I currently have two pupils wanting to do these. One is Grade 6 theory, the other hasn't done theory grades at all but has taken AB Grade 5 Jazz, and writes a lot of her own compositions, albeit by ear.

The requriements from Grade 2 to Grade 8 don't seem an awful lot different, so there must be a big difference in expectation, surely? What they want for Grade 2 looks pretty hard, for just a Grade 2 (to me anyway).

So, anyone had any experience? Any advice welcomed!

Emsoboe is having a look at one of the LCM Composition exams at the moment. Your thought are useful David.

It's early days so don't know if she will take the exam but it gives her a goal to work towards and keeps her thinking about compositions over the next 2 years before she can take A level.

Grade 6 Theory is a plan somewhere along the line too.

Interesting you should say these things David. My daughter did Grade 2 LCM composition and had similar marks and also similar feedback plus rather mealy mouthed comments on presentation because she hadn't equalised bar lengths on the page sufficiently for example!

That said, many comments were very encouraging especially on the more truly creative sections of the exam rather then the arrangement parts. And I think the structure and work projects are quite well considered. These exams allow candidates to practise some useful skills in the preparation of a convincing portfolio - skills that they may not get encouraged to develop as part of a GCSE syllabus for example.

In response to the OP's comments on the level - they are not theory exams and you do need much more than Grade 2 level theory to put a grade 2 composition portfolio together. Also be careful with "by ear" composers! Teachers and/or parents need to ensure they can attest to the work being that of the candidate alone I seem to remember but may be confusing this with something else?

Even in the early grades they like to see some originality and flair. I have found their reports very encouraging when students have entered them. Layout is important as is accuracy of course. They want to see well presented scores. These exams are so far above some of the music that is presented at GCSE level I find. I use then with students who have decided for various reasons not to take the GCSE music course but who want to take it at A level.

Do you have to send a CD in with the scores?
And also, how would you put together the portfolio? would Comb Bound be ok?

Yes, a cd is a good idea. My students have used clear perspex sheets to protect the scores and slide bindings.

This is all really useful stuff, thank you!

I'm looking at doing Grade 2, to help with learning theory and for fun (I like learning, I'm sad!)

musicposy, I gathered a few threads with useful info on this thread http://www.abrsm.org/forum/index.php?showtopic=37849 - you might find some useful additional help in the threads linked to there (I just added this one too)

I keep promising myself I'm going to finally take one of these exams...