Practical or performance grade for grade 1 violin?

[Bearyinlove]

My child's violin teacher has asked if we would prefer our child to do the face to face practical exam or the virtual performance exam for grade 1. I am not sure which way to go. Is one better than the other? Is one easier than the other? Any advice would be much appreciated! Thanks

DC1 has a full scholarship at RCM. Started both piano and cello at the beginning of year 3 so is considered a "late starter" Did Grade 1 piano at the start of year 4 and took 2 terms between each of Grades 2 &3 skipped Grade 4 and did Grade 5 at the beginning of year 6. 18 months to do Grade 6 as needed Grade 5 theory and then did Grade 8 at the end of year 8. Skipped a lot of cello exams but did Grade 5 at the end of year 6, Grade 6 at the start of year 8 and Grade 8 at the end of year 9. So starting really young isn't necessarily a huge headstart so long as you hit grade 8 by year 8/9 but is the only person they know at RCM who started that "late"

Meant to say never had more than weekly lessons for cello and also for piano until Year 12 when at specialist music school so got 2 lessons a week on piano.

How long it takes really depends on teacher's approach. I'm a fan of doing exams at a level where they can pick up pieces fast and just need to polish them. My kids have done exams in time periods ranging from 4 weeks (too short, if it's that easy why bother taking it?), to a term and a bit (felt about right) to 9 months (too long, not fun, started too soon). Then there's the teacher who sneaks exam repertoire into lessons without telling them then says by the way x y and z are grade 2 pieces, do you fancy taking an exam?