Hello everyone

As the next theory exam fast approaches and having recently spoken to some of the Board's senior markers, I thought you might like a few tips.... It's aimed mainly at candidates and whilst some of the following suggestions may be obvious they are not in any way intended to sound patronising!!

1. Answer all the questions! Even if you don't know the answer, guess - you may just be right and gain extra marks, something which won't happen if you leave the space blank....

2. Take your time and read the questions CAREFULLY!! What direction should those scales be written in and using what note values? Is that E major or Eb that you've been asked to write? Underline/highlight the important words in the rubrics, if it helps you. Don't be in a hurry to finish first - use your time wisely and check those answers and check again!

3. Marks will be deducted for poorly written clefs, key signatures etc.... Don't add those accidentals in the wrong space or on the wrong line of the stave, above the note or below it!

4. Rhythm writing: make sure those bars all add up correctly - there's quite a bit of emphasis on that!

5. Melody writing: as well as making sure those bars add up, don't forget the instrument, tempo, dynamics and articulation. If you're going to use pizz and/or arco, make sure you know how to use them properly!

6. If you're rewriting a melody at a different octave, the time values won't change, so copy them carefully! Similarly, if you're rewriting in half/twice the value, the pitches will be the same.

7. Transposition: make sure you've kept to the same interval of transposition throughout - for example don't switch from a second down to a third half way through! In the high grade orchestral score extracts, if you're not sure of the interval, compare your answer with that of a non-transposing instrument such as violin - if they don't fit tonally then something might be wrong!

That's just a few of the places where marks are lost, and you would be very surprised if you realised just how many marks do disappear.... Markers tell me how depressing it is when a paper has to fail primarily for these reasons. They'd much rather see you pass!

Good luck to all those of you taking exams over the next week.

Debbie

Thanks, that's useful.

Is there an official document outlining the rules for the conduct of the exam itself?

Hi Earplugs

The only official document outlining the conduct of the exam is read out to all candidates by the invigilator at the start of the exam.

If you have a specific query please PM me, otherwise you might find the relevant Regulation 11 Theory Examinations: Timings and Conduct helpful.

Debbie

I also conduct exams, (although not music ones), and it's staggering the amount of people who, even despite reminders on the front page which I have made them read before starting the exam, STILL answer in the wrong format etc and then have to lose all the marks for that section. So, I don't think it's patronising at all, it's a necessary reminder for many of us who rush in so fast that we forget the importance of simple instructions!

Thanks for the advice, thats really helpful

Although I'm not taking a theory exam anytime soon, I'll bookmark this page and recommend my friend this page for reference.

Useful thank you

thanks for the tips

I'm going to suffer the process of taking the grade 5 theory exam next week and have just had my final lesson at which my tutor raised a question that maybe you can answer. Whilst working my way through previous papers i always use pencil . I find it easier to write with and of course one can correct work with the aid of an erraser. My tutor thinks that probably this is incorrect and that ink should be used . Is there a rule ?

No, there isn't a rule as far as I know. There's nothing wrong with using pencil, although this is better to use as you can correct answers more easily. I never use ink.

Car Expert

Thank you very much indeed for the tips, I'll pass them on to my son as soon as he comes home from school. I just hope he takes notice!

I used pencil in my G5 and got a distinction, so I'd say it was allowed

I also used pencil all the way to grade 8 and got distinction.

Pencil is fine!!

Just wondering, I know your not allowed to bring any notes with you or representations of the keyboard etc, but are you allowed to write down in your notes, keyboards, key signatures to help you during the test?

Yes

Car Expert

You'll be provided with some blank manuscript paper which you can write things on (in my limited experience it's manuscript on one side and plain on the other). You can scribble anything you like on there, it doesn't get marked. DON'T take your own blank paper with you!

I always write out myself a keyboard before I start so I have something to work on. Some books tell you to write out the circle of 5ths too.

I always give my pupils a list of things to write down (on the blank paper given to them) when the exam begins BEFORE they do anything else. It varies according to which grade they are taking but things like;

draw a keyboard
write a list of key signatures
write a list of intervals

...that way you can refer to your notes rather than have to think through them every time.

Add to that - make sure your in the right clef when transposing I lost all the marks for a question which would have been completely right had I been in treble clef. Oops!