Now that the on-line deadline has passed I'm hoping the first week's exam schedule will be out quite quickly. One of the teachers I'm accompanying for has asked for that week. On previous experience, teachers who ask for week 1 usually seem to get it, and I'm pretty sure the centre in question usually functions for the whole session. That's not the case at another of the centres where I often accompany, and a third one in a church keeps one day in each week free of exams.

When you receive your notification please will you say [a] when you receive it and [b] the date of the exam. That would be very helpful to me.

I think it's only by post.

My exam dates aren't through... but my daughter's piano date came today .... 15th June. I didn't realise her teacher had requested an early week.

It's possible she didn't - there are no guarantees! It would be interesting to know if she did.

I've just heard from the teacher who did ask for Week 1 that his exams are on Friday 16th June. He got the notification today (exactly 3 weeks' notice).

I asked for the very last week, but I had notification this morning that my exams are on the 20th June - in under a month's time First time in 4 years I haven't got the week I asked for! I've only got two going in but one is in the middle of AS exams so she hasn't really got down to the work for the singing exam yet. The reason I asked for the last week was because it was well clear of the school exam season.

David

Bad luck David. My dates started going haywire a couple of terms ago - last term was the worst so far - having asked for week 5 I got week 2.

Not heard about this term's yet but will post when I do.

Not had my practical dates through yet (asked for the last week), but my theory confirmation/labels arrived yesterday.

Still haven't heard, and my pupils are getting restless, constantly asking for the date!

I know the day my Trinity Pupils will be taking theirs, but not the time.

I wish exam boards would recognise that people had lives!

However mods, with the amount of entries you deal with, I don't underestimate the time involved in sorting this lot out. I did spend 2 years working for an examboard, so I know its a huge operation.

I rang the board this morning and they offered me two alternative dates - 5th July or 14th July! Needless to say, I went for the 14th!

David

Mine came through today for June 22nd - week 3 - which was what I asked for.

mine also came through today, correct date but wrong part of the country!! They had entered my pupils for norwich instead of northwich!! Never mind, I have sent in the corrections!

I heard yesterday that another exam I'm accompanying will be on June 20, and late enough not to have to miss my exercise class to get to it! I think that was the week that was asked for. Carol*piano I assume you aren't in England, where the week starting June 19 is week 2.

Have you all tried contacting the local reps before you put in your entries? I always ring mine, because the venue is a church, and the reps have to let the board know when it is available. So I get the information that "we have asked for this or this week". Then I go to our accompanist and request his availability for the week(s) in question and give the Board the most convenient date(s) for him. Arranging this is crucial as I have 17 candidates this time, and I shudder to think what I would do if we got a date the accompanist wasn't available. There is also the rehearsal to arrange too...
Hope this helps, because if I had requested a date outside the ones the reps have chosen, it would be a non-starter.

Ann

I am in England - it says it's week 3 on my date sheet!

I gather Suepea only got her notification for June 16 yesterday (after the Bank Holiday, and into half term for English schools). I hope all the teachers with week 1 dates have heard by now, but I guess there may be quite a lot of children and their parents who won't find out until next week. At least the piano candidates don't have the worry of wondering if their accompanists are going to be available. Heigh ho!

My teacher's away. I know she asked for week 1 for me, and I just hope that when she gets back that's what I'll have been given. The uncertainty is a right nuisance.

I too am pretty desparate to know, as my usual accompanist is unsure as to whether she can play for grade 5 as it is harder that before and she isn't sure she has the time to practise!! Don't know what the heck I am going to do if she says no. She is Grade 8 piano, thought that would be enough.
Beverley.

IT's not just being able to play, you have to be able to play comfortably enough to have braqin space to pay attention to the soloist.
Do you have to have had the date to let her have your music?
How long since you chose your pieces? If it's someone you know well she could have had them a while ago to be looking at...

My piano teacher is accompanying me in my grade 1 challenge... I don't have a date yet byut have asked for week beginning 26th June.
I dropped of my accompaniments when I had my lesson last week.

She has had the music since March! However, work has gotten heavier for her, but that has finished now, and she will only be working 2 days a week. If I get the first week of July I'll be OK with her I think.
Beverley.

It sounds as if you haven't rehearsed together yet. I strongly recommend that you get together very soon so that she immediately gets a realistic idea of what's going to be involved in doing a good performance in four weeks' time. Don't bank on getting more notice than that. It's not helpful for her to be wondering in the abstract if she can cope with the music. I also recommend that you put some feelers out to find out who might be able to take over if she can't do it. We accompanists can be heavily in demand during the exam sessions, especially those of us who are also heavily committed as instrumental or vocal teachers on our own account.

Best of luck!

Hi - I got my date this morning.

June 22nd - which is just under three weeks' notice,

and yet again is not the week I asked for.

My students are doing their AB exams on June 19th. I gave my grade 1 pianist a mock exam and she got 131, my son, who's doing his Grade 1 singing has a school trip on that day, so I've swapped my candidates around so that he can mentally prepare himself. He's got to memorise two of his songs still, and sort out his sight reading, but he'll be ready on time too. I always try to prepare candidates so that if they get week one appointment they have no need to panic. Mind you I did learn that the hard way, and my candidate passed on that occasion.

I always try to prepare candidates so that if they get week one appointment they have no need to panic.

of course - that's the only way to look at it - but at this point in the term I wouldn't have expected a week one appointment - or even a week two.

We have a school trip which I was also trying to avoid - which takes away days in two separate exam weeks. We've missed it - but only just.

