Full Version: Exam Dates
Has anybody got exam dates for the spring session yet ?
Not yet but I asked for late March so it's probably too soon for now. They do seem to be giving longer notification these days but I still wouldn't expect to hear for my dates for maybe another 2-3 weeks.
I asked for the second week, so may be among the earlier notifications. Will let you know if I hear.
Heard this morning about my daughter's exam - Tuesday 27th Feb
I haven't heard anything and I asked for the first week- maybe it will arrive soon!
Haven't heard yet and don't want to!!! (Asked for the last week)
Post has just come and I've received my Practical Musicianship date. 2nd March at 15.20 
Better get practising....
Better get practising....
QUOTE(katyjay @ Feb 9 2007, 01:12 PM) 
Post has just come and I've received my Practical Musicianship date. 2nd March at 15.20
Better get practising....
Where are you taking it? My grade 2 Descant Recorder pupil's date has come this morning and it's 2nd March at 15.06.
QUOTE(Suepea @ Feb 9 2007, 12:19 PM)
QUOTE(katyjay @ Feb 9 2007, 01:12 PM)
Post has just come and I've received my Practical Musicianship date. 2nd March at 15.20
Better get practising....
Where are you taking it? My grade 2 Descant Recorder pupil's date has come this morning and it's 2nd March at 15.06.
Sunbury. See you there?
QUOTE(katyjay @ Feb 9 2007, 01:20 PM)
QUOTE(Suepea @ Feb 9 2007, 12:19 PM)
QUOTE(katyjay @ Feb 9 2007, 01:12 PM)
Post has just come and I've received my Practical Musicianship date. 2nd March at 15.20
Better get practising....
Where are you taking it? My grade 2 Descant Recorder pupil's date has come this morning and it's 2nd March at 15.06.
Sunbury. See you there?
Yes!
I think my exam's a special visit. 
Anyway, one on the 24th April, the other the 25th April.
Anyway, one on the 24th April, the other the 25th April.
I've just received the date for a certain recorder pupil of mine: Monday 26th February. It's going to be a busy week for katyjay. 
It's going to be a busy week for katyjay.
Eek - Exam dates coming through that early. I was hoping my exam wouldn't be until the beginning of March at the earliest. At this rate I've only got a couple more lessons and I am NO WAY ready.
I still don't have mine- the post had better hurry up...
Today's post came ...
and
9 March for recorders grade 2 and grade 3 in Cambridge. I asked for week 5 but got week 2
This happened last time too.
and
9 March for recorders grade 2 and grade 3 in Cambridge. I asked for week 5 but got week 2
This happened last time too.
QUOTE(tonic @ Feb 10 2007, 02:52 PM)
Today's post came ...
and
9 March for recorders grade 2 and grade 3 in Cambridge. I asked for week 5 but got week 2
This happened last time too.
Bad luck - that happened to me last time too. I asked for week 2 this time to see what happens - can't very well get 2-3 weeks ahead of the start date I guess ?
I asked for week 5 and my pupils has her exam on 5th of March in Cambridge. She's going to have to work extremely hard. I've only just started her on her last piece. There was a good reason I asked for a late date. I wish the board would take notice and at least try for something late if a suitable request came in.
Yes, David, I'm not complaining, more observing - it is pot luck.
But I find that exam prep is a balance between over and under practice for my young players.
I rarely ever begin exam syallabus pieces until the very end of the term before the exam. I just hate stale stumbling and bored, tired performance.
If pieces sound stale, we just learn a new one and the child chooses what to play on the day.
The thing that is worst for me is trying to get an accompanist - and our times are right during after the school lesson slot: neither of my two possible pianists is likely to be able to help us now. I'm feeling rather glum about it.
But I find that exam prep is a balance between over and under practice for my young players.
I rarely ever begin exam syallabus pieces until the very end of the term before the exam. I just hate stale stumbling and bored, tired performance.
If pieces sound stale, we just learn a new one and the child chooses what to play on the day.
The thing that is worst for me is trying to get an accompanist - and our times are right during after the school lesson slot: neither of my two possible pianists is likely to be able to help us now. I'm feeling rather glum about it.
I've just had my first accompanying dates. The teacher heard on Feb.10 that the exams are on March 9 (West Reading centre), in week 2 which was what he asked for.
Best of luck to everyone taking exams this time.
Just off to get ready for my first exam rehearsal of the day - it's half term in this area.
Best of luck to everyone taking exams this time.
Just off to get ready for my first exam rehearsal of the day - it's half term in this area.
