Full Version: What's The Highest Mark That You Get In Your Exams
Ha, I think my highest mark was 114 in Grade 3 piano
133 grade 2 recorder.
thought i did come very close with 132 for grade 8 violin, those are the only times ive had a distinction, and ive done 15 practical exams.
thought i did come very close with 132 for grade 8 violin, those are the only times ive had a distinction, and ive done 15 practical exams.
142 Grade 1 Flute June 2007 and 140 Grade 3 Flute March 2008 (I am an adult learner)
It seems a lot harder to get very high marks in the ABRSM exams than other boards.
I wonder what the highest mark they've ever given is?
I wonder what the highest mark they've ever given is?
I think i'm going to enter myself for grade 1 flute and see if I can get distinction... Or even better, full marks. Or at least pass!!
QUOTE(bluebell @ May 16 2008, 10:46 PM) 
It seems a lot harder to get very high marks in the ABRSM exams than other boards.
I wonder what the highest mark they've ever given is?
Yes - but the pass and distinction levels are lower too.
You have to get 70% to pass the ALCM and 85% for a commendation
I got 93/100 for my grade 8 (with trinity) which would translate as 136.5/150 in ABRSM. I think to get the really high marks you have to be so good that you might as well be taking at least the grade above - so if you can get 140+ at grade 6, you should be doing at least 7, or 140+ at 8 you should be on diploma.
It seems a lot harder to get very high marks in the ABRSM exams than other boards.
I wonder what the highest mark they've ever given is?
People do get 150s sometimes, there are probably quite a lot of players who are really really good and so never bothered with grades who could wing a 145+, my music teacher's son was like that, off to the menuihn (sp?) school at 13 or something equally sickening!
QUOTE(bluebell @ May 16 2008, 11:46 PM)
It seems a lot harder to get very high marks in the ABRSM exams than other boards.
I wonder what the highest mark they've ever given is?
People do get 150s sometimes, there are probably quite a lot of players who are really really good and so never bothered with grades who could wing a 145+, my music teacher's son was like that, off to the menuihn (sp?) school at 13 or something equally sickening!
Ahh everyone makes me feel so bad!!!
My best was a low merit in one singing exam and one or two of the lower piano grades. I seem to get worse as I go through as I get more and more nervous (had a panic attack last time
) !
My best was a low merit in one singing exam and one or two of the lower piano grades. I seem to get worse as I go through as I get more and more nervous (had a panic attack last time
) !
QUOTE(des @ Jun 21 2008, 02:06 AM)
I think to get the really high marks you have to be so good that you might as well be taking at least the grade above - so if you can get 140+ at grade 6, you should be doing at least 7, or 140+ at 8 you should be on diploma.
Yep - that's crossed my mind too. But on the other hand it can't hurt to be so well prepared that even if disaster strikes you'll still pass. I'd rather play very safe - but that's only as far as instrumental exams go.... when it comes to singing I consider it a great success if I open my mouth and a sound comes out.
Just realised I can include a new high now: 143 for Grade 1 Jazz Flute. 
I used to regularly get 100% for maths papers at school and University. But in maths if you need someone to tell you whether your answers are right or not then you don't yet understand what you are doing.
I remember once being extremely unhappy that the teacher neither commented on, nor seemed to notice the elegance of my one page proof compared to the 5 or 6 pages it would have taken with the method we'd been shown.
To compensate: I once scored 17% in French, have the dubious distinction of being the only student in the history of the school to earn a "Bad Mark"(negative house point) from the gentle Latin master, and never scored higher than a Merit in any music exams. I think I also struggled to throw a javelin beyond the edge of the penalty area, or to putt a shot at all. As for cricket ... I was banished to fielding on the boundary, to batting as last man, and never allowed to bowl.
I remember once being extremely unhappy that the teacher neither commented on, nor seemed to notice the elegance of my one page proof compared to the 5 or 6 pages it would have taken with the method we'd been shown.
To compensate: I once scored 17% in French, have the dubious distinction of being the only student in the history of the school to earn a "Bad Mark"(negative house point) from the gentle Latin master, and never scored higher than a Merit in any music exams. I think I also struggled to throw a javelin beyond the edge of the penalty area, or to putt a shot at all. As for cricket ... I was banished to fielding on the boundary, to batting as last man, and never allowed to bowl.
QUOTE(des @ Jun 21 2008, 02:06 AM)
I think to get the really high marks you have to be so good that you might as well be taking at least the grade above - so if you can get 140+ at grade 6, you should be doing at least 7, or 140+ at 8 you should be on diploma.
