The Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM) has been fined £150,000 by the Office of Qualifications and Exam Regulations (Ofqual).

The £150,000 fine was imposed after Ofqual identified what it called "serious shortcomings" in the ABRSM's arrangements for retaining, managing and ensuring the availability of assessment evidence and associated records.

ABRSM which has delivered regulated music qualifications through both face-to-face and digital assessments has been recognised by Ofqual since 2010.

Three incidents

The press release from Ofqual stated that its Enforcement Panel found three separate incidents between 2024 and 2025 resulting in information not being available when ABRSM needed it for reviews of marking, or in a malpractice investigation.

The first incident saw 8,539 audio recordings of completed learner assessments not retained as a result of a software error. The second saw the assessment recordings and completed marking records relating to 16 learners being deleted in error.

The third saw ABRSM identify potential malpractice involving a single tutor overseas responsible for entering 710 learners for assessments. 231 assessment recordings were no longer available, limiting their ability to fully investigate the extent of the suspected malpractice.

In addition, Ofqual also found that around 72,000 certificates were issued with incorrect qualification titles.

Agreement

It is reported that as part of the settlement, ABRSM has agreed to pay the £150,000, contribute £10,000 towards Ofqual's investigation and enforcement costs, and commission an independent audit of its assessment record-retention arrangements.

Amanda Swann, Executive Director for Delivery at Ofqual, stated: "Awarding organisations have a responsibility to retain assessment evidence and ensure it is available when needed, to protect learners and maintain confidence in qualifications.

Although ABRSM identified these issues and has taken action to improve its arrangements, weaknesses in its controls meant that important assessment evidence could not always be accessed when required. Given the seriousness of these failings, we have taken enforcement action."

We regret any errors and take full responsibility for the regulatory issues that affected a small percentage of candidates taking ABRSM Graded Music ExamsABRSM

Regret

In its published response, ABRSM said: "We regret any errors and take full responsibility for the regulatory issues that affected a small percentage of candidates taking ABRSM Graded Music Exams.

We have taken rigorous steps to address these events individually and remain positive that learners and teachers can continue to have confidence in the integrity and globally recognised high standards of our exams."

Integrity

In an email to UK-based teachers, its CEO Chris Cobb stated: "Protecting learners' interests and public confidence in the integrity of ABRSM qualifications is central to our mission, and the remedial actions we have completed over the last 2.5 years show that we have taken these incidents very seriously.

We continue to review and improve our systems and processes."