I haven't done an exam for twenty years so bear with me!

Does the examiner ask you to play ALL the scales and arpeggios or only a selection?
As regards choosing melodic or harmonic minors - is it best to choose one type or another (if so which?) or is it best to mix and match?

When is the best time, in your opinion, to do the scales during the exam?

My teacher has never prepared anyone for an abrsm exam so I'm hoping that you guys will be able to help,
Thanks!

Hi Tortellini - up to and including G5 you have the choice of melodic or harmonic, but from G6 upwards you need to learn both forms. Best thing is to check out the syllabus ( http://www.abrsm.org/resources/pianoComplete0608.pdf) for full details. The examiner won't ask to hear all the scales in an exam, but you do need to prepare everything on the syllabus !
Cheers

From the signature I assume you are talking about grade 4. There is no need to mix and match harmonic and melodic minors to impress the examiner at grade 4. More likely to confuse him/her. I suggest you pick one or other form (whichever you find easiest, normally harmonic except perhaps on string instruments) and just pratise that for all minors and behave as if you don't know the other type exists, unless your teacher likes you to do both at this stage but even then stick to one for the exam.

On piano I would do the scales first as you can get a feel for the piano in the exam room before doing your pieces. Much easier to start with a roughly mezzo forte scale on an unknown instrument than to launch into the pianissimo opening of one of your pieces.

You certainly wouldn't have time to play all the scales in the exam, even in the early grades, but of course you need to know them all. They generally ask one or two of each type & often start with a couple of hands seperately. It's probably best to stick to one sort of minor for the exam until you get to grade 6, but it's always good practice to know both sorts if it doesn't confuse you.

It's a very personal thing to decide when to do the scales in the exam. I generally advise pupils to do them first, so they can get used to the piano, but in some cases it might be better to do the pieces first if you would find it easier. Some people find it easier to do scales when they're a bit more settled. Also, it does depend on whether you will be familiar with the piano already - in some cases you can be fortunate enough to do your exam in a place you already know well or you might be able to book a practice session.

If I were you, I'd try a mock exam a few times & see if you perform better with scales or pieces first.

Whatever you decide - good luck!

Hi! The examiner will ask you to play a selection of scales at random. At grade 4 you can choose either melodic or harmonic but not a mixture. Usually, but not exclusively, up to grade 5 the harmonic version of the scale is presented as it has the same notes ascending and descending. As has been said already, scales are often a good way to start a piano exam as it gives you an idea of what the piano is like, but that's entirely your choice. I always did scales first in piano exams but in recent sax and cello exams I chose to do them last. Good luck!

Not long ago I worked out that to play ALL the scales and arpeggios for grade 8, even with no repeats, would take me well over an hour (though I may have sped up since then). Whilst the requirements for lower grades is correspondingly less, even in grade 1 there is no way the examiner could ask you to perform all the scales and arpeggios in the time, even in the extremely unlikely event that he or she wanted to!

Indeed like others have already said: the examiner will not ask you for all scales, arpeggios and chords but only a selection (although you need to know them all to be prepared).
the minors: my teacher told me NOT TO mix and match, to play one or the other, I chose melodic for the pure reason that she told me most people choose harmonic (I like to 'stand out' ) I do also like them more anyway...
I learn both harmonic and melodic though as I like to 'know as much as I can', it's not confusing me so that's ok, but some people can find it confusing so in that case only learn either melodic or harmonic.

for the broken chords at grade 3/4 I prefer pattern 2 to pattern 1

I like to start with scales for the reason others have mentioned: to warm up and get to have a 'feel' of the piano at the exam centre.
good luck by the way!

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for the broken chords at grade 3/4 I prefer pattern 2 to pattern 1
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In Grade 4 we have to do both pattern 1 and 2 for the exam, while in Grade 3 it was 1 or 2. Easy to miss this in the syllabus!

I like pattern 2 as well

Things have changes since my day: In those days there was only one pattern of Broken chord, and that only at grade 1: it went 1 3 5 3 5 8 5 8 3' etc. What happens these days.

(Saying that makes me feel old, for a moment, before I start wondering what to do when I grow up)

aaaaaahhhhhhhhh, that is because I have not taken any exams yet and am only at grade 1 to 2 with my playing but love scales/arps and chords and have learnt them all up to grade 4, but as I am not taking a grade 4 exam I 'skipped' the bit where it says which ones you should play and I have learnt them all
good to know for the future though (grade 5 scales here I come LOL LOL)

Thank you for all the excellent advice!

At the moment, i am only aware that scales and arpeggios are played legato for ABRSM. I am taking my grade 4 piano, and wondering if slurring of the sdcales is going to occur in the later grades

Reimberse me please!

Apparently you can mix and match melodic and harmonic scales

I had always assumed till reading said post ^ that it was one or the other. I find it easier to stick with one kind but apparently it's not imperative.