Just curious ... I took G5 theory back in 1987, and got 87/99 on the then current marking scheme. It looks as though that would be the equivalent of a merit on the current scheme. Is that right, or is there really no comparison between the two?

Just need to know if I can swank around the place with my nose in the air or not

nick

On the new marking 66 is a pass, 80 is a merit and 90 is a Distinction.

Hi Nick,
On the old marking before the change in 1991. 85marks plus was a distinction, so you did very well.

serrano

Well, thank you - but it doesn't say that on my certificate, so I'm a bit confused!

nick

Are you sure? In those days I thought there were only three categories:

<66: fail
66-89: pass
90+: distinction

Are we talking about different boards maybe? Was yours AB or Trinity or something else?

I'm not sure about this. I have an ancient childhood certificate dated 1976 for a theory exam for which I got 96%, but the certificate still only says "passed".

Edit: And I didn't get a smiley, either!

I took grade 5 AB Theory in 1975 and scraped in by (nearly) the smallest margin..

68/99. I still have my certificate and notification of pass yellow slip

As stated it just says max marks 99, pass mark 66.

WHEW!

Regards, Peter.

Just been to check my old certificates under the bed (best place for them).

You're right! A mixture of certificates signed by Philip Cranmer and Ronald Smith, with not a distinction amongst them.

Gr 1 : Summer 1977: fail (not sure of mark!)
Gr 2: Summer 1979: 91/99
Gr 3: Spring 80: 90/99
Gr 4: Autumn 80: 97/99
Gr 5: Summer 81: 84/99
Gr 6: Summer 82: 84/99
Gr 7: Autumn 83: 86/99

So two categories then: pass or fail!

Wop's sorry everyone, I've just been to look at certificates, I took Gd 5 in 1988 and got 89 marks, I thought my teacher said I had a distinction. Oh I never thought about it being written on, or NOT in my case.
so sorry serrano

By the late '80s the distinction category in theory exams had been introduced (for marks of 90 or above, as now). Merit (for marks of 80 and above) came in much later.

2002, to be exact! The stats page on the AB site has the 2001 results and there is no merit category (plus, there is a note to explain that merit came in in 2002, just in case you thought they missed it out... )

When I took my theory exams in 1973ish, Grades 1-5 were only pass or fail, but Grades 6+ could be given distinction too. I know because I have a black printed certificate for Grade 5, but a red distinction certificate for Grade 6, despite getting in the 90s for both.

Thanks all - for some reason I missed all these posts. My G5 was with ABRSM, but it looks like I'm just a penny plain pass then...

nj

Thanks for that Maizie - knew it was about then, couldn't pinpoint it!

Unfortunately I did it when it was just pass/fail.... and I got 96%. Why did I bother working so hard....