Since 1992, the principal activity of TIKM is to organize standardized Carnatic music and Bharathanatyam dance examinations for Canadian students. These annual exams are held in Toronto during the autumn months. The last examination cycle in 2006 contained over 2000 applicants from 100+ teachers.

Originally, the tests were administered in the following subjects: vocal, violin, veena, flute, and mrudangam. In 2002, Bharathanatyam dance was also introduced. These exams consist of seven grades, and have been modelled after similar testing centres in South India and Sri Lanka. Other than the introductory Grade 1, which contains only of a practical component, all subsequent grades require successful completion of both the practical and the theoretical elements. From Grade 4 onwards, an oral component is also introduced, and this level represents the informal watershed between junior and senior students. The final Grade 7 exams have a significant teaching component in order to prepare graduates for music education. In these tests, successful students are graded by a panel of impartial judges into 4 categories: distinction (75-100%), first division (65-74%), second division (55-64%), and ordinary pass (45-54%). These candidates are given their certificates and plaques (for distinction and first division students) during the Isai Vizha celebrations held during the late winter months. Besides these 4 categories, two other divisions are used for unsuccessful candidates: “referred” (for a pass in the practical, but a failure in the theory), and “unsuccessful” (for failure in both practical and theory components). These candidates must rewrite their tests in the next examination cycle in order to apply for any subsequent grades. As of 2005, only 4 students have graduated from the Grade 7 exams held by TIKM. These are:

Abhiramy Vivekananthan (Violin, 2001)

Jamuna Jeyanthy Lankeswaran (Violin, 2003)

Surenthar Tharmalingam (Violin, 2003 and Vocal, 2003)

Sujeenthar Tharmalingam (Mrudangam, 2004)