Why does the Associated Board leave it so late to advise people of their exam appointments?

While this may be OK for school kids, whose music teachers work to term dates, it doesn't help more mature candidates.

I'm looking at the real possibility that both my teacher and my accompanist may have other commitments when it's my exam - and I certainly can't ask either of them to keep the whole of March free on the off-chance of being available on the day of my exam! And two weeks' notice doesn't give me much chance to make alternative arrangements.

Mature candidates also have to plan time off work for exams (which is not as easy as getting time out of school - especially if the exam is in the school itself).

And to cap this, the Board won't accommodate any preferences (e.g. Saturday mornings for adults) nor will they allow any flexibility once the time is given. Why not? Don't they want mature candidates to take the exams?

I see your point.

I'm not a mature student but even i find it difficult to fit in exams, even if it's not with arranging teachers! You have to leave all the posssible days that it could be on free, which is incredibly annoying, especially if you've got work. If you need time off work, arrange with your employer that you will definetly be needing a day off but you don't know we it will be. i'm sure he/she will be sympathetic. Hope this helps

Yes, I always find it a bit of last-minute scramble, finding an accompanist who's available on 'exam day'.

At least you don't have too long to feel nervous though...

Since I wrote the first message, the Board have sent my appointment for this session - with a whole month's notice this time which makes life a lot easier. And fortunately my teacher and accompanist are free on the day - thank goodness!

However I still think they need to sort out their organisation to allow a little more flexibility than "we'll tell you at the last minute when your appointment is, and if that's not convenient - tough, we can't rearrange it!" which is a little harsh
when they are asking you to gamble an exam fee on the off-chance of everyone involved being free on the day in question.

Special Visits outside the main exam session are a good way round this problem. I'm a teacher and a few colleagues and I get together every term to enter our candidates this way. We know our preferred dates well in advance and we get to control the timetable to cater for individual students' requirements. I'd never go back to taking pot luck again and I really sympathise with you. Maybe your teacher has colleagues she could link up with to use this system?? Good luck!

I usually have special visits at my home, but even so I find that some parents (remember that they have to bring their children - the younger children aren't allowed out of school on their own!) have a good deal of trouble sorting out someone to bring the pupil here and then take them back to school. But I tend to think that even with more notice, people would complain!
A comment the other day (I've just received my exam date and told the pupils their times) took the biscuit - he said that as both he and his wife worked he wanted an exam time during his child's normal lesson-time (completely different day, and well into the evening!!). I've noticed over the last couple of years that whereas previously the parents might groan inwardly but booked a morning/afternoon off without complaint, now an awful lot of them seem to regard their work as more important, and seem to think it's the teacher's fault that their child has been given an inconvenient time (for them)!

Yes Jo, I am starting to find that more parents are raising difficulties over exam dates.

I enter pupils in the normal way, at a centre. However, with me, it's often just after the closing date that the problems start coming out of the woodwork ! - various social events, possible holiday booking etc etc. It seems that some parents don't read information when it's given, ( I always give the exam period dates well in advance), and then start checking dates when it's too late.

So far my students have been relatively fortunate in getting dates that suit them, but there is sometimes quite a lot of hassle along the way, with parents trying to influence dates after the entry has gone in.

I have had parents cancel a prep-test after the appointment came; all sorts of excuses, but the main problem seemed to be no-one was available to take the child on the day.

Like you, I suspect more notice would n't help much in this situation.

Maggie

Hi

I agree more notice should be given. I have just found out that my exam is on 8th march, my teacher who is my accompanist isnt available so she is trying to find 1 for me. Also ive had to rearrange other commitment. Hopefully in june when i do my next exam i will know more in advance!!!

Nat