some reminders for ABRSM exam

cpcog

I would like to share somethings about the ABRSM exam according to my observation.

Before the exam:
- remember to take the ID/Handbook with English name, photos and date of birth
- please reach the center at least 15 min before the exam. Normally the exam would start earlier than the time marked. The examiner has the right to reject you taking the exam if you reach there on time
- please get ready the pieces numbers
- the order of the pieces can be decided by the candidates

During the exam:
1. scale
- If you have employed the interpreter, you can ask them not to translate the scale. The Chinese terms seem confuse a lot of candidates
- The examiner will not ask scales again once going to chromatic scales, arpeggios and so on. Normally the order would be followed.
- Don't ask for repeating the instructions or playing the scales again for too many times.
- If the examiner doesn't say which hand you should play, it means both hands.
-unless you are totally sure that the questions isn't in the exam, don't say "it isn't in the book".
- however, if you don't know to play anything, it is better to tell them you can't do that. The examiner might ask other ones.

2. pieces
- when the examiner asks you to start, you needn't look at him/her again to wait for the "permission" to start
- don't try to start from the beginning only for making some mistakes. You better go on.

3. sight-reading
- needn't stand up when the examiner said you are going to have the sight-reading test. I don't know many candidates would stand up once the examiner walk close to them
- you can practice the pieces with your instruments. It will not marked.

4. Aural
- need to look at the examiner. Don't face the wall
- please know what you are going to do for that grade, such as clap for the pulse or rhythm
- If you have the interpreter, you can answer in Chinese. I see many of them try to answer in English even they don't know how to express
- The Chinese term might be strange for some candidates, please check them before

I hope those reminders can help.

-

Pianokc

although it's nice for someone to write these reminders, please do respect that each student's teacher have their own set of "reminders" to their students and parents.

I agree with most of your reminders, EXCEPT, during Aural Part A, you are supposed to face away from the piano.

In fact, some of my students this year has a "foot print" mat to stand on to indicate where the examiner wants you to stand.

All in all, just do your best in there, and enjoy your exam, because ultimately examiners from are not here to fail candidates, they do want to see talented, well prepared candidates.

So if you prepared well, practiced well, have confidence, and know the procedure of the exam run down, not doing many of the said "minor" things will not ruin your exam.

DO keep going no matter what!
And... ALWAYS Smile !

cpcog

I want to share somethings. I never mean to unrespect anyone.

While I work inside the exam room, I cna see a lot. Once you see so many cases, you would know some teachers haven't given enough reminders or instructions to their students. They even don't let the students know which group of scales they should play in the exam. Such "minor" things would make the students getting so nervous. I feel so sorry for them.
I can even tell if you don't go to the exam room while the examiners are ready, your impression would be much worse.

I am sure the candidates should face the examiners. Well, some examiners would really prepare the mat but the number is very rare. They feel so strange why quite a lot of candidates looking at the wall.
And, some strings teachers told the students that they must face the examiners but it isn't true as well.

I do agree that all of us should enjoy the music playing, feel relaxed and be confidence. HOwever, if they can even do better with those "minor" things, why not?

cpcog

If my post makes anyone upset or unhappy, I really feel sorry.
Sorry about that.

Pianokc

cpcog,

of course your reminder is with good intention. Appreciate that.

I am speaking from my own students' experience, I have been teaching over 20 years.... and have accessed to much ABRSM information...

Each of my student do their aural Test A, facing away from the piano. This is a must, the student can cheat by looking at the book placed on the piano, maybe the younger ones wouldn't, but the teenagers certainly can. Unless the candidate is to stand very far away from the book stand of the piano.

When answering, the candidate should look at the examiner, esp many times in HK, the examination centers has a very noisy air con in the room... humming away. I always tell my student to speak loud and clear!

Also, don't you think if a student is LOOKING at the examiner's hands, or whatever examiner is doing, the less concentration?

I have never heard any specific rule about this, but this is what I trained my student to do, and always have never heard the student come back to say, I was told to NOT face away.

I am speaking mainly from the piano exams, not other instruments.

I do aural lessons for students who play violin and flutes... and same, they tell me my aural tests training is EXACTLY the same as their actual exam.

Interesting ... maybe I should contact ABRSM to clarify this.

jjd

Where should the candidate stand/face while taking the aural test for violin exams?  (Note : My child is only 6.5 years old and I think he is not smart enough to cheat at this stage)

原帖由 Pianokc 於 09-10-11 02:44 發表
cpcog,

of course your reminder is with good intention. Appreciate that.

