ABRSM exams

[alwaysonadiet1]

Does anyone know if you can take grade 5 music theory and grade 6 practical exam in the same session this year? Assuming the practical exams are up and running again by then. Grade 5 theory will be on 10 November, the practical exam could be booked in December to give time for the results. Thanks.

Bumping because I'd also like to know.

DD was planning on grade 6 practical next summer, but has done no theory exams so far.

And she won't be ready for grade 5 theory in November

I believe not but I guess it depends how long theory results take with the new system. Practical exams have been up and running since July for private visits where venues are big enough for social distancing (eg a piano for the candidates and an extra piano even if electric for the examiner, no parents in waiting room, distance between candidates and examiner). Public venues expected to follow hopefully and the new online performance only grades launch too.

i was told it was possible in certain circumstances at the board's discretion. That was before they announced today's online theory pilot though

Has anyone taken these exams and can say how long the actual grade 5 exam takes? Guidance says they have 2 hours, does it really take that long?!

Most people don't need the two hours and you can finish early if you want to. As adults and children both sit theory exams I think the longer time limits allow for all ages and working speeds.

They're allowed to leave after 45 minutes, and when DD did it, quite a lot of kids came out at that point. She and her friend had timed their last couple of practice papers, so I knew they would take about 45/50 minutes - it turned out that they had each independently decided that they would keep checking until an hour was up.
The two hours means that nobody is under time pressure, even if when they're checking they realise they've transposed the scale into the wrong key and have to start it all over again.