Recommended minimum speeds for scales and arpeggios
The tables below detail recommended minimum speeds for ABRSM's scale requirements. Please make reference to the relevant syllabus. Scale books are published by ABRSM for these instruments (except Harp).
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Initial
Scales (including contrary-motion, chromatic & whole-tone)
Arpeggios (including dominant & diminished 7ths)
Grade 1
Scales (including contrary-motion, chromatic & whole-tone)
Arpeggios (including dominant & diminished 7ths)
Grade 2
Scales (including contrary-motion, chromatic & whole-tone)
Arpeggios (including dominant & diminished 7ths)
Grade 3
Scales (including contrary-motion, chromatic & whole-tone)
Arpeggios (including dominant & diminished 7ths)
Grade 4
Scales (including contrary-motion, chromatic & whole-tone)
Arpeggios (including dominant & diminished 7ths)
Grade 5
Scales (including contrary-motion, chromatic & whole-tone)
Arpeggios (including dominant & diminished 7ths)
Grade 6
Scales (including contrary-motion, chromatic & whole-tone)
Arpeggios (including dominant & diminished 7ths)
Grade 7
Scales (including contrary-motion, chromatic & whole-tone)
Arpeggios (including dominant & diminished 7ths)
Scales a 3rd apart / a 6th apart (including chromatic)
Legato scales in 3rds
Staccato scales in 3rds / in 6ths
Grade 8
Scales (including contrary-motion, chromatic & whole-tone)
Arpeggios (including dominant & diminished 7ths)
Scales a 3rd apart / a 6th apart (including chromatic)
Legato scales in 3rds
Staccato scales in 3rds / in 6ths
* All speeds relate to the rhythmic grouping 
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Grade 1
Scales
Lateral-movement exercise
Broken chords
Grade 2
Scales / Chromatic scale
Lateral-movement exercise
Arpeggios / Broken chords
Grade 3
Scales / Chromatic scales (manuals)
Arpeggios
Lateral-movement exercise a sixth apart
Scales in broken thirds (pedals)
Chromatic exercise (pedals)
Grade 4
Scales / Chromatic scales (manuals)
Scales / Chromatic scales / Broken chords (pedals)
Pedal solo (BWV 565)
Pedal solo (Vierne)
Contrary-motion scales (left hand & pedals)
Grade 5
Scales (manuals)
Scales / Chromatic scales (pedals)
Broken chords (pedals)
Pedal solo (BWV 560)
Pedal solo (BWV 680)
Broken-chord exercise (left hand & pedals)
Grade 6
Scales (manuals)
Scales / Broken chords (diminished sevenths) (pedals)
Pedal solo (BWV 531)
Pedal solo (Reger)
Chromatic scales a major tenth apart (left hand & pedals)
Study (BWV Anh. II 114)
Grade 7
Scales (manuals)
Scales a third apart (manuals)
Broken chords (dominant sevenths / diminished sevenths) (pedals)
Pedal solo (Mendelssohn)
Pedal solo (Guilmant)
Scales a tenth apart (left hand & pedals)
Study (BWV Anh. II 119)
Grade 8
Scales a third apart / Scales a sixth apart (manuals)
Scales a third apart (pedals)
Broken chords (dominant sevenths / diminished sevenths) (pedals)
Pedal solo (Böhm)
Pedal solo (Gigout)
Scales a tenth apart (left hand & pedals)
Study (BWV 448)
§ example published in ABRSM's Organ Scales, Arpeggios & Exercises (from 2011)
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Grade 1
Scales
Arpeggios
Grade 2
Scales
Arpeggios
Arpeggios (divided between the hands)
Grade 3
Scales
Arpeggios
Arpeggios (divided between the hands)
Grade 4
Scales
Specified melodic minor scales
(non-pedal harp; RH only)
Arpeggios
Arpeggios (divided between the hands)
Grade 5
Scales
Specified melodic minor scales
(non-pedal harp; RH only)Arpeggios
Arpeggios (divided between the hands)
Dominant sevenths
Dominant sevenths (divided between the hands)
Grade 6
Scales
Melodic minor scales (non-pedal harp; RH only)
Arpeggios
Arpeggios (divided between the hands)
Dominant sevenths
Dominant sevenths (divided between the hands)
