Just wondering how much different/harder grade 7 is to grade 6? I mean grades 1 & 2 weren't that much different, neither were 3 & 4, 5-6 was a huge leap I think but what about 6-7?

Were I to do it, it would be for nothing other than personal pleasure.

I think the jump from Grade 5 to 6 is huge, from 6 to 7 hardly anything. Of the 3 grades 6,7 and 8 I found Grade 7 to be the easiest.

Thanks, that puts things in perspective a bit. Maybe I should go ahead and order a past paper and see what i'd be facing after all.

Yes, I was going to suggest that. Have a look at a past paper and see what it looks like. Then let us know please

ROFL will do

I found G7 easier than G6. But then I'd done a lot of work for G6 and so maybe I was prepared more for it. G6/7&8 are very different from G1-5 and need total security of knowledge at G5 level before they can be attempted.

Well, as I have just logged on and found that I have passed grade 7, I feel qualified to comment. Previous posters have mentioned that there is little difference between 6 and 7. In many ways this is true, as the knowledge required to pass grades 6, 7 and 8 is pretty similar. The papers ask for demonstration of musical theory in different ways.

Congrats on your result!

Wel l have heard said by many that Grade 7 is easier than Grade 6, I suppose it is because by the time you have got there you have had to learn all the new stuff in Grade 6 which is a hike from Grade 5. Then to Grade 8 seems really hard. I did A214 in 2009 so it covered most of the stuff but I am still hoping to take Grade 8 at some stage.

Well the paper has arrived and to be honest it doesn't look that much harder than grade 6. As has already been said the comprehension questions 4+5 are similar, with just a bit more musical knowledge required e.g. translating the names of the instruments into English. The composition question has chords indicated for you, phrase markings in place to help etc. Question 2 is rewriting a piece given but adding suspensions, passing notes and stuff where required. I'd happily give it a go. That's my aim for March!

That sounds encouraging....perhaps I'll give it a go, but it will have to be June for me as that's the next exams here....

Possible to skip Grade 7 then? I find lots of teacher do that as they dont see it's worth the time to sit for the exam.

Will skipping the Grade 7 theory exam affect the learning of Grade 8?

Not if you've covered anything new between 6 and 7.

Whoops! Have just entered myself for grade 7 next period - oh well, here goes nothing, pass me a pencil and bring on the late nights.....!

This year I was thinking of jumping from Gr5 to Gr7 (since I was doing the A214 course inbetween), however, I remember getting stuck on figured bass. For Gr6 you can skip the figured bass and write the chords to fit the melody. For Gr7 I think you have to do the figured bass.

As it happens I found the Gr6 exam put me in a good position for the exam for A214 (the first two questions were very similar to Gr 6 questions). And from what I remember the step up to grade 7 wasn't too great.

I too will be doing Gr7 later next year just for my personal satisfaction - because I want to have (eventually) grade 8 piano and grade 8 theory, I think it's part of that manly collecting thing!

Good luck!! I'm going to give the theory a miss for a while as it appears I may be a little busy with a singing diploma, and I'm going to have a lot of reading to do for that....

Oh yes! Someone like-minded! I am doing it for the (sick & twisted?) pleasure too!