I'm thinking of submitting myself online for the June batch of exams as a trial run for my Grade 8 piano. I've not sat a music exam since around 1979 and think even though I'm not ready to enter for it (ie get the best mark I could) it would be very good experience for me in terms of dealing with nerves, playing in front of the examiner and the actual structure of the exam eg types of aural questions etc.

Do others think this is a good idea or not ?

I would obviously let my piano teacher know and submit myself ie not under their name as know they don't think I'm ready for it.

How about asking your teacher to do a mock exam with you... or to arrange for you to do this with another teacher?
My teacher has done this for my students when they've thought it would be helpful and I have for hers.

Why don't you do a performance assessment instead? It wouldn't help with the overall structure of the exam but would give you the experience of playing in front of an examiner.

that's a good idea actually.

if you don't think you are ready but still want to take the plunge to get used to the nerves, pressure...etc, then it is better not to do a *proper* exam but something a little less with a similar experience.

good luck in making your desicion!

I think you have 2 days to make your decision........ and if you've not already got a password that might be a bit short notice.

This is exactly what i did for my grade 8 flute. I thought i would enter myself for the exam just to get a feel for the pressure, i knew i would fail (my teacher told me so, and thought i was a bit of a waste of money) so wasn't expecting anything otherwise.

So i didn't care, even though i had been preparing for a while, i didn't care.

So i was very relaxed about it.

Please see the mark i got for it below in my signature

You could ask your teacher to recommend another teacher you could play to who would critique your playing. This would cost a lot less than £67.40.

Wow - well done you. Bet your teacher was lost for words, especially after telling you you would definitely fail !

After a lot of deliberation I've gone ahead and entered myself for June as feel really need the exam experience. If I pass then all well & good - will be a bonus. Having a mock exam with my teacher just wouldn't feel anywhere near as pressurised as you do in an exam and its that I really want to test to see how I hold out. Now I'm hoping my exam will be nearer the end of June !!!!

Hope you find it at least a useful experience... what does your teacher think about it?
I'd find a mock exam with my own teacher at least as scary as a real exam!