Guitar ABRMS grade 2 how tough is the marking

[Sata]

My son did his grade 2 guitar exam a week ago and came home a bit tearful saying he had, "mucked everything up". He was quite nervous before the exam. He is 12 years old and when he says things didn't go well he is usually reflecting on reality.
I told him examiners are aware of children being nervous and would take that into consideration and as he had worked hard for the exam perhaps he could give himself some credit for all his hard work. Nonetheless, I think if he doesn't pass he will be very disappointed. Does anyone have any experience with exams at this beginning stage? Do the examiners take nerves into consideration or do they follow a checklist without deviation?

[horseymum]

Hopefully the teacher has prepared him well so even if he drops down a bit from his best, he will still do fine. Is it his first music exam? Most people do slightly less well in an exam than they can do in lessons/ at home, nerves do play a part. The examiners know this although grade two is the third exam for some kids who might have done prep test and grade one. They are all marked to criteria available on the website. It's fine to have a few slips though, mine have messed up scales, not really done the clapping etc and still done fine. Examiners mark from the pass mark up or down I think. Guitar is tricky but lovely. Hopefully even if he doesn't get the mark he wanted, he knows it is just one opinion of one performance on one day.

[horseymum]

Oh and we always do cake at a cafe after exam as reward for hard work, rather than result

[JanglyBeads]

Examiners are definitely aware of likely nerves OP! Whatever mark he gets, the feedback should be encouraging at this level.

[Sata]

Thank you for the lovely messages. This is not my son's first exam he did grade one during Covid so we did a video recording. He passed with distinction but the process of recording was stressful and time-consuming.
Approximately how long between the exam and the results?

[horseymum]

Sometimes only 2/3 days. The recording is definitely more stressful especially when pieces get longer and you have to redo. Playing to a person is better I think for many people. I hope he gets opportunities to perform as well and share his music. Is he in an ensemble? Guitar can be a bit of a lonely instrument sometimes but I lived being in a classical guitar ensemble.