I'm really unhappy with the marks given me for composition in the grade 5 theory paper.

Last March when I didn't really know what I was doing I got 6 out of 15. Since then I spent a lot of time learning rules and taking into account dynamics and barlines in the right places and writing the syllables neatly etc, etc. In my mock I was getting about 12. In the paper on June 16th I was really confident that was one of the better questions and did it as best I could. I only got 5, that's worse than when I took a blind stab at it in March. I am a bit lost for words. Any more marks on that question would have been enough to have given me a Pass. I'm so sick I can't face the stress of it anymore, so I'm not even attempting to re-sit for another couple of years, but is it possible to have your exam paper rechecked because I am a bit confused here.

Oh dear! Sad to hear this has happened, and its even sadder to hear from you that your not looking to re-attempt.

I understand that the papers go through lots and lots of checks before the results are published. It's one of the reasons why it takes so long for the results, and of course with the amount of papers there is too mark. Enquire into it, but unless you had special circumstances on the day which you took the exam (if so, you should of told the examiner present at the time), I do not think there would be a re-mark.

Oh no, I had no special circumstances. I'm just completely mystified why I got 5 out of 15. I seriously thought (and still do) that was one of my better questions. I got 10 out of 10 for 2 others !!! Would be nice to see why someone only awarded me 5.

I'm doing guidhall grade 6 trumpet in Oct/Nov so no need to drive myself mad with the theory yet. I can't face it because I've failed it twice now. I'm so near the magical 66 that I do consider myself able, but I do need a break from it.

I guess I'll have to accept the 5 out of 15 for composition but it's constantly on my mind as to why it was so low and just that one more mark........

http://www.abrsm.org/?page=exams/regs/ukIr...laints2007.html

I remember when I was doing graded theory examinations almost twenty years ago, candidates who failed had the marked examination paper sent to them to see where they went wrong. I presume this no longer occurs...

WOW just one more mark needed?!! hmm... If you could only get a re-mark, and get half a mark here and half mark there!

Taken from ABRSM results + certificate regulations: For Theory examinations, the mark form gives a breakdown of the marks awarded for each question and the total number of marks. Theory papers are not returned after marking. - What does your form say?

Oh i see. It's a bit of a gamble, isn't it? More than anything I'd like my exam paper returned so I can see why I only got 5 out of 15. I'm not saying there was a mistake or anything like that for an appeal, but just wanted to see why it was so low. Now i understand that can't happen. Would have been so helpful to know although obviously with all the numbers of candidates I realise they can't do that.

It is a gamble, but you have nothing to lose

I failed my grade 8 theory this session by two marks - I'm annoyed too as the questions which I lost most marks on were the ones I had been good at over the last year. I did pass it a few years ago, but it was really depressing to think I've got worse rather than better. I'm determined and taking another stab in november!

I don't but mum does. I think it's about £12.50. She's already wasted £50. I think she'd see it as throwing good money after bad.

I've been physically sick over this whole push to get me a grade 5 theory. I don't understand the rush. I only started secondary school in September and it's been a bit stressful. I knew I'd be doing Guildhall in Oct/Nov. That doesn't pose me any problem at all. Quite looking forward to it in fact. I really do need to forget about this theory stuff for now I think.

Thanks for your advice, Jen

Your welcome Mikey It's sad to hear when people like yourself fail after trying so hard, and just by a fraction aswell!! If your making yourself sick, obviously you are pushing yourself way too much. It isn't worth your health. Take a break, and look forward to Guildhall at fall. Dont worry about the money either.
Money shouldn't stop somebody from getting an education, but it is a huge factor (and quite a sad one) as we all know.

Good luck with everything x x

Sorry to hear that mikey. The composition is one of those questions where there are many acceptable answers but not right or wrong like intervals for example. Is it posssible you composed your melody in the wrong key, read the notes in the wrong clef or the words/syllables didn't match the music? Did you get your mark sheet? Even if you got 0/15 for the composition question, there are still another 85 marks available. How did you do in the other questions? It's easy to blame a mark of 5/15 for your result, but maybe there are other questions that you had problems with too. What does your theory teacher say about your result? Don't give up. Sounds like you maybe need to revise previous grades and work up to grade 5 thoroughly. If you can't face repeating grade 5 theory, then continue with Trinity Guildhall - they don't require grade 5 theory as a prerequisite.

Good luck with your grade 6.

The same thing happened to me in the transposition question, I only got 2 marks although it was one of my better subjects. I think I must have made an error right at the beginning and so everything after that came out wrong. I was lucky that it didn't stop me passing - just!

Regards

Val

If it helps at all MickeyC there are other options for the future. There is Grade 5 Practical Musicianship which counts as a prerequisite for the AB higher grades (don't know if this is accepted by LCMM or TG). However, you can take LCMM or TG Grade 5 theory which will definitely be accepted by the AB. Perhaps a different style or format of exam paper might be refreshing if you decide to sit Grade 5 again. Wish I could be of more help. Good luck

Dear noodle

I have absolutely no idea at all what went wrong with the composition. Even now I considered that to be one of my stronger questions ! I don't have a teacher. I'm self-taught.

I didn't mean to actually blame the 5/15 on my fail. I knew I was a bit border-line anyway, but a lady with high authority in music set me a mock exam the week before and gave me 12/15. I seriously understood what I was doing there and therefore was pretty sad to see 5/15 and overall mark of 65 !!! Anyway from it all I know it's not beyond me. I got 10/10 for cadences and 10/10 for transposition. I actually did get 0 for something because I didn't understand the English language of the question !!!! Worded differently from past papers.

Although I've done ABRSM up to Grade 5, I've been studying Guildhall syllabus for Grade 6 since Easter and I am really looking forward to the exam in Oct/November without the stress of all this. Performing is what I love. I'm actually partially sighted and music is in me, sitting down at a table for 2 hours isn't!!! I promise you I will back at this maybe after Grade 7. Just want a chance to do what I really love to do.By then I may have a better knowledge without realising it.

Thank you for your kindness again noodle. It has made a lot of difference to realise the kindness of fellow musicians.
Michael
x

If this is affecting you in the exam, tell the board about it before you retake whenever that is (if you haven't already), they'll probably be able to do something to help you out: like give you a larger printed paper, longer time or even someone to read things out if that will help . May even be grounds for a free retake if you didn't do this: technically they should be informed beforehand; but if you didn't know and money is an issue then they may be sympathetic.

The composition is a tricky one, most teachers tend to mark this harshly as no one knows exactly how it's marked. Sounds like you're close to getting there, I think you're right though to give it a break and then come back to it refreshed. You're still young now if you've only just started secondary school: perhaps you'll find it easier as you get a little older and more musically experienced anyway .