I was just looking through the mark scheme of exams at home in "These Music Exams"... with my 7 year old and 11 year old sitting at the table with me (I was intending to look at recommended scale speeds with my daughter but got distracted). They are both doing exams this term... grade 1 violin and grade 3 piano... I was reading out advice to candidates and looking at the mark scheme ... my 11 year old really took it on board... and took the booklet off, mark schemes in tow to practice. It's been hard to get her to practice these last couple of days. I have never thought of giving my pupils a copy of the booklet... but if seeing mark schemes motivates them... might it be worth it? It went completely over the head of my 7 year old who is about to do her first music exam... Is there an age that they respond to seeing mark schemes...? or is it after they have done a few music exams and know the score? ( My eldest has already done 4 music exams...and is a merit pupil who could then see what she needs to do for a distinction). Obviously I tell my pupils what to do to get better marks/ improve the music etc... but my daughter's reaction was so definite and positive I was wondering if any of you had suggested your pupils read 'These Music Exams".
Thank you for your help.

I made an adult student of mine who did grade 2 aware of the marking criteria and I had it pinned up on the notice board next to the piano when practising for my grade 8.

I think it's useful to realise that marks are not added or taken away according to what you do but that they are given according to which set of criteria you most fulfill.

It helped me when I looked at it.

If you've got pupils of secondary school age, they might already be accustomed to mark schemes/marking each other's work so it could really be useful for them.

I use it after the mock exam to say "to get even more marks you need to be concentrating on these things".

Seeing that dynamics are essential for good marks is the single biggest factor in most of my students using them.

All of my students are given this booklet. I recommend that parents read it too. It answers so many questions. I mention the marking criteria in my comments on students' performances as we get closer to the exam.
It's a really good booklet - and helpful to teachers too.

Ann

It's an excellent little booklet - it answers many of the 'frequently answered questions' about exams that many people have.

where can you get this booklet?

You can down load it on this sight somewhere ands you can get it free in music shops...I just went in today and picked up 2 more copies .

I have found that GCSE and older pupils really respond well to the booklet - as you say Rainbow, they are so used to using marking schemes that it makes sense straight away. I also show it to adult pupils to back up my comments in lessons and to parents of younger ones. It's a great resource and it's free!

You can have a look at the latest version here.

This is the 4th edition I've had. Each time the Board release a new version it contains even more useful information than before. Yes, every teacher and candidate would find it very informative.

Was it Jean Harvey (the then Chief Examiner) who originally wrote it?