Start with your exam subject: for piano technique, a digital piano with weighted, touch-sensitive keys and a suitable sustain pedal is an obvious choice; for an electronic keyboard exam, the required sounds and accompaniment functions are what matter. Then check the syllabus, key range, pedal setup and headphone connection. Headphones won’t automatically make the physical sound of the keys or pedal inaudible.
If you’re taking a piano exam, start by checking the requirements of your chosen exam route. For its Practical Piano Grades, ABRSM allows a digital piano subject to conditions covering areas such as piano sound and weighted, touch-sensitive keys. EPTA Netherlands runs its own piano exam route.
If you’re taking a keyboard exam, you may need a range of sounds, chords and accompaniment patterns. Trinity College London describes these skills for its electronic keyboard route, so choose an instrument that suits your grade and pieces.
If you want to disturb others at home as little as possible, look for a headphone connection and consider how you’ll set up your practice space. Bear in mind that keys and pedals can still make physical noise even when the speakers aren’t playing.
Choose this option: if you need to practise piano technique, dynamics and sustain. ABRSM sets requirements for the piano sound and keyboard in its Practical Piano Grades.
Keep in mind: the space needed for your setup and the pedal arrangement; a compatible pedal unit may be an optional extra.
Choose this option: if your exam requires a range of sounds and accompaniment patterns. Match the features and key range to your chosen grade and pieces.
Keep in mind: touch sensitivity doesn’t automatically mean the keys are weighted like those on a piano-focused instrument.
The points below will help you choose an instrument that suits your exam subject, listening preferences and available practice space.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who should pay particular attention? |
|---|---|---|
| Touch and pedal | Check the key action, touch sensitivity, sustain pedal and the requirements of your exam organisation. | If I’m practising piano pieces with dynamics and pedal use, I want the keyboard and pedal to suit my exam route. This is a priority for around 34% of consumers who put piano technique first. |
| Quiet practice | Check the headphone connection and the type of plug required. Try the setup in your practice space and start at a low listening volume. | If I’m playing at home while others are around, I want to listen through headphones without assuming the keys and pedal will be silent. This matters to around 33% of consumers who want to disturb others as little as possible. |
| Keyboard features | Compare the sounds, accompaniment functions and key range you need with the syllabus and pieces for your grade. | If my keyboard exam requires sounds and accompaniment, I want to be able to practise those features on my instrument. Around 20% of consumers are mainly looking for keyboard features suited to their exam. |
| Space for your setup | Measure the space for the instrument, stand, chair and pedal, then compare it with the dimensions of the model you’re considering. | If my practice space is limited, the whole setup needs to fit without restricting the range of my exam pieces. Available space is the deciding factor for around 13% of consumers. |
A keyboard can have touch-sensitive keys and accompaniment functions without being a digital piano with weighted keys. Yamaha describes the PSR-E383 as having 61 touch-sensitive keys and automatic accompaniment styles; ABRSM has separate requirements for the keyboard and pedal in its Practical Piano Grades.
Choose your exam route first, then compare the required key action and features. Don’t use ABRSM’s requirements as a general standard for a keyboard exam.
What’s included varies by model and version. Yamaha lists the LP-5A three-pedal unit for the P-145 as optional; Kawai lists the HML-2 stand and F-351 three-pedal unit for the ES120 as optional. Casio lists an SP-3 damper pedal as included with the CDP-S110.
Check what’s included with the exact version and whether the pedal offers the function your pieces require.
You may need to buy a suitable stand or pedal separately for some setups.
Headphones change how you hear the electronic sound, but they won’t necessarily make the physical sound of the keys or pedal inaudible.
Try the complete setup in a similar room and keep the listening volume moderate.
The models listed offer a range of piano-focused and keyboard-focused features. Compare them with the requirements of your own exam route.
The P-145 is a piano-focused model, while the PSR-E383 is a keyboard with accompaniment styles.
The CDP-S110 is a piano-focused model to consider if you’re looking for a hammer action and a headphone connection.
The FP-10 is a piano-focused alternative for playing through built-in speakers or headphones.
The ES120 offers a portable digital piano option with additional pedal choices.
You can for ABRSM Practical Piano Grades, provided the digital piano meets the published requirements. These include a recognisable piano sound, full-size weighted, touch-sensitive keys and a sustain pedal. This doesn’t automatically confirm that the instrument will be accepted by EPTA or another exam organisation, so check the requirements for your own exam route.
ABRSM allows new repertoire from 2027–2028 to be used from 1 January 2027. According to ABRSM, repertoire from the 2025–2026 syllabus remains valid until 31 December 2027. During the overlap, all three selected pieces must come from the same syllabus.
Connect suitable headphones and start at a low volume. The World Health Organization recommends keeping the volume below 60% of the maximum on personal audio devices and taking listening breaks. This is listening advice, not a product specification or a legal limit in the Netherlands.
Check that the stand and pedal are designed for the exact model, and follow the manufacturer’s assembly instructions. In the FP-10 manual, Roland warns that incorrect placement on a stand can cause instability and injury.
According to ACM ConsuWijzer, online product purchases generally come with a statutory 14-day cooling-off period from the day after delivery, subject to exceptions. You’re also entitled to a product that, under normal use, does what you could reasonably expect. This doesn’t automatically mean a fixed two-year guarantee period.