If anyone is looking for an accompanist in the North West (Preston / Southport / Blackburn and possibly Ormskirk area then please Pm me - happy to help if I can
I just wish they would notify us of the dates a bit quicker, I have to give reasonable amount of notice to get time off work. As I haven't got a date yet it seems unlikely that It'll be on my birthday anyway (7th March)
QUOTE(dcmbarton @ Feb 10 2007, 03:46 PM)
The board don't make any promises about dates. I just don't ask for a week, and expect students to be ready for whenever the first date is. That way, if the date is later than expected, then it's a bonus.
David
Promises no, more consideration would be nice. The candidate concerned is one of my younger pupils. She'll be ready because she is highly motivated, but I feel I needn't have bothered requesting a week since it was clearly disregarded.
I feel I needn't have bothered requesting a week since it was clearly disregarded.
I agree with David - it's tempting to say that avoiding the week you ask for is starting to seem more usual
I agree with David - it's tempting to say that avoiding the week you ask for is starting to seem more usual
QUOTE(dcmbarton @ Feb 14 2007, 09:43 AM)
QUOTE(jod @ Feb 14 2007, 08:36 AM)
QUOTE(dcmbarton @ Feb 10 2007, 03:46 PM)
The board don't make any promises about dates. I just don't ask for a week, and expect students to be ready for whenever the first date is. That way, if the date is later than expected, then it's a bonus.
David
Promises no, more consideration would be nice. The candidate concerned is one of my younger pupils. She'll be ready because she is highly motivated, but I feel I needn't have bothered requesting a week since it was clearly disregarded.
Don't get me wrong, I agree with you, but in my experience even if you ask for a week, you seem unlikely to get it, and therefore I now say that any candidates I enter, have to be ready for the very first date. This is where LCM and Trinity Guildhall are better, because you know exactly which week the exams will be in (or with LCM, sometimes even the exact day). The AB would have to make considerable changes to their whole system to make a difference.
David
I agree. My TG candiadtes will be taking their exam on Monday 19th March as I specifically have asked for no Sundays for religious reasons. Still I'm sure there is a way they can do better than they do now.
QUOTE(noodle @ Feb 14 2007, 10:04 AM)
QUOTE(dcmbarton @ Feb 14 2007, 09:43 AM)
QUOTE(jod @ Feb 14 2007, 08:36 AM)
QUOTE(dcmbarton @ Feb 10 2007, 03:46 PM)
The board don't make any promises about dates. I just don't ask for a week, and expect students to be ready for whenever the first date is. That way, if the date is later than expected, then it's a bonus.
David
Promises no, more consideration would be nice. The candidate concerned is one of my younger pupils. She'll be ready because she is highly motivated, but I feel I needn't have bothered requesting a week since it was clearly disregarded.
Don't get me wrong, I agree with you, but in my experience even if you ask for a week, you seem unlikely to get it, and therefore I now say that any candidates I enter, have to be ready for the very first date. This is where LCM and Trinity Guildhall are better, because you know exactly which week the exams will be in (or with LCM, sometimes even the exact day). The AB would have to make considerable changes to their whole system to make a difference.
David
For those of you who didn't get your requested week, are you using a centre where the exams are on daily for the full session or just on for a week? Just curious!
Cambridge is not a small centre. I may change to Bury St Edmunds next time. I've had greater flexibility there.
Post has just arrived, and I have my appointment for March 7th
(the requested week this time - thanks AB)
(the requested week this time - thanks AB)
QUOTE(noodle @ Feb 14 2007, 10:42 AM)
For some reason I find I get a later week if I choose a larger centre whether I aske for the last fortnight or not!
Noodle I did choose a larger centre and still no joy!
Mine is 23rd March - just arrived today. But then the centre is only doing March 20 -27th!
Mine arrived this morning as well.
All for the 5th March - the week I asked for
Very happy as one pupil is going to be away from the 10th onwards, and I'd told her I couldn't promise anything, but she told me to go ahead and put the entry in anyway. Yay!
All for the 5th March - the week I asked for
Very happy as one pupil is going to be away from the 10th onwards, and I'd told her I couldn't promise anything, but she told me to go ahead and put the entry in anyway. Yay!
I STILL don't have mine. Here's hoping it comes soon...
Mine arrived today for 15 March - which is good notice. Also been given morning times (which I'd asked for if at all possible). Haven't heard about piano exam for 1 of mine, which will be same centre though entered by teacher rather than me.
I asked for week 1 and got week 4!
it's at 1.00 as well, which will mean I have to take the whole day off from work.
Oh well, such is life.
it's at 1.00 as well, which will mean I have to take the whole day off from work.
Oh well, such is life.
The rest of mine have just come. Friday 23rd March, the day I was hoping for (one girl is in the school play that week, and that day was the only one she could do - the centre has only 7 days of exams this time).
I got the date for my second batch of exam accompaniments last Friday (16th). They will be on March 13th, the Tuesday of week 3. The teacher asked for week 5.
