Hello,

Just wanted some opinions from those of you who have entered students for the prep test. I have a beginner adult pupil at the moment who started playing a couple of months ago. She's doing well and would like to start doing exams as she progresses. I'm debating whether it's worth putting her in for the Prep Test next term, or to wait until the summer and enter her for grade 1. Any thoughts?

I think it depends on the pupil. I use the Prep Test fairly often for young recorder players, it gives them a good experience of the exam situation and a lovely certificate to show off without the stress of a pass/fail.

You'd need to discuss it with your pupil, does she feel nervous about the idea of exams, would she particularly want a certificate if it didn't give her a Grade result, would she feel the AB Prep Test materials are a bit childish?

I think she's a little nervous about exams, but I agree that maybe it is a little childish. I think a formal exam certificate would be more worthwhile.

Which instrument?

Flute

Both LCM and TG do pre grade 1 exams.
If she's keen to start exams so soon maybe one of these would suit better?

If this is an adult, why not consider a Performance Assessment - a chance to perform in front of the examiner and get a report/certificate but, like the Prep Test, no pass/fail and no additional aural, scales etc. Another bonus is you choose what you play in terms of the pieces, so you can go for things already in hand, not have to learn a special syllabus.

I think Prep Test for woodwind doesn't work out as well as Prep Test for piano. Personally, I've used the PA instead for adult pupils (prior to a grade exam) and this has worked out well and they've enjoyed the experience.

Good luck to your pupil whatever.

Not for an adult. They come into their own with young children.

Not perhaps the prep test, but one of the exams that sbhoa suggested. Sometimes adults who are slightly nervous become extremely nervous in exam situations so a relatively easy exam would be good to start with.

Just want to second this. I put an adult flautist in for this exam for the first time this session and it was a really positive experience. It gave her something to work for and the examiner's comments were very helpful and encouraging. I think the Performance Assessment is great for adults and would definately use this again instead of the Prep Test.

I started a thread about this a few weeks ago, as I too had pupils not quite ready for Grade 1, but not sure whether the Prep Test was quite right for these particular pupils. http://forums.abrsm.org/index.php?showtopic=27601. I asked for opinions on the LCM Step Exams, and as a result have now started preparing the pupils for these exams. So far, they are enjoying preparing the exercises and pieces - (1 adult (step 2 and 2 Children (7 yrs old - Step 1). Take a look at some of the responses on the thread - it may be of help.

Happy Christmas to all!

Thanks for all the comments. I'm a little reluctant to go with a different exam board to be honest as I like the ABRSM exams and am comfortable in entering people for them. Other exam boards just confuse me!! I think I might mention the performance assessment to her, or suggest waiting until she's ready for grade 1.

I think the biggest problem with pre-Grade 1 exams is timing it right, so that they're ready for the exam date, but not having to sit on the same pieces for ages, which can mean that progress can actually be held back. But I do think these exams are a good introduction to the whole process if you can get round that. I have no experience of the Prep test, because I've always found that if people want to do an exam they want a mark, so I use the other boards. It can be a pain, though, using different boards, because of having to buy different aural test books, and having to make sure you've read all the syllabuses properly - not to mention keeping an eye on all the entry dates and things. I'm always terrified of getting something wrong!

I don't use the flute Prep Test. I tried it out with one pupil, but I decided that the memorised exercise and the compulsory study were harder than a lot of the Grade 1 pieces and scales, so I tend to move straight to Grade 1 now.

I have to admit I don't usually bother with the piano prep test. I'd rather spend the time on other things.

I would agree with your comments about the respective difficulty of the material set for flute and it's the same for recorder. One of the descant exercises requires a slur from C to B so if you want to get it nice and smooth they need to learn the alternative fingering for B which I think is inapproppriate at Prep Test level. In fact I wonder if the person who set the recorder Prep Test is actually a recorder player as the pieces are (in my opinion)too hard

However, we do do the Prep test simply as a means of getting younger children into the way of doing exams, without which, here, I know the musical doors won't open. And I do think Grade 1 (particularly for piano) is quite difficult and needs a lot longer time to prepare than the ABRSM seem to suggest so the Prep Test is a help. But I would now like to see the contents revised and brought more into line with what young beginners should ber expected to do.

I am also a bit worried by the comments. I know the idea is to encourage and the certificate is always given
(which I think is a good idea) but I have had some much too encouraging remarks which have given falsely high expectations to parents.

I think a mark sheet would be a much better idea, even if examiners were not allowed to give a "fail" mark. Or perhaps a letter grade for each section - and couldn't we have some one octave scales. I find beginners actually like them!

Thanks for all the comments. I agree that maybe the prep test is good for things like piano or violin (instruments which progress slower). I wish I'd been given the chance to take it on violin!

I spoke to my student today and she's decided that she's going to wait and enter for the grade 1 in the Summer term.