About TIME

Music is a subject of great importance in developing quality of life. At this time music education is a necessity and is given a high importance from Thai society. However, there are still missing objectives in education including a missing management system of standards of academic music knowledge, as well as a missing creation of those standards. 

Music students, music teachers, and parents have depended on music equivalency exams issued from international exam organizations that have been used in Thailand. These exam systems were initially brought to Thailand in 1963, but have been used primarily for the business purposes of those organizations. These exams did not help to develop academic knowledge of music in the country.

The College of Music, Mahidol University is a leading music institute in Thailand and has been recognized at an international level. It is prepared in every way, including in personnel and equipment for teaching and learning, as well as in the creation of a system to manage the measurement of standards of knowledge in music.  

The College of Music, Mahidol University has received the acknowledgement and expectations from society to develop a system of education in music for the country. Therefor the College of Music created the plan to establish the Thailand International Music Examination (TIME), to be the central agency for examinations to measure standards of knowledge in music for the country. This will improve the standards of music education and lead to excellence in the science of music in the forms of Thai music, Folk music, and Western music. 

The exam measurement standards in music of the Thailand International Music Examination will help students who study music at special music schools (category 15-2), which are popular throughout the entire country. It will also help all students under the Office of Basic Education, Ministry of Education, including more than 10 million students, who study music as a compulsory subject in schools. Students who study music in these music programs can use the TIME exam system to measure the standards of their music knowledge. This will influence the academic development of music in Thailand to be stronger.

Applicant Qualifications

The Thailand International Music Examination, College of Music, provides the opportunity for music students of every age and level to be able to choose to apply for the exam at his or her level. There is no restriction concerning prerequisites before taking any exam, but applicants need to have a recommendation from an instructor in order to place them in the exam level that most closely matches their knowledge. In the case that an applicant is less than 18 years old, he or she needs to have a guardian or instructor that is responsible for the applicant to prevent any problems that might arise. In the case that any errors occur from the applicant, the Thailand International Music Examination will not be held responsible.

Exam Levels

The Thailand International Music Examination, operated by the College of Music, Mahidol University, offers exams for Theory, which includes exams for Western Music Theory and Musicianship. Examinees that pass the required standard (by receiving a score required by the College of Music) are able to use their Exam Certificate as evidence for entrance into the College of Music, Mahidol University in the levels of Pre-College, Undergraduate, and Graduate. 

Evaluation

All examinees for the performance exams will receive suggestions and a written exam evaluation sheet. This will allow the exam committee to communicate the performance aspects that were played well, as well as the aspects that should be improved. The applicant should share the assessment with his or her teacher to help in correcting any problems. For the grades of the theory exams, applicants are able to check the results on the website. The theory exam results are important for the applicants and teachers to check so they will have confidence in the success of the learning process before proceeding to another exam at a higher level.  

Certificates

To certify the exam results, the Thailand International Music Examination provides exam certificates that certify the results of the exam for every level and every applicant. Certificates will be issued for examinees that pass the exams following the regulations of the program for Performance and Theory.