Grade 7
Scales
Melodic minor scales (non-pedal harp; RH only)
Scales (in contrary motion)
Arpeggios
Arpeggios (divided between the hands)
Dominant sevenths
Dominant sevenths (divided between the hands)
Dominant sevenths (in the narrow position)
Grade 8
Scales
Melodic minor scales (non-pedal harp; RH only)
Scales (in contrary motion)
Arpeggios
Arpeggios (divided between the hands)
Arpeggios (in the narrow position)
Dominant sevenths / Diminished sevenths
Dominant sevenths / Diminished sevenths (divided between the hands)
Dominant sevenths (in the narrow position)
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Grade 1
Scales (fingers only)
Scales (thumb only)
Arpeggios
Grade 2
Scales (fingers only)
Scales (thumb only)
Chromatic scale (thumb only)
Arpeggios
Grade 3
Scales
Chromatic scale
Interval scale (together / broken)
Broken chord
Arpeggios
Grade 4
Scales
Chromatic scale
Interval scales (together / broken)
Broken chord
Arpeggios
Dominant seventh
Grade 5
Scales
Chromatic scale
Interval scales (together / broken)
Broken chord
Arpeggios
Dominant seventh / Diminished seventh
Grade 6
Scales (two octaves)
Scales (three octaves)
Chromatic scale
Interval scales (together / broken)
Broken chord
Arpeggios
Dominant seventh / Diminished seventh
Grade 7
Scales (two octaves)
Scales (three octaves)
Chromatic scale
Interval scales (together / broken)
Broken chord
Arpeggios
Dominant seventh / Diminished seventh
Grade 8
Scales (two octaves)
Scales (three octaves)
Chromatic scale
Interval scales (together / broken)
Broken chords
Arpeggios
Dominant sevenths / Diminished sevenths
-
Grade 1
Scales
Arpeggios
Grade 2
Scales
Arpeggios
Grade 3
Scales
Arpeggios
Chromatic scale
Grade 4
Scales
Arpeggios
Dominant sevenths
Chromatic scales
Grade 5
Scales
Arpeggios
Dominant sevenths / Diminished sevenths
Chromatic scales
Grade 6
Scales
Arpeggios
Dominant sevenths / Diminished sevenths
Chromatic scales
Double-stop scale (in broken steps)
Grade 7
Scales
Arpeggios
Dominant sevenths / Diminished sevenths
Chromatic scales
Double-stop scales (in broken steps)
Grade 8
Scales
Arpeggios
Dominant sevenths / Diminished sevenths
Chromatic scales
Double-stop scales (in parallel)
Double-stop scale (in broken steps)
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Grade 1
Scales
Arpeggios
Grade 2
Scales
Arpeggios
Grade 3
Scales
Arpeggios
Chromatic scale
Grade 4
Scales
Arpeggios
Dominant sevenths
Chromatic scales
Grade 5
Scales
Arpeggios
Dominant sevenths / Diminished sevenths
Chromatic scales
Grade 6
Scales
Arpeggios
Dominant sevenths / Diminished sevenths
Chromatic scales
Double-stop scale (in broken steps)
Grade 7
Scales
Arpeggios
Dominant sevenths / Diminished sevenths
Chromatic scales
Double-stop scales (in broken steps)
Grade 8
Scales
Arpeggios
Dominant sevenths / Diminished sevenths
Chromatic scales
Double-stop scales (in parallel)
Double-stop scale (in broken steps)
-
Grade 1
Scales
Arpeggios
Grade 2
Scales
Arpeggios
Grade 3
Scales
Arpeggios
Chromatic scale
Grade 4
Scales
Arpeggios
Dominant sevenths
Chromatic scales
Grade 5
Scales
Arpeggios
Dominant sevenths / Diminished sevenths
Chromatic scales
Grade 6
Scales
Arpeggios
Dominant sevenths / Diminished sevenths
Chromatic scales
Double-stop scale (in broken steps)
Grade 7
Scales
Arpeggios
Dominant sevenths / Diminished sevenths
Chromatic scales
Double-stop scale (in broken steps)
Grade 8
Scales
Arpeggios
Dominant sevenths / Diminished sevenths
Chromatic scales
Double-stop scale (in parallel)
Double-stop scales (in broken steps)
-
Grade 1
Scales
Arpeggios
Grade 2
Scales
Arpeggios
Grade 3
Scales
Arpeggios
Chromatic scale
Grade 4
Scales
Arpeggios
Dominant sevenths
Chromatic scales
Grade 5
Scales
Arpeggios
Dominant sevenths / Diminished sevenths
