I'm taking my grade 8 theory in around november and my biggest problem is with question 3 composing... i took 40-45 min just to compose 16 bars... and this made me unable to finish the whole paper in just 3 hours... how do you guys manage to think so fast regarding the melody lines, especially the part where we have to create the new idea (bars 9-12) and any advice on how can i cut down the time taken to complete this question (in just 15min)?

ShArOn

For the composing type of question I get my pupils to compose at the piano for a few weeks, so that they can actually hear the sound. Gradually they get weaned off, when they can hear it in their head.

It's good to have a possible structure in your head before you go into the exam. Have cadences in set places dependent on what has been given - key etc. Try to have ideas for modulation, distinctive chords (diminished, neapolitan etc) and so on up your sleeve too.

Hope it goes well!

Put in some sort of chord structure first.
Make sure the rhythm works.
Then juggle the notes to arrive at your chosen cadence points.
It's a bit like a jigsaw really. I think of it as composing by numbers.

Why 15 minutes?

I reckoned that with 5 questions you have half an hour per question with half an hour left for checking an in case of needing a bit extra time for a tricky question.

because for question 1 and 2, it depends. sometimes i took around 40min but usually i took 30min. so to play safe, i hope to complete the question in just 15min. is it possible anyway?

ShArOn

I suppose it's possible... I don't think I could do it though.