If I could find out where to email the board with this question I'd do so! If you know, do tell. Of course I could always phone.

Anyway, in the clapping the pulse test (test A) when it says 'The candidate will be asked to state the time' are they just after 2, 3 or 4 as the answer? I note that 6/8 and 9/8 are included [for 2 and 3 beats per bar]but it does not say 'state the time SIGNATURE'.

I asked my cello teacher this one (she'd an AB examiner) and she said that it's only the number of beats that are required - you don't have to say whether it's 6/8 or 9/8.

It doesn't say 'State the time signature' because it's impossible to tell just by listening whether it's, say,
3/2, 3/4 or 3/8. So the answer is just 3. Often candidates will say 3/4, because this is the only one they've come across. I don't think they'd be penalised; but the answer should still be 3. Similarly, if it was in compound time, you couldn't tell if it was 6/8, 6/4 or 6/16. Answer is, of course, just 2. Simple!