I was thinking of preparing for my Grade 5, but then I started thinking "it's just a piece of paper, right?" what matters more is truly enjoying what I'm playing (not that the two are mutually exclusive anyway!). Plus I'm 33 and to be hones the thought of more exams... on the other hand it could be a good motivator.

What I was wondering was if anyone had gone for the Performance Assessment option and what your experiences, if any, have been. What kind of info were you looking for from the examiner and were you satisfied with the outcome?

I did performance assessment instead of doing grade 7 exam.
The main reason was that I am badly affected by exam nerves and I thought that this might help.
Before I decided to do it I, like you, put up a question about it on the forum. I didn't have many replies but one I did have was from an examiner/teacher who recemmended it as a good move to make and one which examiners like too.

I was asked about my reasons for doing PA and alos what sort of level I thought I was performing at so that the examiner could use this as a basis for his assessment.
I was nervous but not quite as bad as in previous exams. The comments, both written and spoken, were helpful and encouraging. I was very satisfied with the outcome.

I did one and found it more helpful than an exam, best thing the AB offer. The feedback is instant unlike an exam, and that is its real strengh. The trouble with Associated board exams is it is so long for the feedback, by which time you have forgotten what you had done. The examiner also felt relaxed enough to chat at the end because there was no marks involved. Highly recommend.

Since have gone on to do exams but took Trinity because you get the feedback so quick, that is helpful. Also with Trinity you do not to have to take a grade 5 theory exam but be careful you do need to learn music theory to help your playing. I still learn theory gradually because you need it anyway. My piano teacher throws me papers from time to time to study.

Do not think that Trinity will be a soft option by the way.....It is not..........

I did the Performance Assessment in 1998. I played a Bach prelude and fugue and a Rachmaninov prelude. It was to help me to prepare for my Advanced Certificate three months later. It was good to get immediate feedback and I found it a very positive experience.

If you do a performance assessment will the examiner tell you (if you ask them) whether your playing was good enough for a pass (or merit or distinction) at the grade you believe you're playing at?

I definitely like the idea of immediate feedback and being able to discuss the examiner's comments with them. I got the feedback from my recent grade 6 exam just a few days after the exam itself - but it would still have been nice to have been able to ask the examiner exactly what some of his comments meant!

But you apparently need to be at least 21 years old or something in order to go for the performance assessment. I don't like taking the exams much because I don't like scales. Sight reading would be ###### for me because I find I learn pieces much faster now when I've heard the tune before.