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

[Floottoot]

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! 🤣

Hmm... the only time I saw a comment was G5 percussion where DS1 got distinctions for the drum work and fell apart on his xylophone piece! I think the examiner wanted to reinforce the positives!

We did ABRSM this session and in November. In November the exam was on a Monday and we had the results the following Weds. This time, the exam was on a Tuesday and the results came the following Thursday. In November the email telling me that the results were ready came about a week after the results were actually available on the website so it's worth checking even before the email arrives!

Good luck to everyone still waiting!

My Trinity results are in after 7 days, and all got general remarks. With ABRSM I find that just depends on the examiner!

I had a Grade 1 Recorder, who scored low 70s so came in just below a merit, and three Initial Recorders, who all got merits (highest was mid-80s) so all successfully through for now. Two clarinets to go later in the week.

Congrats on your pupils' success, Waffle.

People talk about checking on the website or receiving an email from ABRSM but it's never happened to me. I assume it's because I've never entered DS by myself. All the results were and will be announced via the teacher.

According to Japanese's theory we should hear any time soon.

You have to be an applicant to check results online. They now appear 10 days before the certificates and mark sheets, because ABRSM have outsourced their printing or something. The email rarely arrives.

Thanks Kutik!

Just checked, from 16 exams sat, I could only find 2 mark sheets. But 1 merit and 1 distinction and both had comments in the box at the bottom.

Just asked my examiner friend toclarify about comments in the bottom box. She says examiners are discouraged unless it's a fail, a distinction of 2 marks be!is a merit of distinction ( I believe 119 and 129 marks aren't awarded).

below

DD did Trinity Grade 3 singing on 8th March and heard back on 16th that she got a distinction . She always seems to be at the lower end of distinction whether it’s ABRSM or Trinity but is happy. She thinks her pieces were probably the best part; hopefully will get a breakdown at her lesson on Thursday

Well done, MiniMiranda!
A distinction is a distinction, low or high, so she did wonderfully!

Thank you -she has a friend who is a) very musical b) practises more than DD and gets higher distibctions but seems a reasonable payback for her harder work (DD does practise but not as much )

3rd and final exam of March done. Good luck to everyone still to do exams

Well done to all those who have already taken exams...and their long-term suffering parents!
Looking forward to heading how they've all done.

Back on the bench now for a pupil's Grade 2 Clarinet yesterday and Rara's Grade 3 Clarinet today. She was fairly pleased but won't set any records because of some (admittedly funny) blunders!

Fairly pleased is great in my book, Waffle - there's always going to be bits that could have gone better, but as long as they're happy mostly, that's really positive.

Distinction for Rara despite some hilariously daft moments! I'm pleased - her expression and phrasing are out of this world, but she can be erratic and do her own thing at times!

Fantastic! Well done, Rara, that is wonderful!

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!

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

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

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'.

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

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

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.