Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts - Central Conservatory of Music

NAFA Chinese Instruments Graded Exams Information 2025

About

The Central Conservatory of Music (CCOM) is the leading music institution in China. To promote traditional Chinese music and culture, CCOM has carried out Chinese Instruments Graded Examinations in many countries and regions since 1989. In line with the mission to make music education universal, CCOM aims to provide professional and the highest examination standards for amateur Chinese instrumentalists around the world by utilizing a structured approach of learning and fine traditions.

Announcements

Please click below for the 2025 CCOM Graded Examination Complete Rules and Regulations:

English

Chinese

Please click here to register for 2025 CCOM Graded Examination.

All examinations are to be recorded and submitted online. Registration of CCOM 2024 will indicate Examinee's full consent to CCOM Graded Exam Rules and Regulations for video recording.

Important Dates to note

Event	Date
Registration Period	1^st August 2025 – 3^rd October 2025
Submission Period	1^st August 2025 - 24^th November 2025, 6pm

General Exam Information

Examinable Instruments
The Graded Examinations will comprise 10 main instruments, namely Erhu, Pipa, Guzheng, Dizi, Yangqin, Suona, Ruan, Sheng, Liuqin and Percussion (Snare Drum).

Main Examination and Registration Information

Examinable Instruments include: Guzheng | Erhu | Dizi | Pipa | Ruan | Yangqin | Liuqin | Suona | Sheng | Percussion (Snare Drum)

Examination Grades: 1 – 9*, Performance Grade**. (Total of 10 grades)

*There is no Performance Grade for Percussion.

**You must present with a Grade 9 certification to be eligible to register for Performance Grade.

There are no restrictions imposed on the age of the examinee. Examinees are expected to have a certain level of foundation in their chosen instrument.

Hard-copy certifications will be available for collection at NAFA by April 2025. Details will be provided via registered email.

Registration period: 1^st Aug 2025 - 3^rd Oct 2025 via www.nafa.edu.sg/nafa-ccom
- Payment to be made online.
- Withdrawal from examination is no longer an option from 2025 onwards. There will be no refunds or reimbursements given to any candidate who fails to submit the examination video by the stated deadline.
  
  (Candidates who have qualified for reimbursement from 2024 examinations will not be affected by this clause. You may still use the funds for registration of 2025 examination)
- Admission Ticket will be sent via registered email within 7 working days from successful registration. Video submission link will be provided via the Admission Ticket.
- You may submit the video anytime between 1st August 2025 - 24th November 2025. 6pm, once you have received the video submission link via the Admission Ticket.
Video submission period: 1^st August 2025 – 24^th November 2025, 6pm
- Late submissions will not be entertained.

Examination Fees

2025 Chinese Instruments Graded Examination Fees

Grade	Total Exam Fee Payable (incl. 9% GST)
1	S$70
2	S$80
3	S$95
4	S$120
5	S$160
6	S$200
7	S$250
8	S$300
9	S$390
*Performance Grade	S$500

* Performance Grade Examinees registering for the Performance Grade examination are required to attach a photocopy of their Grade 9 certificate jointly issued by NAFA and CCOM for verification.

Examination Requirements

For Erhu, Pipa, Guzheng, Dizi, Suona, Ruan, Sheng, Liuqin:

Examinees must prepare 2 pieces in total:
1. 1 Technical Study (memorisation is not required)
2. 1 Choice Piece (memorisation required, except for examinees ≥ 18 years old.)
For Percussion – Snare Drum:

Memorisation NOT required

Technical Studies = “基本功练习“

Practice Piece = “练习曲”

Memorisation and Book requirements

Examinee profile:	Memorisation
Percussionists	No
All other Instruments, where examinees are less 18 years old	Yes
All other Instruments, where examinees are 18 years old or more	*No

*Examinees age 18 and above are allowed to apply for exemption from memorisation but must provide documentation for verification of age. Examinees should state and show clearly in their recordings the documentations for verification of age.

Note: All pieces are to be chosen from the official CCOM Examination Syllabus (Overseas Version). Examinees must present clearly with a legitimate copy* of the relevant examination book in the video recording submitted. Failure to do so will result in a disqualification from the examination.

