I was talking to a teacher today who almost always uses AB for exams. She and a few others she knows think that the AB are getting more harsh/strict in their marking.

Any views on this appreciated

Well, all my students are getting pretty much what I think they will get, some higher. I'm only going on the basis of what I remember from sitting my exams, so I don't think they are marking more hashly. They are also getting better results than I did for the most part......not sure what that says about me as a pianist or a teacher!!!

It seems to me that examiners are as varied as candidates. The AB makes claims about examiners' standardisation. We at the sharp end know this standardisation is a myth in reality.

Steve

I think you're right Steve. My students were examined at 4 different centres and one boy got 117 for grade 1 while the others got merit or distinction. I really don't think there was that big a difference between them. I've heard other teachers say they felt the examiner at this particular centre was a bit harsh so at least its not just me.

My candidates normally get about what I estimate or slightly more.

This time (only one fortunately) got substantially less than I expected.
Definitely down: when I compare this child - grade one piano - with other grade ones I've had in recent years, it's the lowest mark but very much not the least able pupil.

I felt this last year, when, as I've said on another thread, I had two terms in a row where the marks were below what I had expected. However, this academic year so far the marks have been very close to my estimations. I've put it down to individual examiner variations, rather than a general trend.

Last year, I thought that some of my students got higher marks than I'd predicted, but this year less. Although those who scored the least marks got slighty higher than what I expected. I guess it depends on individual examiners, really

Thats what I thought too. I think that 117 is one of the lowest grade 1 marks of any of my students ever. Some of my students passing with 117 wouldn't have surprised me, but this result did. Aww well. He's happy enough and I'll just make sure he does better the next time. None of my students have ever been this far off my estimate before.

well i do mock tests before my pupils exams and im harsher than the LCM examiner this time!

Ditto ditto ditto .......... except my pupil's mark was 115!

Included full marks for aural, and a fail for sight-reading (but RH all correct).

I think marking is getting more 'selective', I discovered my first exam failure yesterday. I've taken about 18 exams before and passed them all, but this time I found the marking very strict and was a full 7 marks of pass. Ah well, you can't win them all!
Matt

Sorry to hear that Matt! I bet you're disappointed.

Sorry Matt...what did you fail?

Thanks Maggie & Nat. I failed my Grade 2 Percussion, it's quite disappointing, but at least it's not my main instrument. I'm waiting with baited breath for the results from my Grade 6 Bass! Since it was only 7 marks of a pass, I should be able to re-take and hopefully pass Percussion in the Winter session. In the meantime, it's practice practice practice!
Matt

Yes I do think the examiners are getting harsher, well SOME of them are, 2 terms ago my 2 best students failed, grades 5 and 7. This term though I thought they were quite fair, and I got my first merit for ages. (Before I used to get loads of merits and distinctions, when I taught a lot of Chinese students but they've now all moved away.

I agree, the centre which i attend has just had some really low marks, i took my grade 8 tuba n only got 94 when i should have passed easily with 115 +. My accompianed piece, which my accompainist said was top form, only scored 18/30. I was annoyed at my scorings and i think my teacher was also, but never mind, ill get a distinction next time

Are the pieces getting easier? I got my Grade 3 and 4 pieces out the other day... the exams I took in 1998 and 1999, and they seemed difficult! Then again my playing could just be at fault, I don't think I learnt the fingers properly in the fist place so they didn't come back to me very easily

I know where you take the exams shouldn't make a difference, but I know because I take my exams at Junior RNCM, the marking will always be harsh. Its such a known fact, that I know people who take their exams externally because of it

Oooh Kate, I'm not so sure!

When my kids were at Junior RNCM I always reckoned they had 10 extra marks before they played a note in exams because of the examiner knowing they were well-taught Junior RNCM kids!

Actually one of my kids is still there........

I agree with Steve's comments before about AB examiners marking being sometimes hard to understand.

I did not enter any pupils in exams held this term - however I accompanied over 15 candidates. As an accompanist you can often tell how well the player has performed, and successfully gauge the mark they may expect to get!

The teacher was very surprised by the results. It seemed to her that the more outgoing candidates (who were not necessarily expected to do really well) came out with much higher marks than those who were quieter. I accompanied a (quieter) girl who played her grade 5 flute pieces beautifully - lots of dynamics, articulation etc etc. Surprisingly the examiner FAILED HER on one of these pieces - in fact the one she was asked to play at our local Arts Festival final concert last month.

Despite the stated policy of the AB that the examiner marks each section independently, many candidates do not feel this is followed. Many think that the examiner decides whether a player is fail, pass, merit or distinction standard overall, and then manipulates the marks. This will of course be denied officially, but sad if it is in fact true!

I do feel quite disillusioned about AB exams at the moment because of this. I feel particularly sorry for the pupils who are taught by teachers who do not seem to see there is a musical life outside exams! Some seem to only learn exam music..., and stagger from one exam to the next. That also means that although they pass the exam they are not necessarily that standard.

Oh well - it's not a perfect world!!!