The importance of a distinction Options

[FullofWind]

Should you only sit grade 8 when you know there is a very high chance that a distinction will be achieved? There will be musicians for whom this would be a mammoth task but if a child was capable of getting a comfortable pass, would it be better to wait up to two years until they were beyond distinction level? How are resits viewed by conservatoires if a child wishes to gain a distinction at a later date?

[barncottagecat]

It's all very well saying that a grade 8 distinction it doesn't matter, but doesn't that depend on what you want to do with your music? If you want to be in the NCO, NYO, selected summer music courses, other orchestras, JDs? (perhaps, I don't know much about those), then it can be very useful! - for the NYO application they ask for a copy of your exam mark sheet. If you are more interested in using grades as something to work for and as a record of your personal achievement, then I agree, distinction chasing doesn't matter.

[VH2]

It's all very well saying that a grade 8 distinction it doesn't matter

I have never thought that it does not matter. I think it is a shame that it does matter, and that the exam boards have developed a system of three levels of pass in the Grade exams.

[Arundodonuts]

It's all very well saying that a grade 8 distinction it doesn't matter

I have never thought that it does not matter. I think it is a shame that it does matter, and that the exam boards have developed a system of three levels of pass in the Grade exams.

If there was only pass or fail, what do you think should be the pass mark? What about other exams with a range of pass grades - GCSEs, A levels, degrees?

[VH2]

It's all very well saying that a grade 8 distinction it doesn't matter

I have never thought that it does not matter. I think it is a shame that it does matter, and that the exam boards have developed a system of three levels of pass in the Grade exams.

If there was only pass or fail, what do you think should be the pass mark? What about other exams with a range of pass grades - GCSEs, A levels, degrees?

If it were pass/fail there'd be no need for a mark.

You would receive a written report on the performance, which would show you where you needed to improve, and a PASS or FAIL categorization for each component of the exam. You would also be required to pass all components to get an overall pass (as is now the case with the Diploma exams, but not in the Grade exams, where well played pieces can compensate for inferior oral skills and dodgy scales (or vice versa).

I have no opinion on other kinds of exam as I do not teach GCSE/A-level/degree subjects, and I am unlikely ever to take such exams again myself.

[Arundodonuts]

It's all very well saying that a grade 8 distinction it doesn't matter

I have never thought that it does not matter. I think it is a shame that it does matter, and that the exam boards have developed a system of three levels of pass in the Grade exams.

If there was only pass or fail, what do you think should be the pass mark? What about other exams with a range of pass grades - GCSEs, A levels, degrees?

If it were pass/fail there'd be no need for a mark.

I'm taking about the minimum score required to get a pass. Would you still use 100/150?

You would also be required to pass all components to get an overall pass

I completely agree, and I don't think the aural tests have any place in a test of competence in performing on an instrument. All that should matter is how well you play, irrespective of the skill set you used to achieve your level of performance. Probably sight-reading and performance should be separated too.

So having said you should have to get a pass in each section, you would actually only have one section, performing?

[VH2]

If there was only pass or fail, what do you think should be the pass mark? What about other exams with a range of pass grades - GCSEs, A levels, degrees?

If it were pass/fail there'd be no need for a mark.

I'm taking about the minimum score required to get a pass. Would you still use 100/150?

The candidate would never see a mark. How the examiners keep track is their business.

You would also be required to pass all components to get an overall pass

I completely agree, and I don't think the aural tests have any place in a test of competence in performing on an instrument. All that should matter is how well you play, irrespective of the skill set you used to achieve your level of performance. Probably sight-reading and performance should be separated too.

So having said you should have to get a pass in each section, you would actually only have one section, performing?

Are you trying to be perverse and argumentative? Or does it just seem that way because of the limitations of this form of communication?

Yes think it is not useful to have the sections we now have in the Grade exams. You can perform brilliantly yet do badly on the aural, scales and sight reading. Yet those three components are assessed at a quite superficial level compared to the performance part, so it is not a good test of general musicianship either.

But if we are to have several sections in the grade exams then I think you should have to show you are up to scratch in all of them.