This seems to imply that everyone should take the highest exam they can scrape through. What's wrong with doing well? Exams exist to show 'how good' you are at your instrument (whether they actually do that is a different topic I'm sure) so if you can get 140+, why not? I don't think people bother to take exams that are too easy for them - it's a waste of time and money - so if someone gets a really good mark they've probably worked hard for it and deserve to enjoy the outcome.
I don't think it follows that if you can score at the high end of one exam you are necessarily going to be able to do well at the next level. I got 112 at gd 5 (piano), 136 at gd 6, 140 at gd 7 and 123 at gd 8, all taken a year apart. I can't see that missing my grade 7 and doing gd 8 instead would have done me any favours - there's no way I would have got a merit at gd 8 if I'd taken it a year earlier. I'm not exceptionally talented as my gd 5 shows! Between grades 5 & 6 I swapped teachers and doubled my practice time, including spending lots of time on scales, aural & sightreading. It's those last three that so often muck people's marks up but I reckon I spent at least as much time on them as I did on my pieces, and it paid off.
QUOTE(pianist_1210 @ Oct 13 2005, 10:30 AM)
QUOTE(GoneChopinBachSoon @ Oct 8 2005, 08:33 PM)
why be so damn precise about music? if it sounds good and musical...thats good enough...sheesh
I really don't want to break into an arguement but I think you have misunderstanded the term "music".
Music is NEVER PERCISE and no matter how hard you practise, it will NEVER be PERFECT. But it can be close to perfect. What I do is only trying to do the best I can, and I think that is what the spirt of classical musicans.We always try our best to make the piece livelyest-possible.And that's the fun of classical music, is you spend time to do the best you can to interpret it, not just fluff through it like you are playing it well but actually you are only play half of it correct. NOTHING in the world is perfect, Nothing in our World is good enough. That's the reason why only one or two people in the world can get 150/150 (if there's really such case). If I get 150/150 then I can relax and say that it's good enough for the exam.
( which will be impossible anyway....)there are many, many people who can get 150 - most of them don't take exams! my old music teacher's son went to study with yehudi menuhin when he was 14 - never bothered with ABRSM but if he had i have no doubt he would have a set of 150s. the many true virtuosos wouldn't even break a sweat getting 148+ in an exam. in fact i read in the paper last year about a 12 year old girl being the youngest ever person to get 150 in G8 violin - can't find it on the internet though so i may be wrong.
QUOTE(sujamo @ Jun 24 2008, 10:10 PM)
QUOTE(des @ Jun 21 2008, 02:06 AM)
I think to get the really high marks you have to be so good that you might as well be taking at least the grade above - so if you can get 140+ at grade 6, you should be doing at least 7, or 140+ at 8 you should be on diploma.
This seems to imply that everyone should take the highest exam they can scrape through. What's wrong with doing well? Exams exist to show 'how good' you are at your instrument (whether they actually do that is a different topic I'm sure) so if you can get 140+, why not? I don't think people bother to take exams that are too easy for them - it's a waste of time and money - so if someone gets a really good mark they've probably worked hard for it and deserve to enjoy the outcome.
I don't think it follows that if you can score at the high end of one exam you are necessarily going to be able to do well at the next level. I got 112 at gd 5 (piano), 136 at gd 6, 140 at gd 7 and 123 at gd 8, all taken a year apart. I can't see that missing my grade 7 and doing gd 8 instead would have done me any favours - there's no way I would have got a merit at gd 8 if I'd taken it a year earlier. I'm not exceptionally talented as my gd 5 shows! Between grades 5 & 6 I swapped teachers and doubled my practice time, including spending lots of time on scales, aural & sightreading. It's those last three that so often muck people's marks up but I reckon I spent at least as much time on them as I did on my pieces, and it paid off.
that didn't quite come across how i meant it to! don't necessarily take the highest grade you can - do whatever you like - high marks are fantastic, and i would never say do a grade unless you think you're going to do well, otherwise its a bit of a waste of time. I just meant if you can get 140+ in an exam you probably could (not should) do the grade above - not necessarily do well though. perhaps a 140 at grade 6 would be similar to a 110 at grade 7?
QUOTE(des @ Jun 25 2008, 03:21 PM)
that didn't quite come across how i meant it to! don't necessarily take the highest grade you can - do whatever you like - high marks are fantastic, and i would never say do a grade unless you think you're going to do well, otherwise its a bit of a waste of time. I just meant if you can get 140+ in an exam you probably could (not should) do the grade above - not necessarily do well though. perhaps a 140 at grade 6 would be similar to a 110 at grade 7?
