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Extra-curricular activities

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Original poster

ABRSM music theory exams

42 replies

Butternutissquashed · 27/06/2023 19:16

DD did her grade 5 music theory exam a couple of weeks ago. Does anyone know how long results are taking to come back at the moment?

OP posts:
hettiethehare · 27/06/2023 19:18

Our school emailed that it’s 28 days.

Fruitloopcowabunga · 27/06/2023 19:20

4 weeks earlier this spring - and what a miserable hassle it was to do the exam online in the 1st place

hettiethehare · 27/06/2023 19:22

DD has just got her link through - I haven't read the finer details yet but was it as complicated as my initial readthrough suggests to do the online set up?

We've done online exams before (11+ was during worst of covid and she did a couple of Performance exams as well) but this seems worse.

Original poster
Butternutissquashed · 27/06/2023 19:27

We left the exam until day 27/28 and then it was a bit of a rush job. I had to leave her to it really as I had a work emergency so am hopeful that she did it properly. There seemed to be a lot of steps with the room scan, showing of paper, picture ID and ripping up of said paper. No idea if she passed, based on what she said. She’s pretty much ready to go on grade 6 on 2 instruments so hopefully, she will have passed…

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ContractQuestion · 27/06/2023 19:29

We're waiting til the end of term to enter - shes skipping grade 6 on her instruments (well her teacher heard her 3 peices etc) And she's gone onto grade 7/8 combined as we thought it might just take forever.

I'm nervous about putting her in until I'm sure she will pass though!

SertralineAndTherapy · 27/06/2023 19:32

I am doing degree-course exams online.

There was far less security faff with those than for DS's online Grade 5 Music Theory!

ContractQuestion · 27/06/2023 19:47

Oh gosh what's it like? We haven't yet booked ours (will do in a couple of weeks)

She can sit it whenever can't she when we do? There isn't someone literally watching?

nosykids · 28/06/2023 13:47

I think I read online that it is 28 days - and such a faff to do it online.

My dd has swapped to Trinity for G6 - once she's done her G5 theory we will swap back I suppose, but I have found that I actually really like Trinity, so we may not bother.

minisnowballs · 28/06/2023 13:55

Yes, you can sit whenever in the time after you've booked it - and then they release the results four weeks later. The 'procters' record and watch back later, so you don't have to book a slot or anything. It is a faff with a room scan and ID needed etc, and it is definitely worth checking the child understands the process and how to click and drag answers etc beforehand.

It has got much better since my dd2 sat it during Covid at the pilot attempt when the tech kept failing spectacularly and you had to take it at a specific point, and generally it does work now.

Original poster
Butternutissquashed · 29/06/2023 06:15

Thanks. I thought that I’d read 28 days somewhere, but was just hopeful that it wouldn’t be too long.

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northerngoldilocks · 03/07/2023 10:27

28 days and also pretty much to the hour for results releasing. Yes the system is a faff but if you follow the steps and watch the videos before its generally ok. You can enter the exam and pay and then you have (i think) 28 days in which to sit the exam. Then it always without fail takes 28 days to come back. Good luck to all, its stressful waiting as its always the key to continuing with practical exams.

Original poster
Butternutissquashed · 08/07/2023 14:42

Day 21 now. Trying to encourage her to actually play but she’s so convinced she’s failed, she’s lost enthusiasm for the grade 6 stuff! Hopefully, by this time next week…

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hettiethehare · 12/07/2023 09:40

Bloody hell - DD is doing hers now and it was a right stress setting it all up. We watched the video and read the guidance, but couldn’t remember whether we were supposed to show both sides of the blank paper during the room scan or not. Couldn’t go back to retake room scan so contacted support and they were helpful (we needed to show blank paper at start of exam when recording) but then I nearly logged out of the whole system as there is a big red button saying close and I didn’t know whether that was to close support or the whole application! Luckily support person was still on the chat so I asked him and he was all DO NOT PRESS THE RED BUTTON - and there were some not very obvious tabs to get back to the exam.

Just a massive stress that was not needed at the start of the exam - DD was less bothered than me though.

Another76543 · 14/07/2023 06:43

We’ve had previous theory results back exactly 28 days after the exam. I have to say, the online system is a bit of a pain and I think it could be improved. For example, it would be helpful if they reminded you to show your blank paper and rip it up, at the times you’re supposed to. It’s sometimes difficult for children (and adults) to remember what to do, and when, given they’re probably a bit nervous whilst sitting the exam.

Original poster
Butternutissquashed · 15/07/2023 11:45

Day 28 today… no result! I’m not 100% convinced that she did it properly mind.

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Another76543 · 15/07/2023 11:56

Butternutissquashed · 15/07/2023 11:45

Day 28 today… no result! I’m not 100% convinced that she did it properly mind.

I read somewhere that it was 28 days to the nearest hour! I don’t know how true that is. Can you remember what time she sat it?

ContractQuestion · 15/07/2023 14:53

We're booking ours soon. She's finished the "course" at the local music centre but I don't think she's actually ready. She needs to revise but has endoftermitis and reluctance.

I was hoping to book with. Clear month to resit before school term starts but its not looking so likely that I can book just yet!

Original poster
Butternutissquashed · 15/07/2023 16:07

Another76543 · 15/07/2023 11:56

I read somewhere that it was 28 days to the nearest hour! I don’t know how true that is. Can you remember what time she sat it?

Show quote history

It was about 3 o clock I think. Seemed to go on forever.

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Original poster
Butternutissquashed · 15/07/2023 17:55

28 days to the hour! Failed by 1 mark! At least she knows what to do with the set up next time….

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Another76543 · 15/07/2023 18:00

Butternutissquashed · 15/07/2023 17:55

28 days to the hour! Failed by 1 mark! At least she knows what to do with the set up next time….

Oh no 😢. Yes, the set up is a total pain. Hopefully she can see where the marks were dropped on the mark sheet. We are waiting on grade 5 theory results here too….!

hettiethehare · 16/07/2023 19:08

Butternutissquashed · 15/07/2023 17:55

28 days to the hour! Failed by 1 mark! At least she knows what to do with the set up next time….

Oh, gutting! Hopefully all will run smoothly next time!

Another76543 · 28/07/2023 21:25

It’s almost 4 weeks since my child took G5 theory, and I know results take 28 days. However, I’ve just had a thought. School was the “applicant” (I have an account and can access previous results)

The ABRSM say that the results are released to the applicant first, and that another email will be sent to account holders 7 days later.

Does that mean only school will be notified initially? Will I be able to see the result online if I log in, or will we have to wait a further week?

School send us results straight away normally, but obviously it’s the summer holidays.

northerngoldilocks · 28/07/2023 22:31

Yes, in my experience you will need to wait 7 more days unless someone from school accesses results and releases them to you. It's 28 days plus 7 if you didn't make the booking.

Another76543 · 28/07/2023 22:39

northerngoldilocks · 28/07/2023 22:31

Yes, in my experience you will need to wait 7 more days unless someone from school accesses results and releases them to you. It's 28 days plus 7 if you didn't make the booking.

Thank you. That’s a bit of a pain!

ContractQuestion · 28/07/2023 22:49

We've done mocks and my child is v borderline. Going to have to do some more revision before we book it (they did a year's course as part of saturday music school so technically has covered the work.) They've moved onto grade 7 material (didn't sit grade 6 obviously) so we need to catch up!

Any hints!? I'd hoped to have it out the way before the summer really!