Chromatic scales
Grade 6
Scales
Arpeggios
Dominant sevenths / Diminished sevenths
Chromatic scales
Scale in broken thirds
Grade 7
Scales
Arpeggios
Dominant sevenths / Diminished sevenths
Chromatic scales
Double-stop scale (in broken steps)
Grade 8
Scales
Arpeggios
Dominant sevenths / Diminished sevenths
Chromatic scales
Double-stop scale (in broken steps)
Scale in running thirds
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Grade 1
Scales
Arpeggios
Grade 2
Scales
Arpeggios
Grade 3
Scales / Chromatic scale
Arpeggios
Grade 4
Scales / Chromatic scales
Arpeggios
Dominant seventh
Grade 5
Scales / Chromatic scales
Arpeggios
Dominant sevenths / Diminished seventh
Grade 6
Scales / Chromatic scales
Arpeggios
Dominant sevenths / Diminished sevenths
Scales in 3rds
Grade 7
Scales / Chromatic scales
Arpeggios
Dominant sevenths / Diminished sevenths
Scales in 3rds
Grade 8
Scales / Chromatic scales / Whole-tone scale
Arpeggios
Dominant sevenths / Diminished sevenths / Extended-range arpeggios
Scales in 3rds
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Grade 1
Scales
Arpeggios
Grade 2
Scales
Arpeggios
Grade 3
Scales / Chromatic scale
Arpeggios
Grade 4
Scales / Chromatic scales
Arpeggios
Dominant seventh
Grade 5
Scales / Chromatic scales
Arpeggios
Dominant sevenths / Diminished seventh
Grade 6
Scales / Chromatic scales
Arpeggios
Dominant sevenths / Diminished sevenths
Scales in 3rds
Grade 7
Scales / Chromatic scales
Arpeggios
Dominant sevenths / Diminished sevenths
Scales in 3rds
Grade 8
Scales / Chromatic scales / Whole-tone scale
Arpeggios
Dominant sevenths / Diminished sevenths / Extended-range arpeggios
Scales in 3rds
-
Grade 1
Scales
Arpeggios
Grade 2
Scales
Arpeggios
Grade 3
Scales / Chromatic scale
Arpeggios
Grade 4
Scales / Chromatic scales
Arpeggios
Dominant seventh
Grade 5
Scales / Chromatic scales
Arpeggios
Dominant sevenths / Diminished seventh
Grade 6
Scales / Chromatic scales
Arpeggios
Dominant sevenths / Diminished sevenths
Scales in 3rds
Grade 7
Scales / Chromatic scales
Arpeggios
Dominant sevenths / Diminished sevenths
Scales in 3rds
Grade 8
Scales / Chromatic scales / Whole-tone scale
Arpeggios
Dominant sevenths / Diminished sevenths / Extended-range arpeggios
Scales in 3rds
-
Grade 1
Scales
Arpeggios
Grade 2
Scales
Arpeggios
Grade 3
Scales / Chromatic scale
Arpeggios
Grade 4
Scales / Chromatic scales
Arpeggios
Dominant seventh
Grade 5
Scales / Chromatic scales
Arpeggios
Dominant sevenths / Diminished seventh
Grade 6
Scales / Chromatic scales
Arpeggios
Dominant sevenths / Diminished sevenths
Scales in 3rds
Grade 7
Scales / Chromatic scales
Arpeggios
Dominant sevenths / Diminished sevenths
Scales in 3rds
Grade 8
Scales / Chromatic scales / Whole-tone scale
Arpeggios
Dominant sevenths / Diminished sevenths / Extended-range arpeggios
Scales in 3rds
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Grade 1
Scales
Arpeggios
Grade 2
Scales
Arpeggios
Grade 3
Scales / Chromatic scale
Arpeggios
Grade 4
Scales / Chromatic scales
Arpeggios
Dominant seventh
Grade 5
Scales / Chromatic scales
Arpeggios
Dominant sevenths / Diminished seventh
Grade 6
Scales / Chromatic scales
Arpeggios
Dominant sevenths / Diminished sevenths
Scales in 3rds
Grade 7
Scales / Chromatic scales
Arpeggios
Dominant sevenths / Diminished sevenths
Scales in 3rds
Grade 8
Scales / Chromatic scales / Whole-tone scale
Arpeggios
Dominant sevenths / Diminished sevenths / Extended-range arpeggios
Scales in 3rds
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Grade 1
Scales
Arpeggios
Grade 2
Scales
Arpeggios
Grade 3
Scales / Chromatic scale
Arpeggios
Grade 4
Scales / Chromatic scales
Arpeggios
Dominant seventh
Grade 5
Scales / Chromatic scales
Arpeggios
Dominant sevenths / Diminished seventh
