I have a pupil who took and failed his grade 6 piano when he was 17 - in about 1976. Obviously, to do that he had done his gr 5 theory, but that was about 1974ish. I had a letter today asking for documentation to prove he has gr 5 as they could find no record of him.

Am I right in thinking that when they changed the format of the theory papers, you have to have passed the present format of the exam to be able to continue with your practical studies ? Therefore, is his out of date, and will he have to take gr 5 theory again ? I tried phoning the office today after receiving the letter but couldn't get through. Anyone know ?

No, the old exam is still valid. The only one that isn't is the old Grade 6, which you can't use for DipABRSM Teaching.

I'd advise him to take the grade 5 theory again anyway - this is what I did when I needed it again for grade 8 piano. I took grade 5 Theory more years ago than I would like to remember, and the syllabus has changed dramatically since then. (1974 might be a bit closer though). It covers a much broader range, and is more difficult than it was when I took it. In fact, I still have the old grade 6 William Cole book, which looks more like grade 4 now! I'm rather proud of my (recent) grade 5 Theory - it's the only exam in which I have ever got a distinction!

Well done on your distinction and thanks for those replies you two. I'll phone the board again today and see what they say. My pupil was spending last night hunting in his attic for the essential document and is actually near Portland Place today so may be able to hand it in personally!

If he has the documentation from his failed G7 that might help prove he did G5 theory as I don't think they would have let him enter otherwise.

I was told that my grade 6 or 7 (I can't remember which) from the early 70's would be fine, if I could prove it. The problem is that I can't find the certificate. Although the ABRSM has a microfiche system they can search for you, going back to the 1940's I believe, it cost £15 for a search of 3 sessions for one grade. Since I can't remember which grade OR which year, let alone which session, I opted to retake for £22 instead, but since you only need grade 5 for the higher levels of performance, that's what I'm retaking. Assuming I pass (and I will be sooooo embarrased if I don't) I might do grade 6/7 or even 8 next year, but then again I might just concentrate on playing etc.

Interesting that you see it as more difficult.
When I started working towards grade 5 theory it was shortly before the syllabus change and when I was ready to take it that was the current syllabus and format. I found it easier even though I would agree that it does cover more.

I suspect mine may have been before that particular syllabus change!

Still have my grade 5 theory certificate from 1970! There are no identifying numbers or anything, just the month and year, so no wonder they charge a lot for a search.

I'm not sure I'd pass today though, and would definitely have to do a good bit of revision. As to whether your pupil should do it again, that really depends on why he is taking up piano after so many years; if it's just to learn piano he may not want the bother of resitting a theory exam.

I didn't forget my grade 5 theory but I did it because I knew the stuff rather than learning things to pass the exam.
It was about 6 years between my grade 5 and starting lessons for grade 6 and the first thing my teacher did was to have me work a set of grade 5 papers. I was still able to score in the high 90s.

The current grade 5 syllabus is a lot easier than the one I did in the 80s. We had a whole question on ornaments where they had to be written out as they would be played. In the transposition question, we were told it was written for clarinet in Bb/ horn in F and asked to write it in concert pitch or as it would sound in concert pitch - we had to work out the interval of transposition, the question didn't tell us what it was. In any theory exams I've invigilated, or theory classes I've taken, many candidates can't find the correct key having been told the interval of transposition. I came across a theory paper from 1979 last week. On the other hand, I found a grade 6 paper from 1976 and think it's a little easier than the current grade 6.

Dumbing down? dum de dum de dum.....

Sorry, I forgot to answer the original question! Yes, grade 5 theory is still valid as long as you/they can find evidence of it having been passed.

I think that the pre 1999 grade 6-8 was harder.
You had to find the information for harmony analysis and stuff all on your own. Now you get sentences with missing words that help you to know what to look for.

I found the last three questions worth 30 marks easier in the old theory - you could choose to explain musical forms like sonata, or name 3 composers of opera and answer general questions on musical instruments.

My pupil has searched high and low but the theory certificate etc. has not turned up. However, the board will accept a photocopy of his gr 6 mark sheet from 1975 as proof, so that might be useful for some of you to know. I have seen this document, looks so differenr from today's ones, all beautifully written in ink in lovely cppoerplate handwriting.