Your teacher will assess your level and agree a plan towards the right Step or Grade.
Exam fees, entry deadlines and session dates are set by LCME and change from time to time. We confirm the current figures with you before any entry is made.
Let a university put its name to your music.
Tell us your instrument and your level, and we will plan the road to your first LCME certificate.