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Extra-curricular activities

Find advice on the best extra curricular activities in secondary schools and primary schools here.

Original poster

Should I let DD sit grade 5 theory exam

41 replies

FiveHoursSleep · 29/02/2016 18:47

on Wednesday?
She did two papers this weekend and got 61 and 67% .
She's going to do another paper over the next couple of days and do some corrections for these papers but it's obvious she is at risk of failing.
She is booked in to sit the exam this Wednesday. Should I let her try or shall we take another 3 months to get her up to speed?

OP posts:
Helenluvsrob · 29/02/2016 19:15

Go for it- she only has to pass. Unless she's the sort to be flattened by a " fail"

Original poster
FiveHoursSleep · 29/02/2016 19:23

She has ASD and will be quite upset if she fails. She usually does quite well in exams though so I do think she might just squeak through and save everyone a few months of stress!

OP posts:
TheBalefulGroke · 29/02/2016 19:25

Is the pass 70%?
I'd say go for it if so. If pass is 80%, I'd wait until next set of exams.
What does she want to get? Pass, merit or distinction?

Wafflenose · 29/02/2016 21:15

Pass is 66%. I'd go for it, as it's been paid for and prepared for. If she doesn't feel that she's passed, she can treat it as a trial run and do it again next month.

I teach a young adult with ASD, and despite being great in practice, he failed his exam at the first attempt. He was quite upset at first, but eventually took it in his stride, and sailed through the following term - he almost got a merit, and is hoping to do his Grade 6 next term.

Good luck to your DD, whatever you decide.

Musicmom1 · 29/02/2016 21:20

Hi I agree that worth carrying on with it. It is 'normal' in our musical groups for children to take it more than once - often because the first experience of an exam throws them either in their prep or on the day. So I would stress that it's good experience, they have done more than enough to pass but if they don't this time, they won't be alone retaking it. Good luck

Wafflenose · 29/02/2016 21:25

I meant next term, not next month!

Original poster
FiveHoursSleep · 29/02/2016 21:28

Pass is 66% . I don't care what she gets, a pass is fine with me/her.

OP posts:
Helenluvsrob · 29/02/2016 21:29

I might even sell it to a child with a fear of failure as a really perfect chance to learn to try and risk failing - because the consequences of failing are effectively zero. The only thing that happens if she fails is she tries again ( and if it takes ages to pass then she bypasses grade 6 and goes onto 7 , it doesn't need to hold up progress)

Original poster
FiveHoursSleep · 29/02/2016 21:30

Thanks so much. We'll crack on and stress the trial run aspect. She's sat grade 2 and 3 theory before, so she knows how it works and I think she knows enough to pass if only she'd read the bl**dy questions.

OP posts:
troutsprout · 29/02/2016 21:32

A Pass is 66%
I would just try and work out which questions she is solid on ( they are essentially the same questions on all papers aren't they?) and then try and add a few others that she can consistently get right and which bring her mark up to over 66%
Good luck to her.. I reckon it's got to be worth a shot? she's nearly there at 61 % and has passed at 67% hasn't she
My dd also doing same exam on Wednesday .Smile

Wafflenose · 29/02/2016 21:37

My DD is doing it too. In hindsight, she could have done it in November really, but I didn't know that by the closing date. We are thoroughly bored of it now. Good luck to everyone!

Icouldbeknitting · 01/03/2016 10:43

Go for it - if it's a good day then she'll pass and it's done with. If not, well she can do it again next sitting and know just how many more marks she needs to pass.

As helenluvsrob says, it's one of the few areas in life where the consequences of not passing are small. You have to pay the entry fee again but that's all.

troutsprout · 01/03/2016 12:31

Dd hasn't sat a theory exam before... Is there anything important she needs to know beforehand?
It's in a school hall in another town.
I am expecting desks in rows... Like school exam conditions...she can take in a bottle of water I presume?... Write in pencil... Take her time... Do they give them scrap paper for workings out? She says she needs this for diagrams / keyboards ( I am not musical so am pretty clueless tbh)
Anything else ?
Tia for any help you can giveSmile

aginghippy · 01/03/2016 13:08

My dd has done grade 5 theory.

Yes the desk are in rows like school exam conditions. For my dd's one they had kids taking all the grades in the same hall and they grouped them according to which exam they were doing.

They need to bring their own pencils. They are given manuscript paper they can use to work things out.

My main tip would be to make sure you arrive in plenty of time.

howabout · 01/03/2016 13:09

Just read the top tips on the ABRSM FB page. Yes take a pencil and ruler. Yes they give you scrap paper and suggest you draw a keyboard to help with interval questions. If they know what they are doing they should finish early. Mine failed to keep calm and lost loads of silly marks for missing detail on the composition section - good job she knew the rest of her stuff.

Good luck everyone!

Icouldbeknitting · 01/03/2016 14:25

Come to some arrangement about finishing - they can leave after a certain time so if you have a child like mine that has a tendency to rush through and run off you could tell them that you'll come back for them at the end. Mine had to sit there until the end of the paper because I wasn't there to pick him up (I was round the corner with a coffee but he wasn't to know)

They need a ruler - check that it's got nothing on it of a musical nature.

Musicmom1 · 01/03/2016 14:29

I agree with ICould - I told DD no one would be there until 30mins before the end. Warn your do that a lot people leave very very early (as soon as a lowed) and not to be thrown by it.

troutsprout · 01/03/2016 15:24

Ruler.. Ok
Good tip about setting an earliest time to leave.. She steams through the papers and makes silly mistakes. I'll say I won't be back until an hour and a half in
Thanks so much Smile

Wafflenose · 01/03/2016 20:58

I am actually teaching someone until 6.30 tomorrow, so I have told DD not to bother rushing, because I won't be there early. 6.40 at the earliest. She is also getting braces tomorrow! Big day for her.

Original poster
FiveHoursSleep · 02/03/2016 07:59

Oh god, it's today. Good luck to everyone else.

OP posts:
raspberryrippleicecream · 02/03/2016 08:50

Good luck to all DC doing theory today.

Echo advice about encouraging them to stay in the Exam.

Musicmom1 · 02/03/2016 08:52

Good luck everyone taking it today 😀

troutsprout · 02/03/2016 09:59

Good luck to everyone's dc Smile
Dd is just eager to get it over and done with now.. Fingers crossed she won't have to resit.

Icouldbeknitting · 02/03/2016 10:05

Good luck to all concerned. Do whatever you can to get them to stop at their desk and not come out when they think they've finished. If they have to sit there longer and check their work there's a chance of a few more marks if they find a mistake.

swarskicat · 02/03/2016 17:37

DD in there now- but no ruler!! She has not used one in practice papers so hopefully ok.

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