Probably. But wouldn't you rather get a high mark on a lower grade, than a worse mark on a higher grade? I thought it would be best to work up slowly, instead of trying to skip ahead.
Anyway.. If this highest mark thing counted Theory, I'd be happy.
Grade 5 Theory - 96/100
And I was 10 at the time, haha!Quite weird how my elder brother barely scraped a pass (69) when we started revising & stuff at the same time.
I just re-read some of this thread....
And I feel so embarassed
And I feel so embarassed
QUOTE(melody_maker @ Jun 26 2008, 07:15 PM)
I just re-read some of this thread....
And I feel so embarassed
why?
I got 143 in grade 2 piano many years ago. And I just got 135 in my trombone grade 1. I'd definately say that just because you get a high mark in an exam doesn't mean that you should start skipping grades or that you wasted time doing that grade, surely it's just indicative of being fairly well prepared (and possibly slightly lucky! ) .
) .
QUOTE(JoJoTheMusicalGirl @ Jun 26 2008, 06:03 PM)
QUOTE(des @ Jun 25 2008, 03:21 PM)
that didn't quite come across how i meant it to! don't necessarily take the highest grade you can - do whatever you like - high marks are fantastic, and i would never say do a grade unless you think you're going to do well, otherwise its a bit of a waste of time. I just meant if you can get 140+ in an exam you probably could (not should) do the grade above - not necessarily do well though. perhaps a 140 at grade 6 would be similar to a 110 at grade 7?
Probably. But wouldn't you rather get a high mark on a lower grade, than a worse mark on a higher grade? I thought it would be best to work up slowly, instead of trying to skip ahead.
Yeah definitely! its what I did!
i think it was a silly thing to say in the first place..
I got 132 on grade 4 violin after playing for 6 months
My highest so far is 134 for grade 5 singing. I really want to get a 140 or above. One day i will (or maybe not )
My highest so far is 134 for grade 5 singing. I really want to get a 140 or above. One day i will
(or maybe not )
I probably don't need to say this, but here goes.
Exams are not an end in themselves. The whole point, surely, is to play music well and to enjoy doing so. Exams are merely an aid to that process, and for the most part what they omit is much musical awareness - the capacity to play with other people (which surely is what it's all about).
So while some people may be able to race through the grades, and still be musical, considerate, alert players, most of us need experience of playing, not just lessons and exams. The exams are just marks along the way, which help us to focus on certain points of technique that we might otherwise neglect.
I would suggest exactly the opposite to Des's original post (which s/he has had the grace to reconsider!). Maybe we shouldn't take an exam until we have the secure technique and experience to be reasonably confident of getting at least a merit/distinction mark.* And in the meantime, get on with playing music with others, which is the whole point of the exercise (for me at least)!
I'm not offering this as a rule for anyone, of course - just my 2p.
*I may be about to fall foul of this rule on my saxophone exam - though I did *think* I had a good chance of doing well !
Exams are not an end in themselves. The whole point, surely, is to play music well and to enjoy doing so. Exams are merely an aid to that process, and for the most part what they omit is much musical awareness - the capacity to play with other people (which surely is what it's all about).
So while some people may be able to race through the grades, and still be musical, considerate, alert players, most of us need experience of playing, not just lessons and exams. The exams are just marks along the way, which help us to focus on certain points of technique that we might otherwise neglect.
I would suggest exactly the opposite to Des's original post (which s/he has had the grace to reconsider!). Maybe we shouldn't take an exam until we have the secure technique and experience to be reasonably confident of getting at least a merit/distinction mark.* And in the meantime, get on with playing music with others, which is the whole point of the exercise (for me at least)!
I'm not offering this as a rule for anyone, of course - just my 2p.
*I may be about to fall foul of this rule on my saxophone exam - though I did *think* I had a good chance of doing well !
With regard to the rounding up discussion. My son has scored 128, 127 and 128 in Piano grades 2, 3 and 4, and 130 in Alto Sax for grades 4 and 5.
I've always assumed that rounding has applied and he has been perceived by the examiner on each occasion as Merit level for piano and Distinction on Sax and possibly marks tweaked accordingly (I do admire my son's consistant approach though
)
I've always assumed that rounding has applied and he has been perceived by the examiner on each occasion as Merit level for piano and Distinction on Sax and possibly marks tweaked accordingly (I do admire my son's consistant approach though
)
I did LCM for piano and theory and once got 98/100, cant remember which grade.
