I know there's about a million topics on this... but I just wanted to talk about it. I'm taking my G5 theory on the 2nd of November - anyone else doing it this season? My teacher started preparing me for it around the end of July and though I think I'm quite well prepared I'm not overly confident.

As with a lot of people, my main worry is the melody composition. Which option do most people choose - the vocal one or the melody? Which do you find easier? Are there any general tips? I can kind of 'hear' the melody in my head (well, sort of) but sometimes I hear it wrong.

Also, for the transposing questions - does the question specify how many intervals you need to go up or down? In my theory book, the question is worded like "Transpose this piece for clarinet at concert pitch, i.e. a major second higher".

Finally, is it worth putting loads of effort into learning all the terminology? I did try but I think my memory is like a leaky cauldron - I can't remember it. I know my G3 ones (just) but I don't know my G4 ones at all, beacuse I didn't do that exam.

If there are any other tips that would be great.

I'm not entering this session but one of my students is...

I chose the melody-to-words option, simply because I word better with a 'template' of lyrics. I found it easier and what I wrote must have sounded ok because I got full marks for it! My student will do the other one if it is for an instrument she plays, otherwise she'll do the words one too.

There were two very useful threads that help with the composition - some clever person will put them up I'm sure! One explained how the examiners mark it (Gae?), and the other a template for composing an 8-bar melody (Steve ?) Sorry if I mis-credited anyone there!

All the past papers I've seen and use DO specify the interval you are to transpose.

The way I tackle the terms, and there are a lot of them, is to learn what you can, but not slave over it. You're probably only going to lose, tops, 6 marks for not knowing any, so it's not worth it unless you're looking to score really highly. I revised them obsessively and I can only remember being asked 'adagio'!!!

Good Luck!

I have a pupil doing the exam this time too - but unlike Suzymac, she's doing the melody option rather than the words, as we felt at least she has something to use and manipulate to create the rest of the melody. I've taught her generally to move to a chord V (imperfect cadence) in the 4th bar, and then to a perfect cadence at the end, and I've taught her a general chord progression to use as a general structure - something like I-V-I-V, I-IV-V-I for a very basic example. But obviously, some find it easier to work from words and create a melody from scratch. Past exam papers have tended to show some nice melodies to work with (as compared to the tiny snippets in the grade 5 workbook!!!) so I felt for her it may well be a safer option. But go with what you feel comforable with.

Three of my pupils are doing Grade 5 theory this time. In the sample papers I get them to do both the melody to complete and melody to words questions. They then decide when they have seen the paper which is best for them.

A secondary dominant at the end of the first phrase is part of the structure that I suggest to them. Probably most people at Grade 5 wouldn't do that.

Most performance directions seem to be from the lower grades in past papers.

Thanks for the replies. For the composing bit, I always end on the dominant on the 4th bar (whether it's the melody or the song) and end on the tonic. I also try and end on a perfect cadence at the end... and if there is an anacrusis for the song option, I make it the dominant going to the tonic. I think I'll just decide on which looks easier on the day.