I took my grade 5 theory exam in 1982 when I was at school. I also passed a Higher in music which had a theory paper. Then I also passed an ALCM diploma paper.... but that was all in the 80's!

I recently took up the violin and am taking my Grade 2 exam this Monday (!!!). My sight reading is good and I have rememberd a lot...

... but, there's a LOT I've forgotton over the years!!! I can feel the old cogs and wheels in my brain starting to turn quite slowly but I was wondering if I should take my Grade 5 theory exam again as a 'refresher'?.. a bit of brain-oil I'm intending to carry on with the violin so I'll need it after Grade 5 practical I think?

Or do you think that would be unnecessary work ???

It's often a good idea to have something to work towards. It's a different syllabus now to 1982 (I think that's when I did mine), so you might be looking at slightly different topics anyway. Give it a go!

You can buy past exam papers for the AB theory exams (for TG theory, you can download past papers from their website BUT the syllabus is different). Why not have a go at a past paper and see if you're OK with it - then if you want to do the 'real thing' you can sit the exam! You get four papers from that year in a past papers booklet, so you can have a go at one to see where you are, do some learning if you need to and then use another one for practicing (and still have two spare!)

You don't need to re-do it in order to go above G5 practical providing you have the certifcate that you did pass it in 1982 (plus evidence for any name changes, etc). But you may want to re-do it (I probably would, but then I am a learning-and-exam-addict)

I think ABRSM can track down most old results if you know where you took it and roughly when. Knowing the name of the teacher who entered you helps as well I think, but is probably not necessary. So you shouldn't need to take it again.

I did my grade 5 in the mid 70's but when my daughter came to take it I found it had changed quite a bit and I had forgotten quite a lot. It did not take too long to remember it all though. I don't think you need to sit the exam unless you want to but perhaps revise a bit and do a couple of past papers just to refresh your memory.

Unfortunately you may find that the associated board records don't go back that far - I took my grade 5 in the late 70s and they didn't have any record of it. Luckily I was able to dig out my old certificate. I worked my way through the grade 5 "Theory in Practice" book from ABRSM and it was a very good refresher, although I found it quite tricky in places! Good luck

I took my Grade5 theory in early seventies too and have lost the certificate but have never been asked for it. I sent of Grade 6 practical as proof and that was accepted