I am speaking from my own students' experience, I have been teaching over 20 years.... and have accessed to much ABRSM inform ...

cpcog

All candidates with different instruments would stand on the same place according to the examiner. Normally they need to stand near the "holder" for the piano cover. The examiner will tell him where he should stand if his position isn't suitable.
good luck! :)

原帖由 jjd 於 09-10-11 19:58 發表
Where should the candidate stand/face while taking the aural test for violin exams?  (Note : My child is only 6.5 years old and I think he is not smart enough to cheat at this stage)

cpcog

Pianokc,
I can't tell why your candidates need to face away from the examiners for part A. The examiners always asked me why the candidiates would look at the wall. They feel really curious about that. Then, they would ask me to tell the candidates to face them once asking them to have the aural exam.
I have worked with many examiners already and so far, none of them ask me to tell the candidates to face away from the piano.
Anyway, perhaps we should not care about that too much anymore. Just let the examiners to decide it.

原帖由 Pianokc 於 09-10-11 02:44 發表
cpcog,

of course your reminder is with good intention. Appreciate that.

I am speaking from my own students' experience, I have been teaching over 20 years.... and have accessed to much ABRSM inform ...

rcmgrad

To: cpcog,

As an ABRSM interpreter, you should not disclose any information about the exam. Don't forget you have signed a contract.

To Pianokc,

I understand you have sent many students to ABRSM exam, but when is the last time you walk in the exam room yourself? Have you ever chatted/worked with any ABRSM examiners? Maybe you keep reading ABRSM's Libretto / its official website but that doesn't mean your information is enough or up-to-date.

cpcog

remgrad,
Thanks.
I would not tell anything about the exam material. What I would say is some general idea of the exam.

Pianokc

To RCMgrad,

Please do not assume who I am, but to satisfy your curiosity, yes, I speak, and do know what the exam procedures for ABRSM exams from Grade 1 - Diploma are and don't need anyone to refresh my information.I do NOT just reading websites and Libretto. I actually don't read that magazine much. I actually have more info than you presume. However, cpcog is also correct maybe because examiners from overseas might not have this "culture" in their mind, for HK students as you have noticed, they all face away from the examiner, why? You might want to look into that.

I don't tell the students first hand to turn around and face away, it was in an actual ABRSM examination preparation not long ago that once again said this and instructed this. It was a MOCK examination in fact. The student was asked to face away from the piano while the examiner asked her questions.

Anyways, if the student face away from the wall, and is asked to face back, so be it, even better right?
Until today, none of my students have been asked to look at examiner when doing aural, except for Sight singing.

[ 本帖最後由 Pianokc 於 09-10-19 00:10 編輯 ]

hhma

is it ok for piano exam too?


3. sight-reading
- you can practice the pieces with your instruments. It will not marked.

Pianokc

Yes, you can try the Sight reading part, then when examiner ask you to start, that's when he start marking.

Pianokc

Examiner will not typically have a bell. Examiner will signal to candidate when he is ready to hear next piece. (Except in Diploma for performance, it's performed like a recital)

Accompanist leave after the 3 pieces are played. No coaching, only signal to each other to begin. No different from accompanying in a competition. Can tune violin first with the piano.

cpcog

Yes, for all instruments.

原帖由 hhma 於 09-10-19 13:25 發表
is it ok for piano exam too?


3. sight-reading
- you can practice the pieces with your instruments. It will not marked.

cpcog

normally you will only have the tuning time in the beginning, before starting the pieces.
And, you could communicate in a limited ways only. If you say too much, the examiners might look at you and ask what you are talking about.
The examiners would let you know when you should start. You needn't worry about that. And, even if you start earlier, it isn't a realy problem.
I agree that you would be the best person to help your daughter. I would do the same if my daughter takes any exams in the future.
There isn't much for you to pay attention. However, please ask someone to help tuning the violin if you don't know how to do so. For violinist before grade 5, teachers are allow to go inside to help tuning.
If your daughter would like to have scale first, it is also ok. The examiner would inform when you should go inside the room to start the pieces.

原帖由 wootaitai 於 09-10-18 23:40 發表
I am suddenly asked by the violin teacher (he said I had better 默契 and practice with my daughter and the pianist was absent a few times, no time to practice...) to accompany my daughter's violin exa ...