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Original poster

ABRSM, Trinity etc Spring session exams - who's on the bench?

218 replies

Floottoot · 06/03/2018 09:32

DS is taking grade 5 cello ABRSM next week, and I have a flute pupil taking grade 5 this week ( both dates different exam centres).
Pupil is destined for a merit, I think. Her pieces are pretty good, scales could go well if she concentrates, aurals should be fine as she's already passed grade 7 piano, but sightreading is inexplicably weak; she really struggles with rhythm, despite my best efforts and her piano experience.

DS's pieces are great, his scales are pretty secure but he's finding legato arpeggios a bit of a chore ( made harder by changing from a 1/2 size to a 4/4 size cello this term), his sightreading has the potential to be good ( he does well when I'm standing over him, cheering him on!) but he's prone to forgetting the last sharp/flat in the key signature and making the odd silly rhythm mistake, and his aurals are ok...IF he would just sing!
He's taking the exam at school, which is very convenient but does mean I won't be able to hiss last minute reminders at him!

So, what grades are other people's children/ pupils taking, and how's it all going?
As a parent of an exam child, I can now fully empathise with my own mum, who had to endure 2 of us taking exams in 3 different instruments, plus theory - much easier to be the child doing the exams! 🤣

OP posts:
CotswoldStrife · 26/03/2018 23:40

I'd have thought the medical certificate was a note from the GP, would they sign something for you? Sorry to hear about the nosebleeds.

cantkeepawayforever · 26/03/2018 23:16

Anyone know how to get a 'medical certificate'?

cantkeepawayforever · 26/03/2018 23:13

Think we may have to cancel. 5 serious nosebleeds in 10 hours, and only managed to get through 1 of his exam pieces before having to dash for the tissues.

Original poster
Floottoot · 26/03/2018 17:08

stringmealong, the dates for exam results are on the ABRSM site. It can be up to 3 weeks, so you may have a while longer to wait. I'm still waiting for results from the 8th. Unfortunately, the pupil's mum entered her, so all I can do is...wait.

OP posts:
Original poster
Floottoot · 26/03/2018 17:04

fee, not few.

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Snowyberry · 26/03/2018 17:04

Dd took grade 2 flute on Saturday. She thought it went ok. I was downstairs chatting to other parents during it. The women who host the exams found it odd that it went quiet for a while in the middle of it. Dd said the examiner was writing. I'm hoping that spending longer than normal writing isn't a sign that she failed and he was needing to spend longer explaining why!

Original poster
Floottoot · 26/03/2018 17:04

Snowy, you can retake any exam for any reason if you're happy to pay the exam few again. It can be an issue if the syllabus has changed but there is usually an overlap period, so you'd only be unlucky if your taken the exam during that period in the first place.

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Original poster
Floottoot · 26/03/2018 17:01

Bravo miniKutik! Fantastic news!
cantkeepaway, that's such a shame. 24 hours can make a big difference, so hopefully he won't be gushing tomorrow. Everything crossed for him.
Sadabout, hopefully the scale slips were insignificant overall and he will have done well in all other areas. So many scales at grade 8!

OP posts:
Snowyberry · 26/03/2018 16:57

Can they retake it if it doesn't go as well as they are capable of because of illness?

SadAboutTheBoy · 26/03/2018 16:52

Cantkeepaway - oh dear - you have our sympathy.... DS had his Grade 8 sax last week and was FULL of cold and heavily dosed up on paracetamol.
He said his pieces were fine, but his head was too foggy and his scales were a bit ropey Sad

It's such a shame, as it's his last exam.

cantkeepawayforever · 26/03/2018 16:45

(On a woodwind instrument ... just worried that he'll take one blow, erupt gorily all over the music and pass out on the floor....)

cantkeepawayforever · 26/03/2018 16:37

Well, DS has a bad cold and is now having gush-all-over-the-place nosebleeds (sent home from school today). Grade 8 in the morning is NOT what he needs right now....

stringmealong · 26/03/2018 16:04

My students took their ab exams on 14th - am I being impatient or are their results taking too long?

Kutik73 · 26/03/2018 13:19

Floot, he's got a distinction. Smile

Good luck to those who are doing exams this week!

BoundByBriars · 26/03/2018 13:12

Thanks Floottoot! I'm sure she will.

Yes, I think it might be the Prep test as her teacher did once mention it was called something else but always refers to it as preliminary. Great to hear there's no fail!

Wafflenose · 26/03/2018 12:53

If it's ABRSM, they are now outsourcing their printing/ certificates. So results used to appear online once mark sheets and certificates were in the post, and now we have to wait another 10 days (it might even be 10 working days) for the paperwork to come through. We appear to be paying the same amount for a worse service...

My little pupil took her exam on March 20th, so I'll be looking out for her result next week.

Original poster
Floottoot · 26/03/2018 12:47

How did he do, Kutik?
Yes, my DS also plays better when the 'red light' is on!

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Kutik73 · 26/03/2018 12:39

DS did his exam on 7th and got the result on 21st. But no report nor certificate yet. The teacher said it would take time so it may be until DS goes back to school.

Original poster
Floottoot · 26/03/2018 12:14

Still waiting for a pupil's grade 5 results from 08/03. DS has broken up fro the Easter holidays, so he won't get his results until he goes back to school in 3 weeks' time.

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Original poster
Floottoot · 26/03/2018 12:03

Also, if it's the ABRSM prep test, it's very relaxed and there is no pass or fail.

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Kutik73 · 26/03/2018 11:59

Some children even play better when it's an 'occasion'.
That's my DS exactly.

Original poster
Floottoot · 26/03/2018 11:53

Boundbybriars, I'm sure her teacher's confidence in her is well placed. IME, young students don't feel the weight of expectation as much as older/more experienced students, so she will probably play wonderfully. 😀 Some children even play better when it's an 'occasion'.

OP posts:
Trumpetboysmum · 26/03/2018 11:35

Posted too soon !! Put off exams for life as she's doing grade 1 piano next term

Trumpetboysmum · 26/03/2018 11:34

Dd has her grade one cornet on Friday mostly ok I think apart from the odd slip so I'm sure she's passed and mist importantly hasn't h

BoundByBriars · 26/03/2018 10:14

My DD (7) has her prelim violin exam this week, does that count?!

I've no idea what to expect. Her teacher has been enthusiastic all along about getting her to this level and is 100% confident she'll pass, which is great, but I'm a little worried that it's an early age to be spooked and put off exams.

She is consistently good at all aspects of playing and sight reading but does tend to catch another string every now and then, especially when she's rushing.

She played for a small group last week, which went really well actually so perhaps she is better under pressure than I ever was and I shouldn't worry!