It is worth your looking at their syllabuses and finding out what each board offers. Pieces generally are equivalent in standard, although incongruities do appear now and again. Comparing all boards, however, reveals surprisingly few differences. The following criteria, designed to demonstrate the standard required to pass Grade 8 with honours (distinction) are published in the Guildhall's piano syllabus. They are essentially the same as the criteria used by the ABRSM; here they are included in full and act as a good guideline for all examination candidates:
Grades 1 & 2 - Musicians will be beginning to show a feeling for different styles and an elementary sense of phrase and line. They will display a basic understanding of posture and breathing and a developing control of the instrument will be evident. They will also be able to produce a good tone with some variety of dynamic, colour and articulation as appropriate to the instrument. Musicians will be accurate in time and notes, displaying an awareness of all signs of expression and articulation. Technical work will be fluent and confident. Notated music should be clearly understood and played at a speed appropriate to the grade.
Grades 3 & 4 - Performances must clearly demonstrate an understanding of style, phrasing, expression and tempo. Musicians should now begin to give more committed performances and have established a secure knowledge of notes and rhythms. Fluency and a basic understanding of the language will be expected, with evidence of an ability to control tonal contrasts, rhythm and pulse. Technical work should display a sound physical grounding and understanding. At Grade 4, musicians will begin to convey a sense of projecting their performances to the listener. A more developed awareness of the relationship between the body and the instrument should be apparent.
Grade 5 - Performances must be committed, with an understanding of musical interpretation revealed by a sense of character and style. A naturalness of expression, phrasing and a sense of line will take the listener beyond the notes. A good physical stance with the instrument must now be established. Musicians will show a flexibility towards the changing nature of the musical material within pieces. They will possess a greater range of tone colour and a firm grasp of rhythm and pulse with proficient control of speed at all tempi. The beginnings of an awareness of the significance of structure and form in interpretation will be projected.
Grades 6 & 7 - Performances should reveal musical maturity through stylish and communicative playing. Increased stamina, tone, volume, colour, speed, an ability to play counterpoint clearly and expressively, balance and spirit will be exhibited through consistent technical control of the instrument. Clear musical intent will be projected. An awareness of structure will be evident in terms of an ability to scale dynamics over a long range and to display an understanding of points of interest in form (second subjects, recapitulations or more simply the arrival to the dominant or at a double bar). Performances will be more consistent, maintaining tempo and character over longer periods.
Grade 8 - Performances must have character and individuality, demonstrated by interpretative imagination, fluency, accuracy, stamina and tone. Musicians will present assured and communicative performances within well-balanced and varied programmes, which must display a high level of technical proficiency. The musician should offer a confident platform manner, reflecting an awareness of concert giving.
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Topic: Associated Board vs. Australian Board