Grade 6
Scales / Chromatic scales
Arpeggios
Dominant sevenths / Diminished sevenths
Scales in 3rds
Grade 7
Scales / Chromatic scales
Arpeggios
Dominant sevenths / Diminished sevenths
Scales in 3rds
Grade 8
Scales / Chromatic scales / Whole-tone scale
Arpeggios
Dominant sevenths / Diminished sevenths / Extended-range arpeggios
Scales in 3rds
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Grade 1
Scales
Arpeggios
Grade 2
Scales
Arpeggios
Grade 3
Scales / Chromatic scale
Arpeggios
Grade 4
Scales / Chromatic scale
Arpeggios
Dominant seventh
Grade 5
Scales / Chromatic scale
Arpeggios
Dominant seventh
Grade 6
Scales / Chromatic scales
Arpeggios
Dominant seventh / Diminished seventh
Grade 7
Scales / Chromatic scales
Arpeggios
Dominant sevenths / Diminished sevenths
Grade 8
Scales / Chromatic scales / Whole-tone scales
Arpeggios
Dominant sevenths / Diminished sevenths
-
Grade 1
Scales
Arpeggios
Grade 2
Scales
Arpeggios
Grade 3
Scales / Chromatic scale
Arpeggios
Grade 4
Scales / Chromatic scale
Arpeggios
Grade 5
Scales / Chromatic scale
Arpeggios
Dominant seventh
Grade 6
Scales / Chromatic scales
Arpeggios
Dominant seventh / Diminished seventh
Grade 7
Scales / Chromatic scales
Arpeggios
Dominant sevenths / Diminished sevenths
Grade 8
Scales / Chromatic scales / Whole-tone scales
Arpeggios
Dominant sevenths / Diminished sevenths
* and Bb Cornet, Eb Soprano Cornet and Flugelhorn
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Grade 1
Scales
Arpeggios
Grade 2
Scales
Arpeggios
Grade 3
Scales / Chromatic scale
Arpeggios
Grade 4
Scales / Chromatic scale
Arpeggios
Grade 5
Scales / Chromatic scale
Arpeggios
Dominant seventh
Grade 6
Scales / Chromatic scales
Arpeggios
Dominant seventh / Diminished seventh
Grade 7
Scales / Chromatic scales
Arpeggios
Dominant sevenths / Diminished sevenths
Grade 8
Scales / Chromatic scales / Whole-tone scales
Arpeggios
Dominant sevenths / Diminished sevenths
-
Grade 1
Scales
Arpeggios
Grade 2
Scales
Arpeggios
Grade 3
Scales / Chromatic scale
Arpeggios
Grade 4
Scales / Chromatic scale
Arpeggios
Grade 5
Scales / Chromatic scale
Arpeggios
Dominant seventh
Grade 6
Scales / Chromatic scales
Arpeggios
Dominant seventh / Diminished seventh
Grade 7
Scales / Chromatic scales
Arpeggios
Dominant sevenths / Diminished sevenths
Grade 8
Scales / Chromatic scales / Whole-tone scales
Arpeggios
Dominant sevenths / Diminished sevenths
-
Grade 6
Scales / Chromatic scales
Arpeggios
Dominant seventh / Diminished seventh
Grade 7
Scales / Chromatic scales
Arpeggios
Dominant sevenths / Diminished sevenths
Grade 8
Scales / Chromatic scales / Whole-tone scales
Arpeggios
Dominant sevenths / Diminished sevenths
-
Grade 1
Scales
Arpeggios
Grade 2
Scales
Arpeggios
Grade 3
Scales / Chromatic scale
Arpeggios
Grade 4
Scales / Chromatic scale
Arpeggios
Grade 5
Scales / Chromatic scale
Arpeggios
Dominant seventh
Grade 6
Scales / Chromatic scales
Arpeggios
Dominant seventh / Diminished seventh
Grade 7
Scales / Chromatic scales
Arpeggios
Dominant sevenths / Diminished sevenths
Grade 8
Scales / Chromatic scales / Whole-tone scales
Arpeggios
Dominant sevenths / Diminished sevenths
-
Grade 1
Scales
Arpeggios
Grade 2
Scales
Arpeggios
Grade 3
Scales / Chromatic scale
Arpeggios
Grade 4
Scales / Chromatic scale
Arpeggios
Grade 5
Scales / Chromatic scale
Arpeggios
Dominant seventh
Grade 6
Scales / Chromatic scales
Arpeggios
Dominant seventh / Diminished seventh
Grade 7
Scales / Chromatic scales
Arpeggios
Dominant sevenths / Diminished sevenths
Grade 8
Scales / Chromatic scales / Whole-tone scales
Arpeggios
Dominant sevenths / Diminished sevenths
ABRSM does not publish scale books for Harpsichord or Percussion so unfortunately recommended speeds for these subjects are currently unavailable.