I had my grade 8 theory exam yesterday...
I am very disappointed with it...

In question 3, I mistakenly thought that the piece was in G minor.....and in fact, it was in C minor (I realised that just 1 min before the end of the exam)......

I did it ALL WRONG!!!

I must get nothing in this part....

So unhappy......

(':(')

Don't worry, you can drop 34 marks and still pass.
Try to keep your head up, often your memory can only remember what you did badly, and this makes you feel down.
Best Wishes with it, let us know how you get on.

Wasn't there a similar thread to this a few months ago? Didn't someone suggest that even if you have eg. transposed to entirely the 'wrong' key, that you may be awarded a few marks if what you have written down is correct? In other words, the AB may give you some marks for your ability to transpose a passage of music accurately, even though it wasn't the intended key!

I seem to remember that there were mixed feelings on this.
Does anyone else remember ?

Sorry - I've just realised that this may not be transposition!

QUOTE (Rosemary @ Jan 23 2005, 09:08 AM)

Wasn't there a similar thread to this a few months ago? Didn't someone suggest that even if you have eg. transposed to entirely the 'wrong' key, that you may be awarded a few marks if what you have written down is correct? In other words, the AB may give you some marks for your ability to transpose a passage of music accurately, even though it wasn't the intended key! I seem to remember that there were mixed feelings on this. Does anyone else remember ? Sorry - I've just realised that this may not be transposition!

That was me- my sister misread a question in her grade 5 theory exam and transposed to the wrong key. I was of the impression that she would be awarded some marks for transposing it correctly even if to the wrong key, but unfortunately she received 0 marks for this question. However she still passed with 71 so it goes to show that mistakes such as this often won't cost the exam!

QUOTE (cecilia @ Jan 23 2005, 10:57 AM)

However she still passed with 71 so it goes to show that mistakes such as this often won't cost the exam!

At least she still did well then!

Yup. I do hope I manage a scape for theory.

Thanks all of you.

The question that I made the serious mistake is question 3 of grade 8, which is about composition. The begining of a melody for a musical instrument is given, and you have to compose not less than 12 bars to complete the melody.

I chose the question with cello. It has 3 flats, and it should be in Eb major or C minor. However, It has frequent F# and F natural in the given melody, and so I mistakely thought that it's in G minor (it is actually in C minor)......

Sigh...

Don't worry about it. Just forget about it until the results come out - you might be pleasantly surprised!

yeah dont worry. i have disasters all the time and usually come out ok

QUOTE

It has 3 flats, and it should be in Eb major or C minor. However, It has frequent F# and F natural in the given melody, and so I mistakely thought that it's in G minor (it is actually in C minor)......

I have n't seen the paper, so perhaps shouldn't comment, but I wonder if it's possible that the key was ambiguous ?

What you describe certainly has elements of G minor about it - maybe this key was implied and the examiners wanted to see if candidates would pick that up ?? This is grade 8 after all ... just a thought .... a long shot maybe !

Maggie

QUOTE (cecilia @ Jan 23 2005, 10:57 AM)

[QUOTE=Rosemary,Jan 23 2005, 09:08 AM] Wasn't there a similar thread to this a few months ago? Didn't someone suggest that even if you have eg. transposed to entirely the 'wrong' key, that you may be awarded a few marks if what you have written down is correct? In other words, the AB may give you some marks for your ability to transpose a passage of music accurately, even though it wasn't the intended key! That was me- my sister misread a question in her grade 5 theory exam and transposed to the wrong key. I was of the impression that she would be awarded some marks for transposing it correctly even if to the wrong key, but unfortunately she received 0 marks for this question. However she still passed with 71 so it goes to show that mistakes such as this often won't cost the exam!

1 of my students did the same thing with regard to the grade 5 transposition question, and still passed.-try not to worry too much.

I bet everything will be fine!!!!
Don't feel bad with yourself.


misspojo

Dear Clarinetlover,

you wrote "yeah dont worry. i have disasters all the time and usually come out ok." I can so relate to that, do you think its because we place high expectations on ourselves?
i.e. nothing is as bad as it may seem.

Craig

You are always your biggest critic, with the highest expectations.

For instance, say I get 26/30 for a piece, I will always say: "I could have got those extra 4 marks!"

QUOTE (nicki_flute @ Jan 25 2005, 04:04 PM)

For instance, say I get 26/30 for a piece, I will always say: "I could have got those extra 4 marks!"

lol... yeah... isn't it always the way? I got my highest set of marks ever for my last exam overall, and I rather suspect probably the individual marks are pretty high by previous standards (I may have got 28 before for a piece on some instrument at some grade but I don't recall offhand) and I still have to stop myself from thinking "What if I'd done this, would I have got 29?"....

d'oh...

QUOTE (sutty_73 @ Jan 25 2005, 12:24 PM)

you wrote "yeah dont worry. i have disasters all the time and usually come out ok." I can so relate to that, do you think its because we place high expectations on ourselves?

probably

I do that too- I think high expectations are definitely to blame.