But best I got from ABRSM was 125 for Grade 8 organ. Pity I dropped 6 marks for Aural, which I was usully good at.
But best I got from ABRSM was 125 for Grade 8 organ. Pity I dropped 6 marks for Aural, which I was usully good at.
I did get 100% for theory (LCM) - in 1951! I only have a small press cutting to prove it, the certificate having been lost along the way, and the College records don't go back that far.
Got 130 in both grade 2 and 3 piano. Don't know how I managed it with Grade 3 - Came out thinking I'd not played by best by a long way
Highest mark i have ever gotten is in my most recent exam - Grade 7 piano.
I got 94 out of 100 - i did trinity, not ABRSM.
I suppose that would be about 141 if it was ABRSM exam?
I got 94 out of 100 - i did trinity, not ABRSM.
I suppose that would be about 141 if it was ABRSM exam?
I got 139 in my Grade 1 piano
Got 130 twice (Grades 3 and 5) and at that young age didn't understand that they might have rounded up - so just thought I was extremely lucky to have scraped a distinction
Then remember getting 132 in Grade 6 and being dead chuffed that I'd broken my 130 lucky streak (I skipped Grade 2)
Got 130 twice (Grades 3 and 5) and at that young age didn't understand that they might have rounded up - so just thought I was extremely lucky to have scraped a distinction
Then remember getting 132 in Grade 6 and being dead chuffed that I'd broken my 130 lucky streak (I skipped Grade 2)
i got 139 for my grade 4 sax. that was pretty amazing, and i don't think i'm going to manage that one again.
i got the highest mark in wolverhampton for a grade 5-8 violin exam in march... and that was 135.
and i know someone who got 145 for grade 8 singing
i got the highest mark in wolverhampton for a grade 5-8 violin exam in march... and that was 135.
and i know someone who got 145 for grade 8 singing
I got 131 (just a distinction) for my grade 5 piano last summer. I was so surprised when my teacher rang me up that I asked if he was sure he had the right mark sheet...
I also got 131 for clarinet grade 2 at around the same time.
This poll only concerns instrumental exams. What about theory (in particular grade 5) - what is the highest anyone has got for that? Mine was 95 (Sorry, I don't know how to add another poll to the forums!)
I also got 131 for clarinet grade 2 at around the same time.
This poll only concerns instrumental exams. What about theory (in particular grade 5) - what is the highest anyone has got for that? Mine was 95
(Sorry, I don't know how to add another poll to the forums!)
I've only done one exam so I won't do the poll yet. I'm waiting for my grade 2 exam result, so perhaps when that arrives!!!
I had 137 or 138 in my Grade 6 Singing. I was really shocked at that, as I'd thought the exam hadn't gone as well as it could have!!
Does anyone else ever find that? When you think you've done quite bad, you end up doing quite the opposite?
Does anyone else ever find that? When you think you've done quite bad, you end up doing quite the opposite?
I got my piano results yesterday for my grade 6 and got a distinction just 130! So was really pleased but my highest was 133 for grade 2 piano.
And yes I do usually do better than I think I've done.
And yes I do usually do better than I think I've done.
I have a new personal best 139 - grade 8 oboe
I think the examiner must have been really generous
139 - grade 8 oboe I think the examiner must have been really generous
I received 145 for Grade 8 oboe - the examiner was generous in my opinion
I got 147 for my Grade 5 singing, after 6 months of lessons at 14. I'm still proud of that one, as it was the first time that I realised I could be good enough to make a career of it (which I have/am doing).
I got FULL MARKS 
for my grade 5 theory exam when I was 17 .... (many moons ago!!)
BUT..... I'm still chuffed!!!! Technically you can get higher now as back then it was graded out of 99 (for some extremely bizarre reason ) Shortly after I took mine in 1992 I think they altered the marking scheme to out of 100.
Still I did get 100% and nothing can alter that.
for my grade 5 theory exam
when I was 17 .... (many moons ago!!)BUT..... I'm still chuffed!!!! Technically you can get higher now as back then it was graded out of 99 (for some extremely bizarre reason
) Shortly after I took mine in 1992 I think they altered the marking scheme to out of 100.Still I did get 100% and nothing can alter that.
Probably not noteworthy (no pun intended), but I got 100 for Grade 1 theory and 143 for G1 Piano.
