Music Teachers’ Board Exams

What Music Teachers’ Board Exams does

Music Teachers' Board (MTB) Exams is an Ofqual-regulated awarding body operating a global, app-delivered music examination platform. Founded in 2011 (with first Ofqual-regulated qualifications launched March 2019), MTB offers graded instrumental assessments from Pre-Grade through Grade 8 across 26+ instruments spanning Classical, Contemporary, Carnatic, and Sikh Sacred Music traditions, plus Music Theory qualifications, Performance Diplomas (AMTB, LMTB), and Music Teaching qualifications. The company is headquartered in London, UK, with a regional India site (india.mtbexams.com) serving South Asia and the UAE/GCC.

The core technology is the MTB Exam Management System — a cloud-based portal paired with the Record & Submit 2021 mobile app (Android and iOS) that allows teachers, candidates and parents to record video exams on a phone or tablet, review, and submit online. Exams are marked exclusively by instrument-specialist examiners (a piano exam marked only by a piano specialist) and results are delivered within approximately two weeks, with certificates in 4–6 weeks. An Interactive Music Theory platform, produced in partnership with Artusi, offers Learn, Practice and Exam tiers from Foundation to Grade 6 in both British and American terminology versions. Qualifications carry Ofqual recognition and Grades 6–8 carry UCAS tariff points equivalent to legacy boards.

MTB monetises primarily through per-exam entry fees (₹4,190–₹24,490 in India for practical grades and diplomas, with separate UK GBP pricing) plus sales of digital and paperback graded handbooks, annual subscriptions for theory courses and practice, and music teaching credentialing exams. Distribution is entirely self-serve and digital: candidates, parents, teachers, or schools purchase directly via the website or app, with teachers acting as authorised exam centres that oversee their students' recordings. Go-to-market is product-led and community-led, relying on free webinars, organic social, third-party blog reviews (Piano Dao), and word-of-mouth through the 4,000+ registered exam centres across 50+ countries. MTB is privately held with no disclosed external funding and is led by Mark Kesel (Chief Examiner), David Kesel (Managing Director), and Andrew Harland (Chief Executive).

Name

Music Teachers’ Board Exams

Legal name

Music Teachers' Board

Website

https://india.mtbexams.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Music Teachers' Board Exams is an Ofqual-regulated music awarding body that delivers app-based graded instrumental, theory and diploma exams across 26+ instruments to teachers, schools and individual candidates in 50+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Music Examination Services

NAICS

Testing Laboratories and Services (54138)

SIC

Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)

akta.pro primary industry

Music Exam Prep & Certification (ABRSM, Trinity, RCM, AP Music Theory) (EDAMANAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

National/State Examination Boards & Testing Agencies (EDADAFAA), Certification & Licensing Exam Management Platforms (EDAFADAG)

Keywords

• Music examination services
• Graded music assessments
• Music theory platform
• Music education certification
• Instrumental grade exams

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Exam Entry Fees: Candidates or teachers pay a fee per exam entry (Practical Grades, Performance Grades, Performance Diplomas, Music Theory Exams) upon making an entry. Entries can be made by the teacher/school or directly by the candidate/parent. Each exam entry grants one attempt, usable within one year of purchase.
2. Handbook Sales (Digital & Paperback): MTB sells graded handbooks for individual instruments (Piano, Violin, Flute, Carnatic Vocal, etc.) in both digital (downloadable PDF) and paperback formats. These handbooks contain recital pieces, technical exercises, reading skills, and listening skills for each grade.
3. Music Theory Products (Courses, Practice, Exams): MTB sells three tiers of music theory products: Learning Courses (instructional chapters + interactive questions), Practice (unlimited randomised questions/exams), and graded certificated Exams. Theory Courses and Practice grant access for one year after purchase.
4. Music Teaching Exams: MTB offers Level 2, Level 3, AMTB, and LMTB music teaching qualification exams for teachers seeking professional credentials.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

MTB operates an Ofqual-regulated music examination board that delivers graded instrumental exams (Practical Grades, Performance Grades, Performance Diplomas), music theory qualifications, and music teaching certifications across 32 instruments. Candidates record exams via the MTB Record & Submit app or webcam and submit through the cloud-based Exam Management System, where instrument specialist examiners mark recordings and issue certificates. Complementary offerings include interactive music theory courses, digital and paperback graded handbooks, and a free choice repertoire approval service.

