I've got back from my guitar festival feeling all inspired, and have decided to bite the bullet and start getting ready for some grades. Here's the problem. I still haven't done grade 5 theory (am planning to do it next term) so the earliest I'll be able to do post grade 5 grades is next year. My intention had been to get ready for grade 6 early next year, and then work towards grade 8. But I played through some grade 6 work last night, and found it very easy (played the pieces through first time, pretty much sight read, for example). I'm not sure I could quite cope with going over the grade 6 stuff for six months and more, and don't want to slow down my learning of more complex pieces and technique. But I'm not sure about jumping straight in at grade 8. I'm also quite aware that, because I was self taught, there are big gaps in my knowledge of guitar playing that would make leaping in at grade 8 feel a bit scary. I'm not a confident guitarist (and as felix will tell you, my playing suffers very badly when I'm nervous), but was told by two tutors on this course (independently) as well as by my own teacher that my playing standard is post grade 8.

I want to do exams, but I want to do them to learn things, not just for the sake of doing exams (if that makes sense).

So... what would you do?

Trinity offers a First Concert Certificate, which is somewhere "above Grade 5" - somebody else could give you a better idea. I read about it a while back and forget the details, but I think you get to put together your own programme???

ABRSM has ensemble exams at several levels for duos to quartets I think - guitar not listed, but I think it's possible that an ensemble including classical guitar might be accepted if you and another instrumentalist had a serious proposal??? (I know that's an irresponsible thing to say on a forum, but I seem to remember reading several "try us on" comments in various ABRSM syllabi, so you never know.)

Hm. The first concert certificate sounds like an interesting idea. I'll go and have a look. My only hesitation is that I'd quite like to keep all my instruments with the same board, and my guitar teacher has a preference for ABRSM. I'll talk it over with him.

Why not take something that doesn't require theory grade 5 (such as Trinity grade 6 or concert certificate) while you are working for the theory exam. It will give you experience in playing with nerves or under pressure without delaying you and be at an easier level. You can then switch back to ABRSM for grade 8 after you have the theory and you will have a bit more exam experience to help with nerves etc.

Best of Luck whatever you choose

I've thought about that earplugs. Have to confess I don't really like the trinity guitar syllabus (am I alone on that one?). It does seem a sensible idea, though, you're right, to get a sense of the exam on easier material.

Have you considered taking RGT exams on LCM? There's no theory requirement for those.

AB offer Performance Assessment for adults - could this be useful? I think you choose your own 15 min programme and I believe it's not given marks as such - it's an assessment of playing with no aural or sightreading.

I'm not very good at posting links, but on the ABRSM site the information is in the 'graded exams' section.