Any tips for helping boys whose voices are breaking with singing tests?
Is it acceptable to whistle?
Should the examiner help if they're having trouble pitching/choosing the best octave to sing?

The singing section of the aural is my pet hate. I have a lot of teenage boys who loathe using their voices.

One of my strategies is, a few months before an exam, to work out their vocal range and encourage them to practise singing 'their notes' with the piano at home. I find this gives some confidence.

It's often necessary to revise the range right up to a week or so before the exam. I then write this in the pupil's exam-piece book and suggest they show it to the examiner.

Whistling is fine. In my experience examiners are quick to spot boys going through this and usually find where their natural most comfortable pitch is before playing the actual tests.

Hope that helps.

Bag x

I do this too. Make a note of their current range in the day or two before the exam, and slip a note to the examiner at the start of the exam. So far, the examiners have all co-operated with this strategy.

Whistling is also acceptable, but I've had less success with this with pupils. Might be because I'm rubbish at whistling, but am happy to sing along loudly and gustily with whatever they can manage to take the edge off their self consciousness in practice sessions.

I have had boys whistle, and ones who say to the examiner "today my range is between this and this note"!
A couple of years ago I attended a seminar given by an examiner, and when questioned on this issue he said that if they whistled they would not get full marks as it wasn't sung..but I have not had anyone penalised so maybe it was just him!
Remember they can play or sing the test.

I think that's only from grade 4 isn't it?
And at that point there sight singing to add in to the mix so no escape.

True..but at least pre-gd4 it's only singing echoes over a relatively small distance so if your teenager is brave enough to show the examiner whereabouts on the piano his current range is, I've always found examiners happy to help.
And no matter what this examiner said, I have had boys receive full marks for this test whistling

What about humming loudly, is that acceptable?

I can't see why not as long as the pitch is clearly audible but I haven't got the regulations in front of me.
I have a pre-teenager boy who has difficulty in singing in tune because he strained his vocal chords - well that is what the doctor said when he lost his voice for several weeks last year He whistled at Grade 1 and will do so again at Grade 2. He is much more accurate whistling than he ever was singing.

I would think that as long as rhythm and notes are still clearly defined it would be acceptable - humming can swoop a bit

I've just tried humming loudly and it made my nose hurt

I whistled throughout my aurals between grade 3 and 8. I remember examiners finding my range of whistling before taking me through the aural exam. Can't remember if this happened everytime but it certainly didn't stop me from getting marks in the aural good enough to pass with distinctions so I'd certainly recommend whistling especially if the guys are struggling with their voices breaking!

You could always swop to Trinity exams - which is what my son ended up doing for his grade 5 trumpet - he can never be sure what note is going to come out when he sings at the moment - certainly not the note he can hear in his head. Plus he can't whistle