Hi!

After deciding to teach myself grade 6 theory, I bought some past papers from the ABRSM publising site. I couldn't find any mark schemes that relate to these papers.

Does anyone know if it is possible to get hold of a mark scheme, as it seems to defeat the point of completing past papers if you can't actually mark them to the same level that they would be officially!

Thanks!

hi

i've just done my grade 5 thoery exam and i ordered past papers from amazon which you can also buy model answers to go with thoses papers.

hope that helps!!

Answers for past papers grades 1 -5 are available but not for grades 6-8. Some teachers here (possibly sbhoa??) have mark schemes for theory exams.

what a good question! I never know what to give for the composition questions, I assume they're not looking for anything fantastic and groundbreaking, but it's probably the least clear cut of the lot. I never ever give full marks when doing practise papers but encourage as many italian terms, performance directions, articulation marks etc as possible, I hope this works in their favour even though occasionally we end up with a very over crowded composition.

Wouldn't it be great if there was a check list of things to look for, certainly nothing like this is mentioned in the study books. Even grade 1 - 3 on the composing a rhythm is a toughie to mark, weighing up ingenuity and continuity.

The only one I have is guidance for marking grade 5 which is helpful for the lower grades to some extent too.
Nothing for higher grades I'm afraid.
The trouble with the first 3 questions on the later grade theory papers is that there really is no one right answer.
For the adding chords question I found that Dorothy Pilling's 'Harmonization of melodies at the Key board' very useful for learning and understanding stock progressions. Usually once you've filled in all the places where you can use these there is not much left to fill in.
For realising figured bass you have to stick to certain rules. I never have got to the point where I can reliably pick up all banned consecutives.... I think it's one of those things that takes more experience than i have to be able to do efficiently.
For composition one of the main things is that it's the same style as the opening and that if you are asked for a modulation you do finish up in the right key. Again I think it's something that an experienced eye can assess better.
Some people manage to teach themselves even at this level very well. I would never have managed it without a teacher.