[4] The clarifying strapline "the exam board of the Royal Schools of Music" was introduced in 2012.

ABRSM is one of the UK's 200 largest charitable organisations ranked by annual expenditure.

[7] The first syllabi were published in 1890 for Piano, Organ, Violin, Cello and Harp, with Viola, Double Bass and woodwind instruments added the following year.

Since the post-World War II years, the ABRSM saw an increase in overseas exam applications.

The DIPABRSM was withdrawn due to being at the same rqf level as ARSM and having the same learning outcomes in essence as Ali Bowen Davies said.

For LRSM, candidates have to play a 45 minute programme of at least 50 percent of repertoire must be from the LRSM List and up to 50% can be own choice of pieces of around ARSM Standard or above and write a 2000 word essay for Performance in Context having 4 options to write from.

One of the original editors was Sir Donald Tovey, who wrote informative notes on the music which are still highly regarded today.

Since 2009 ABRSM has produced several practice applications to support teachers and students: In response to the Black Lives Matter movement, on 15 July 2020, the ABRSM syllabus came under public scrutiny for the lack of BAME representation in the 2019/20 syllabus.

[15] Over 4,000 people signed a petition which found "255 pieces in the new piano syllabus" to not include any black composers.

Chi-chi Nwanoku "described the 'woeful lack' of ethnic diversity in the ABRSM syllabus as appalling" with Scott Caizley also stating how "the ABRSM should make its syllabuses less white if it was "committed to seeing a more racially diverse intake of students entering conservatoires".

The ABRSM's spokesman responded to the criticism and said "the death of George Floyd in the US had made it think deeply about its efforts to get more black composers in its syllabuses".