I was just checking up online as to whether or not my wee troop had had their appointments confirmed for this session's exams.

Not as yet, BUT I am delighted to see advance notice from the Board of when I ought to check - as from 11th February.

The ABRSM online service continues to improve.

I've just had a look - it definitely is an improvement. I also noticed a link to 'Exam Programme Slips'. Are all pupils supposed to fill these out? I've never used them before.

Yes, getting better. The programme slips are something some examiners like people to use, in which case they supply them at the exam venue. They are available online if you want to fill them out in advance, but you don't have to. I prefer my pupils to tell the examiner personally what they are going to play & I rehearse them doing so - I think it's good for communication, but if the examiner asks for the slips, we do them. We haven't had any examiner ask for them for a couple of years - it seemed to be a bit of a craze at one time, but now they seem to have forgotten about them.

i always give them the name and reference code:
it usually has two which i can pronounce then for the other one something like

B:3 - im not even going to try and pronounce it.
''Oh yes, that one''

Yes I noticed the list of advance dates yesterday, but I didn't post anything because I thought everyone else was sure to have seen it already and thought I'd get shouted at!

What, us? Shout?? (Not all of us, anyway!)

Do you know, the same thought had passed through my mind... but I thought I would mention it anyway, for anyone who hadn't noticed -- like yours truly.

I just logged on to find out when the exam dates would be posted, so this post has answered my question. The good old ABRSM forum to the rescue again!!