Like Noodle I have wondered whether the allocation of dates is related at all to the order in which entries are received.
Like Noodle I have wondered whether the allocation of dates is related at all to the order in which entries are received.
My son's violin teacher has been saying since she put the entry in "I expect it to be in the week of 19th -23rd March" It has come through as 20th March (in a big centre that is running at least 4 weeks of exams). I don't know what she does but she does have a reputation for getting the week she wants, so clearly the system can be "managed" by those in the know.
I got my pupils' date this morning - 20th March, which is the week I asked for.
I also suspect this. I try to make a point of sending the entry at least a week before the closing date. I almost always get the week I want. I helps that I am entering at a big centre that runs for the whole session.
QUOTE
Like Noodle I have wondered whether the allocation of dates is related at all to the order in which entries are received.
I also suspect this. I try to make a point of sending the entry at least a week before the closing date. I almost always get the week I want. I helps that I am entering at a big centre that runs for the whole session.
QUOTE(Suepea @ Feb 9 2007, 12:19 PM)
QUOTE(katyjay @ Feb 9 2007, 01:12 PM)
Post has just come and I've received my Practical Musicianship date. 2nd March at 15.20
Better get practising....
Where are you taking it? My grade 2 Descant Recorder pupil's date has come this morning and it's 2nd March at 15.06.
Your pupils descant recorder exam is straight after my piano exam, coz my piano exam finishes at 15.05 (ish)
My singing exam is on that day as well but that is at 14.15-14.45 and then piano 14.45-15.05. I am hoping to swap my piano exam though so I can have a break and my teacher is in the process of sorting this out!
Mine is at Crowstone Christian Centre
I asked for my flute exam to be the last week of March and it is on the 16th !!!!!!!
QUOTE(katyjay @ Feb 9 2007, 01:12 PM)
Post has just come and I've received my Practical Musicianship date. 2nd March at 15.20
You'll be fine - which grade are you going for?
QUOTE(sarah-flute @ Feb 21 2007, 10:09 PM)
QUOTE(katyjay @ Feb 9 2007, 01:12 PM)
Post has just come and I've received my Practical Musicianship date. 2nd March at 15.20
You'll be fine - which grade are you going for?
Five
QUOTE(noodle @ Feb 21 2007, 11:03 PM)
What??? That's next week! I've never heard of so little notice for an exam!Good luck, Katyjay!
Thanks Noodle. It was three weeks' notice.
Good luck, though I doubt you'll need it
QUOTE(noodle @ Feb 22 2007, 08:14 AM)
QUOTE(katyjay @ Feb 21 2007, 11:07 PM)
QUOTE(noodle @ Feb 21 2007, 11:03 PM)
What??? That's next week! I've never heard of so little notice for an exam!Good luck, Katyjay!
Thanks Noodle. It was three weeks' notice.
Silly noodle didn't look at the date of your post and as I hadn't seen it previously assumed you'd got it yesterday! How are you getting on with it?
Wot no fingernails?
Seriously, though, I think I'm getting there. I'll be better able to focus on final preparation for it once the recorder exam's out of the way on Monday.
I've got a pupil doing Grade 3 this term, and his exam date arrived this morning - Monday 26th March, so the first day of week 5. I'd asked for week 4, so we get an extra few days in which to grasp the concept that if I ask for a scale of A major, it should start on an A
Less impressive is that I've been subject to a change of centre.
I'd asked for Crawley - but the exam's in Lindfield, which I suspect is the Haywards Heath centre (even though Lindfield is a few miles outside Haywards Heath), so we're heading well and truly off the beaten track in deepest darkest rural West Sussex Oh well, an opportunity to sit by the duck pond with a cup of tea and a sticky bun afterwards, I suppose.
Less impressive is that I've been subject to a change of centre.
I'd asked for Crawley - but the exam's in Lindfield, which I suspect is the Haywards Heath centre (even though Lindfield is a few miles outside Haywards Heath), so we're heading well and truly off the beaten track in deepest darkest rural West Sussex Oh well, an opportunity to sit by the duck pond with a cup of tea and a sticky bun afterwards, I suppose.
QUOTE
so we get an extra few days in which to grasp the concept that if I ask for a scale of A major, it should start on an A
I've got a couple of those too!
I asked for week 5 and got it - I heard yesterday that the exams will be on March 28th. Thanks, AB.
QUOTE(elliewelly @ Feb 24 2007, 08:53 PM)
QUOTE
so we get an extra few days in which to grasp the concept that if I ask for a scale of A major, it should start on an A
I've got a couple of those too!
I asked for week 5 and got it - I heard yesterday that the exams will be on March 28th. Thanks, AB.
I would also like to say thank you to AB. I requested the last week and we got the date today - 26th March. Haven't entered myself before so didn't know what to expect, so pleased we got what was requested
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