I got 29,27,29 for my pieces in the practical (and am quite annoyed at myself for panicking in the B piece which I really shouldn't have done... it should have been another 29 but at least I recovered OK)
I got 29,27,29 for my pieces in the practical (and am quite annoyed at myself for panicking in the B piece which I really shouldn't have done... it should have been another 29 but at least I recovered OK)
QUOTE(AnotherPianist @ Oct 6 2005, 08:21 PM)
The ABRSM have prizes for high marks, although they're often regionalised e.g. highest mark in the county mostly they are awards set up by people donating money specifically for it (not too good if one is in New Zealand
). The Annual Reviews list all of the prize winners for each year. The prizes do vary but most of them aren't that big (it's the achievement of getting them that's important really) Wow! Thanks for posting this,
I'm so thrilled, I just found my name in the 2008 review for the ralph basset prize grade 5 violin in wolverhampton
wowwwwww
thankyou!
I got 143 for my Grade 2 piano.
Actually managed a 30/30 for one of my pieces despite a couple of slips.
Play alternate list pieces. The examiners don't hear them as much!!!
Lois
Actually managed a 30/30 for one of my pieces despite a couple of slips.
Play alternate list pieces. The examiners don't hear them as much!!!
Lois
My 2 highest are:
137, Grade 7 Soprano Sax
136, Grade 3 clarinet
137, Grade 7 Soprano Sax
136, Grade 3 clarinet
I recently got 132 for my grade 2 piano exam. (It was my first ever exam) Another one of my piano teachers students got 138 on her grade 2 exam, and she is just 9 years old!
I have a friend who got 11 out of 10 in her sight reading one time (another board). My top mark was 139 in grade 1 clarinet (I think)
QUOTE(kingsley13 @ Aug 1 2009, 01:24 PM)
I have a friend who got 11 out of 10 in her sight reading one time
Do you mean 10 out of 11??! 
No, it was definitely 11 out of 10! That was why we both found it so funny!
QUOTE(kingsley13 @ Aug 17 2009, 06:22 PM)
No, it was definitely 11 out of 10! That was why we both found it so funny!
hehe. 11 out of 10 is nice
QUOTE(kingsley13 @ Aug 17 2009, 05:22 PM)
No, it was definitely 11 out of 10! That was why we both found it so funny!
how very bizarre! I'd love to get marks like that *wistful sigh*
Me too. 
A couple of weeks ago, I had a dream where I got 30 out of 31 on a pieces in my grade 8 exam, and they balanced it out by marking another one out of 29! It was a very strange dream which ended up with them cancelling my exam result and I failed because they added it up wrong!
A couple of weeks ago, I had a dream where I got 30 out of 31 on a pieces in my grade 8 exam, and they balanced it out by marking another one out of 29! It was a very strange dream which ended up with them cancelling my exam result and I failed because they added it up wrong!
My target is 141 in my next exam in november
It's grade 3 piano, and I know I probably won't get 141 but I really want to, because the highest mark any of my piano teachers students have ever had is 140.
Wish me luck. hehe
It's grade 3 piano, and I know I probably won't get 141 but I really want to, because the highest mark any of my piano teachers students have ever had is 140.
Wish me luck. hehe
I got 143 for Grade 6 piano. And in October, my piano teacher rang up and informed me that I had won the Sheila Mossman Prize for Pianoforte (joint). 
I didn't even know it existed...
And in October, my piano teacher rang up and informed me that I had won the Sheila Mossman Prize for Pianoforte (joint). I didn't even know it existed...
I got 120 for a violin exam where my teacher (who was quite appalling BTW!!) actually forgot to mention that there were tests other than the pieces!! I also didn't find out until the morning of the exam that I had to do it with the piano. So, without any dedicated practice at any of them I attempted the scales and aural tests. To get a merit under those circumstances I think is pretty good going.
What do these things tell us really, other than it went alright on the night. I got a grade 8 distinction and carried on working towards the old Advanced Certificate for another year and then totally and utterly disgraced myself out the door at a conservatoire audition because the fire alarm went off and it put me off my stride so badly I played like my hands had not been introduced to each other.
I also didn't find out until the morning of the exam that I had to do it with the piano. So, without any dedicated practice at any of them I attempted the scales and aural tests. To get a merit under those circumstances I think is pretty good going. What do these things tell us really, other than it went alright on the night. I got a grade 8 distinction and carried on working towards the old Advanced Certificate for another year and then totally and utterly disgraced myself out the door at a conservatoire audition because the fire alarm went off and it put me off my stride so badly I played like my hands had not been introduced to each other.
I can't see myself getting anywhere near the mark I got for my last exam... there's just too much other stuff going on in my life at the moment and I've been too distracted.
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