Product overview

Music Teachers' Board (MTB Exams) is an Ofqual-regulated music examination board offering a portfolio of online-proctored and app-delivered music qualifications. The core offering consists of three types of graded instrumental exams: Practical Grades (recital + technical + musicianship), Performance Grades (recital-only with target duration), and Performance Diplomas (AMTB and LMTB professional-level diplomas). These are supported by MTB Interactive Music Theory (Learn/Practice/Exam tiers, produced with Artusi), the MTB Record & Submit mobile app for video exam recording and submission, and a catalogue of digital and paperback handbooks. MTB also provides a Free Choice Repertoire option with an optional approval service, free technical and musicianship exercises, and a global network of over 4,000 registered exam centres across 50+ countries. Syllabuses span 32 instruments including classical, contemporary, Carnatic Violin, Carnatic Vocal, and Sikh Sacred Music, with exams recorded on the MTB app and submitted online to be marked by instrument specialist examiners.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• MTB Interactive Music Theory: Interactive music theory platform developed in partnership with Artusi, offering Learn, Practice, and Exam modes for music theory education.
• MTB Record & Submit App
• MTB Performance Diplomas

Products and services

• MTB Practical Grades Ofqual-regulated instrumental assessments covering Pre-Grade through Grade 8 across 32 instruments. Each exam includes a Recital section (3 pieces, 60 marks), a Technical section (scales and exercises, 25 marks), and a Musicianship section (reading and listening skills or duet, 15 marks), marked out of 100 by instrument-specialist examiners.
• MTB Performance Grades An alternative qualification to Practical Grades, assessing a candidate's ability to present a recital programme of 4–5 pieces with a target duration. No technical or musicianship exercises are required. Available Pre-Grade through Grade 8 and provides the same UCAS tariff points as Practical Grades 6–8.
• MTB Performance Diplomas (AMTB & LMTB) Professional-level qualifications beyond Grade 8: Associate of the Music Teachers' Board (AMTB) and Licentiate of the Music Teachers' Board (LMTB). Both comprise a videoed recital with a target duration including a set work plus additional pieces, marked by specialist examiners.
• MTB Interactive Music Theory Online, interactive music theory platform with three product tiers: Learn (instructional courses), Practice (unlimited randomised practice questions), and Exam (Ofqual-regulated graded qualifications). Available from Foundation to Grade 6, with British and American terminology versions, and produced in partnership with Artusi. Grade 6 Theory Course, Practice & Exam launched in April 2025 to complete the upper-tier offering.
• MTB Record & Submit Mobile App Mobile application for Android and iOS that enables teachers, candidates, and parents to record music exams in video on a phone or tablet, photograph sheet music, review and save recordings, and submit exams directly to MTB for marking, without requiring a separate recording device. Free to download from Google Play and Apple App Store.
• MTB Handbooks (Digital & Paperback) Digital and paperback handbooks for each instrument and grade, containing recital repertoire lists, technical exercises, reading skills, listening skills, and supporting materials. Available for Classical, Contemporary, Carnatic Violin, Carnatic Vocal, Sikh Sacred Music, and other syllabuses.
• MTB Free Choice Approval Service Optional paid service where teachers or candidates can submit free choice repertoire for review and approval by MTB's team before preparing it for a diploma exam. Approved pieces are added to MTB's internal approved list and do not require re-approval for future submissions.
• MTB Music Teaching Exams Level 2, Level 3, AMTB, and LMTB music teaching qualification exams for individuals seeking to qualify as music teachers, aligned with Ofqual's Regulated Qualifications Framework.
• MTB Carnatic Violin Syllabus Ofqual-regulated graded Carnatic Violin syllabus for Indian classical violin, co-developed with SaPa (Subcontinental Music Academy). Includes compositions with Indian and Western notation, available with digital and paperback handbooks.
• MTB Carnatic Vocal Syllabus Ofqual-regulated graded Carnatic Vocal syllabus co-developed with SaPa (Subcontinental Music Academy). Available from Pre-Grade Introductory through Grade 5, with digital and paperback handbooks containing Indian and Western notation.
• MTB Sikh Sacred Music Exams & Books MTB Sikh Sacred Music graded exams and accompanying books, covering Pre-Grade Higher through Grade 2 (with Grades 3–5 forthcoming).