*Photocopied versions are NOT allowed.

Please purchase the NAFA Chinese Instruments Graded Examination Committee recognised syllabus from the following suppliers. Failure to produce certified examination syllabus during the examination registration will result in disqualification from the graded examination.

See Lian Enterprises
149 Rochor Road #03-28
Fu Lu Shou Complex
Singapore 188425
Tel/Fax: 6337 4734
Please contact See Lian Enterprises for price listing.

(2025 New Requirement) Programme Form

From 2025 onwards, all NAFACCOM Grade Examination candidates will be expected to complete a programme form detailing their performance.

Candidates may download the form from here:

English

Chinese

Candidate may choose to download either template but are reminded to follow the instructions listed on the respective form carefully.

Candidates will be expected to present the filled form to the camera during their filming process. You may present the document on a tablet or a printed piece of paper. Do take into consideration any lighting that may affect the presentation of the programme form on an electronic screen.

Following the instructions presented in the admission ticket, candidates must upload the same completed programme form along with their video via the link provided in the admission ticket.

Please kindly ensure that the information on the programme form is legible.

Video Requirements

Filming the video:

Please note that Examinees are expected to speak in mandarin Chinese, unless granted exemption by NAFA Examination Committee. Please write in to [email protected] to apply for exemption.

Examinees are to ensure the following video requirements are fulfilled:

Examinee’s face must be visible in the shot. (Must match the identification document as provided)

No editing, cuts or pauses are allowed for the recording. (One shot recording)

Examinees are recommended to set their recording device to airplane mode to eliminate potential disruptions to the recording.

Alternative versions or arrangements of the examination pieces are not allowed. Pieces must be taken from the NAFA Chinese Instruments Graded Exam Syllabus 2025.

Video sequence guide:

Set your device to airplane mode, and to film in:
- Horizontal Mode
- 30fps, between 480p – 720p
- Non-mirror image filming
Please kindly ensure that you are dressed appropriately and are filming your performance in a presentable environment.

Start recording.

Examinee enters the frame, with face and instrument clearly shown. The Examinee must not have any earphones or additional aids throughout the video.

After a short pause, the Examinee holds up their identification document while announcing*
1. Registered Name
2. Examination they registered for
3. Whether they are exempted from memorisation
4. FULL repertoire list, clearly stating the title of the pieces chosen and the sequence in which they will play it in.
5. Show to camera their legitimate copy of the examination book.
6. Present the completed programme form to the camera for 2 – 3 seconds. (Please ensure that the contents can be seen clearly).

Proceed to their performing spot with their instrument(s) ready.

Examinee may sit slighted slanted for ease of playing posture, as long as the playing is visible as a whole. The Examinee’s face, hands and instrument must be shown clearly in the camera frame throughout

Perform the examinable pieces. (There is no need to re-announce the title of each piece)

Uploading the video:

Compress your video to less than 300mb (if needed)^**

Retrieve your video submission link via your admission ticket.

Following the instructions in the admission ticket, access the password protected cloud folder to upload your examination video.

Wait for a confirmation email from NAFACCOM via your registered email address, stating a successful upload to CCOM’s examination system. (up to 7 working days)

^** NAFACCOM receives the right to reject any video that do not fulfil the size requirements.

Always watch the compressed video, making sure that you are satisfied with the recording before uploading to the submission folder.

There are various free internet sites that can help with video compression. NAFA does not endorse products and instead recommend that you make your own informed choices when researching third-party software.

Certification collection and Examination Results

Review of Results/Re-examination

Examinees must NOT attempt to contact the organisers or nafaccom staff members for examination results or other requests unrelated to examination enquiries.

Please note that there will be no disclosure of examination results by phone or by email.

There will be NO review of results and NO re-examination. The examiners’ decision is final.

Certification will be available by May 2026, provided by CENTRAL CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC (CCOM).

Contact Us

You may contact us via [email protected] for any enquires. Enquires to any other emails will not be given any attention. Thank you.