My date came through this morning... for the 29th June... that's plenty of notice I think.... I'm pleased

You do seem to be having a run of bad luck with dates. Do you always ask for the same week? If so, might be worth trying for one week earlier next time if there are no school trips etc. to get in the way. I think this is the first time since I started asking about dates/notice that people have reported getting less than three weeks' notice. It's not a lot for children's exams especially, where it's not unusual for teacher, accompanist and car-driving parent to be involved.

Guildhall has been notoriously bad about giving ridiculously short notice. I wonder if the merger with Trinity will improve that. In my experience it hadn't by last autumn term.

Matti's exam is on the day of his school trip. Fortunately I'm going with him including the coach, so should be able to pace him during the day. The trip might even work out in his favour as it'll take his mind off the exam until he gets there!

Yes, I think so too, and more typical of what I'd been getting up to this year. Glad it's worked out well for you Clari Nicki!

When I saw my envelope this morning, I took a guess at around 29 -30 June and was surprised to find it was a whole week earlier.

Da capo - no I don't think I always ask for the same week, it depends on various factors. I did go through a spell a couple of years back of nearly always requesting (for whatever reason) the last week, and that seemed to work better - I think I just might go back to that system!

I think the problem is that as teachers we obvioulsy need to make sure that candidates are ready for week 1 no matter which wee we requested. This is OK, but what if we request week 5 and get it. Candidates are then ready 5 weeks early. I would say that is equally unhelpful as having candidates not ready in time.

I think the situation is only going to get worse, especially in the summer with Y2, Y6, Y9, Y10, Y11, Y12 and Y13 students virtually all sitting school exams at the same time. It is too much to expect them to concentrate on those as well as a music exam.

David

Got mine this morning - postman early for once! They're going in on 7th July - week 4 I think. I asked for week 5 to avoid exams as well, and I think July means we're safe. It's more notice than I've ever had before, more than a month!

It would be a huge bonus to be able to have a specific date a pupil can't make on the entry. I've often had school trips in exam weeks but when the only option was 'last available date' pupils didn't want to but before the trip as it would be 'too early'!

I did not request particular dates, but one pupils has very considerately been given a time for a theory exam and a practical exam on the same day. The problem is that the former is 10 a.m. (two hour paper) and the latter is 10.59 a.m. - in a different part of the city!

Which board is that?
At least AB don't have practical exams on the day of the theory exam.

I'm still waiting for my date.. I asked for week 3 and people seem to have those dates already.

Th board in question is actually ABRSM!

Ah, Jazz?
Maybe they don't think people will take jazz AND theory for some reason?
Looks like it's only this session they have that problem.

No - not jazz - Grade 3 percussion and grade 3 theory. Not my pupil, actually - my son.

EDIT - Sorry - I didn't give much info in my first post, and it seems to have turned into a guessing game!

Hi
I haven't got my exam date yet and am beginning to panic as my accompanist is going on holiday for a week in June. Wish you could get your dates "on line".
Capriwidow

im going crazy... i dont have my date yet. im really worried................................... really REALLY worried

You need to check the date of the practical exam with the Board. According to the date info on this page:
http://www.abrsm.org/?page=exams/regs/ukIr...kIre_03_04.html
the only possible clash between theory and practical exams is for jazz candidates.

Me too! It would save ABRSM a fortune in postage as well!

Patricia, is your son doing his exam as part of a special visit? ABRSM don't normally have practical exams on the same day as the theory exam.

I heartily agree - there's nowhere to put additional information on the online form. I sent a separate email asking if a particular week could be avoided as my candidate would be on holiday. AB acknowledged the email, saying that they couldn't guarantee it, but the date is OK.

I've yet to receive my dates yet (asked for w/c 10th July). It's quite possible the AB will give as little as about 3 weeks notice though, so don't worry if you've not had your date through yet.

Agree capriwidow, it'd be useful for dates to be available online.

Yesterday, 3rd June, I received the dates for my candidates' exams on 6 July. Good notice as far as I'm concerned - about a month.

Beginning to look as though mine might be later rather than sooner than the week I asked for.
Should've asked for the first week, I'm certainly ready enough.

On your advice, I did the same thing. I haven't had my date yet so I've got everything available crossed!

W

Got the dates yesterday for Monday 19th- so only 2 weeks & 2 days notice!
All 3 are Primary age, so won't see them for another week!
So, being the "conscientious" teacher that I am (read "panic"!) I rang them. 2 have booked an extra lesson at my house, & the other probably will too, when he's back off holiday.
Like other posters, I tell them to be prepared for the 1st week, so the following week is a bonus.

Nevertheless, two weeks and two days is a bit rough! Good luck.

Not as far as I know! I can only assume that the practical exam appointment is some sort of a mistake. I only got it at tea time on Friday, when I came home and opened the post. I will ring about it tomorrow.

I'm hoping that my girls will find out tomorrow when the visit to the school is for their exams - they're supposed to be in the week 19-23 June & 1 is going to France with the school on the 24th. They hadn't heard by Friday. If they do get that week it will be only 2 weeks & a few days notice. The session here finishes anyway at the end of June when the schools finish.

Andante's just let me know that my recorder exam date in Windsor's arrived - late afternoon on Friday 7th July. Asked for week 1, got week 4.......

I think that might have been because they had trouble with their usual venue and have had to use an alternative.

On reflection, kj, I don't think I asked for Week 1 because that would have had the 15th June in it.

That's true, I'd forgotten that point.

At least I now have a target to aim at, and a reasonable length of notice.