Quantifiable outcome

• Results delivered within approximately 2 weeks of submission
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• ArtusicoreTechnology or IntegrationMTB partnered with Artusi to develop its Interactive Music Theory platform. Artusi provided the underlying technology enabling interactive music theory learning, practice, and examination — including note placement on staves, virtual keyboard interaction, and randomised question generation. MTB Theory is available in both British and American terminology versions.
• SaPa (Subcontinental Music Academy)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMTB partnered with SaPa (Subcontinental Music Academy) to co-develop and launch its Carnatic music syllabuses, including Carnatic Violin and Carnatic Vocal. SaPa is a leading Indian music education institution that helped create culturally authentic and pedagogically rigorous content for these syllabuses, reflecting both Indian and Western musical notations.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• ABRSM (Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music): The dominant global music examination board, founded 1889 and jointly run by the Royal Schools of Music. ABRSM offers graded instrumental and theory exams across 35+ instruments and is MTB's principal direct competitor, with overlapping syllabuses, Ofqual regulation, and UCAS points. MTB explicitly positions against ABRSM's generalist examiner model and rigid exam periods.
• Trinity College London: Long-established UK awarding body (founded 1877) offering graded music exams (classical, jazz, rock & pop), music theory, and music teaching qualifications. Directly comparable to MTB in product mix, Ofqual regulation, UCAS tariff eligibility, and teacher-targeted GTM. Leena Mistry (MTB's Head of Teacher Relationships) was previously a consultant for Trinity Laban.
• RSL Awards (Rockschool): UK-based awarding body specialising in contemporary and popular music grades (Rock, Pop, Jazz, Classical), regulated by Ofqual. Directly comparable to MTB in offering graded exams, video-recorded submission options, and UCAS points for higher grades. RSL is a more focused contemporary-music competitor.
• London College of Music Examinations (LCME): University of West London-affiliated awarding body offering graded music exams (classical, contemporary, jazz), music theatre, and music teaching diplomas. Ofqual-regulated and a direct competitor to MTB at the diploma and graded levels, particularly for UK and international candidates.
• Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM Canada): Canadian music education institution offering graded music exams (Classical, Popular, Jazz) and assessments with global reach. Comparable to MTB in offering syllabuses, assessments, and credentials — although RCM operates predominantly in North America, its remote/recorded exam model overlaps with MTB's flexibility positioning.

Regional players

• Australian Music Examinations Board (AMEB): Australia's principal music examination board offering graded music exams across classical, contemporary, and speech/drama disciplines. Operates primarily in Australia and the Asia-Pacific region but does not directly compete with MTB in the UK or India markets; comparable in exam-board model and Ofqual-equivalent regulatory oversight.

Broad incumbents

• Berklee Online: Online music education arm of Berklee College of Music offering certificates, courses, and degree programmes. Not a direct exam-board competitor but represents a broader incumbent in music credentials, certificate issuance, and online music learning — relevant to MTB's Interactive Music Theory positioning and recurring subscription revenue streams.
• Pearson Edexcel: Global education and assessment company offering regulated qualifications (including BTEC and Edexcel awards). Not a music-specialist board but represents a broad incumbent in regulated UK awarding, Ofqual accreditation, and international credentialing infrastructure — relevant as both a potential partner and competitor for regulated music assessment offerings.

Others

• Artusi (partner; adjacent technology peer): Interactive music-theory technology platform that powers MTB's Interactive Music Theory product. Artusi is a technology enabler/partner rather than a competitor, but its capabilities (note placement on staves, virtual keyboard, randomised questions) position it as an adjacent player in interactive music learning that could compete or partner with other exam boards.
• SaPa (Subcontinental Music Academy): Leading Indian music education institution that co-developed MTB's Carnatic Violin and Carnatic Vocal syllabuses. SaPa is a content/co-development partner rather than a direct competitor, but its prominence in Indian music education makes it a strategic adjacency — and potentially a future competitor if it pursues its own regulated exam offerings.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/MTBExams
• Facebookfacebook.com/MTBExams
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mtb-exams-ltd

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Music Teachers’ Board Exams