Students' Exams, Anyone attend? Options

[Cadence]

My first exam of the session occurs this week and I am going to meet the student at the exam centre to support her as her teacher. When I mentioned this to my own teacher, she was very surprised and asked me why I'm going. She also asked me if I was charging them for my time. It seemed to me that she thought I was being silly and there was absolutely no need for me to be there.

I expected that it was usual for teachers to offer to be at the examining centre with their student at an exam? I've asked all my students whether they would like me to go with them (if the exam is within a reasonable travel distance) and I see it as just part and parcel of being their teacher. I don't charge them extra when I need to photocopy things for them or go out or if I need to spend time on something to do with their lessons outside of the lesson time - and we all know that teachers do a lot of work for lessons at home!

I wondered what everyone else does? Of course if you are accompanying, that is a different matter, but just to be present at the exam session as a supportive teacher?

[fatar760]

Well I see it as my reponsibility to be there. I think the parents like that they have someone (who they employ) who can lead and manage such matters...it's something less for them to worry about.

I also like to see my students before the exam and just make sure they're in a positive, confident and calm frame of mind.

I will be attending two of my students exams next week and won't be charging anyone for it.

[maggiemay]

No, I regard it as their solo flight.

[petrat]

I attend practical exams always. I accompany my own simnging and recorder students but I never charge for doing so. I help to create a happy and calm atmosphere in the waiting room and am on hand to answer any last minute questions. I do not go to the theory exam centre. They are on their own for those tests.

[ymapazagain]

I remember when I was growing up my piano teacher was there for a few of my exams. Mostly though it was just me and my parents.

I haven't been to any of my student's exams, mostly because they tend to clash with other lessons or work that I have and I can't afford to take the time out. I trust that their parents will be there with them to offer support and keep them positive.

If I had a student who I felt could do with the extra support and I didn't have any other commitments at that time I would probably make the effort to go along. It would be great to see their immediate reaction to the whole process and could be useful in working on not just the music but the emotional preparation for future exams.

[DaisyChain]

I attend practical exams always. I help to create a happy and calm atmosphere in the waiting room and am on hand to answer any last minute questions. I do not go to the theory exam centre. They are on their own for those tests.

Yes, me too. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[jenny]

No, I regard it as their solo flight.

Me, too. As a piano teacher, I've never asked if anyone would like me to be there and no-one has ever asked me to go along. My teachers never went to my exams and I suppose that's why I've never thought of doing it.

Maybe if I had a very shy student who asked for my support, I might go, but this hasn't happened...yet!

I like to think they'll all be confident enough to go without me. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Cadence]

hmmm, interesting. At least though I know that I am not being unreasonable - the way my piano teacher asked me why on earth I was going with my student, I thought it was a crazy thing to do that I didn't know about! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)

Most students have their parents to take them, so generally I don't need to go, but I think it is nice to offer.

This particular student has never taken exams in England before and it is her grade 5. Both her parents are out of the country at the moment and her driver is taking her from school to the exam. I would have offered anyway, as I do with all my students, but I especially thought with her that I needed to suggest that I could meet her there and both her and her mum were very grateful.

[Digby]

I won't cancel lessons to go but do make an effort sometimes if I'm free.

[Banjogirl]

The only time teachers have attended my sons' exams is when they were accompanying them or if the exam was at their house. My son's first violin teacher accompanied all his pupils' exams and did a fine job of winding them all up before they went in. He tried to give them a lesson in the warm up room (and they could usually have done with many more lessons!) and got them really worried and nervous. He wasn't even a very good accompanist but didn't like me to do it as I 'played everything a bit fast' (in other words, at the right speed, but most of his pupils weren't well enough prepared to play at the right speed).

Goodness, what a rant. We've had nothing to do with him for years but I'm clearly still scarred by it! Anyway, on the whole I think it's lovely if a teacher is there (apart from the above, but he was an idiot) but I wouldn't expect it as I know it's a big chunk out of a teachers' time. In my experience teachers are always exceedingly generous with their time anyway and I'm very grateful for their commitment.

[Crotchetymum]

hmmm, interesting. At least though I know that I am not being unreasonable - the way my piano teacher asked me why on earth I was going with my student, I thought it was a crazy thing to do that I didn't know about! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)

Most students have their parents to take them, so generally I don't need to go, but I think it is nice to offer.

This particular student has never taken exams in England before and it is her grade 5. Both her parents are out of the country at the moment and her driver is taking her from school to the exam. I would have offered anyway, as I do with all my students, but I especially thought with her that I needed to suggest that I could meet her there and both her and her mum were very grateful.

I think it will make a huge difference to her having you there under those circumstances.

I've always taken my children and not taken it for granted that anyone else will be there. If the piano teacher has turned up it's lovely to see her, as she has a calm and easy way of talking to the students before they go in, but we don't assume she'll be there. For guitar exams, the teacher has always been there so far and, again, has a great way of talking through things with the students. He's also a great help with the final tuning when the students arrive, as nerves often set in at that point (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Like Banjogirl, we very much appreciate the fact that they're giving up even more of their time to be there.

[maledictis]

No, I regard it as their solo flight.

Me too.
I think the support of a parent or friend is preferable to that of a teacher in the minutes before the exam - when they really just need persuading not to do a runner... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

[Czerny]

There probably isn't a right or wrong answer to this and some situations, such as the one Cadence describes, seem to merit the teacher's attendance more than others. However, I think we should bear in mind that no matter how good our relationship with our pupils and how calm and reassuring our manner, the presence of a teacher will not necessarily make a child less nervous and could indeed have the opposite effect as, for some, pleasing - or displeasing - their teacher could be the part about which they are most anxious. It may therefore be better to stay away. Just a thought...

Personally, as I teach five days a week, I've never been free to attend my pupils' exams.

[SueHM]

I make a point of being there for a student's first exam, and have sometimes travelled quite considerable distances to do so - but then, I'm nosy and I like having a look at other exam centres. The only times I haven't been were for adult students who were quite confident and (I think) would have been a bit embarrassed to have their teacher tagging along.

My teachers never came to exams when I was learning as a child, but my organ teacher came to both exams to act as bouncer on the church door!

[Aquarelle]

I don't have any option as our exams are a bit like a special visit. I'm the only person for miles doing AB exams and our representative brings the examiner along and I have to act as hostess and accompanist.
I have to do everything from pushing the piano into the exam room to providing the tea, orange juice, paper hankies, spare recorders etc. and keeping candidates and parents calm. So I am always there for all my candidates. It's great - like a party - but without the noise of course. Thank goodness it only happens once a year - at the end I am knackered. It happens this coming Sunday - all systems go!