HI There

I am an adult student and I took my exam in a centre that I consider unfit for examining purposes. Would it be possible if you could clarify if these points are worth raising to the ABRSM or not?

The exam took place in an empty hall next to a busy road at rush hour.

When the examiner asked me for one particular scale, I had to ask her to tell me again as I really couldn't hear her due to the acoustics of the hall. The examiner admitted then that the acoustics were a bit 'washy'. For another scale, a siren went off from a vehicle outside and at that point, I made my only mistake (that I know of) in the scale section. I play the guitar and being a quiet instrument, here comes my next problem. For the quieter sections in all the pieces, I couldn't hear myself play so I doubt the examiner could.

Do you think it's worth bringing this to the attention of the ABRSM or am I just being fussy? I took my previous ABRSM exam with them in a far more music making friendly centre and had only praises to sing (excuse the pun) about that centre.

Many thanks for your help.

G

I also think you should make ABRSM aware. I am sure the examiner will take into account your difficult circumstances and make allowances but that sort of situation could make a usually good performer, who would normally pass, fail if they totally fell apart. You sound quite calm so it sounds as if you did well under the circumstances.

Yes that sounds far from ideal... Letting the AB know is a good idea, and I know it's been done before where centres haven't been acceptable.

No, I don't think you are being fussy. The location sounds extremely unsuitable.

If you can't hear yourself play - well !

Sorry to hear you had this bad experience gwu.

Thank you for your replies and support.

I'm just disappointed that after all that preparation I might be penalised for something that wasn't my fault at all. Everything had gone so well (except aural as usual), it's just that I don't think the examiner could hear the quieter sections of the pieces or even in the sightreading sample and I'll be very annoyed if I lose marks for that when in a more suitable environment, the examiner would have heard it all. I'm not even that miffed about the siren going off and causing me to play one wrong note in the scale.

Anyway, I've filled in one of those contact forms from the ABRSM website.

Thanks again.

G

Yes you should definitely let the board know about this venue. And if you feel you have dropped marks and this may be due to the surroundings I suggest you mention this too. I have done this in the past with regard to two of my pupils and they kindly gave them the benefit of the doubt and awarded them a couple of extra courtesy marks.

Sorry you had such an unpleasant exam experience. It occurs to me that perhaps the examiner him/herself might also complain. It can't be much fun examining in those sort of conditions.

It is worth complaining. Several of us complained to the board about the piano in our local exam centre and they now hire in a much better alternative. If the venue remains the same, perhaps you could consider travelling somewhere else in future - there must be another centre within striking distance?

Thanks for that info. I did mention in my email to them that I felt the siren caused the only error in the scale section. I was thinking that if they offered to examine me again that I would refuse, and go straight to the next grade, assuming teacher okayed it.



Yes SueHM, last time I was examined it was at the ABRSM head office. I haven't changed my examining centre preference but this time, they put me at this unsuitable venue. Perhaps they have more candidates this examining period.