In the cadence question (No 7 grade 5).Sometimes the model answer shows the cadence 1 octave higher than we have written on the staves , sometimes 1 octave lower. Is there a rule for this or are both correct
Regards
Slarti

I don't think the octave you write the notes in matters as long as the notes are correct.
I always found it a lots less prone to error just writing chord numbers under the stave.

I don't think pitch matters as long as the notes are correct. As sbhoa says, why not just write 1, 1V & V?

Because then you have to identify the key as well eg E minor etc

i) It doesn't ask you to identify the key.
ii) If you don't get the key right you will identify the cadence wrongly anyway.
iii) If you are not confident with chord numbers you can write chord names which you will know if you are writing on the stave.

The only possible keys for that question are C, G, D or F majors.

sorry to sound thick
In the answer booklet eg 2010 s paper
it identifies in Chord c II / E minor
We can write out on the staves e,g,b
but we are unsure why it is e minor,
when all the other chords are majors , but of course we dont need to know if it is major or minor
if you just write the notes on the stave.
Hope this explains

Chord II in a major key is always a minor chord. If you build a triad on each note of a major scale you'll find that chords II, II and VI are minor chords, and I, IV and V are major chords.

However, you don't really need to worry about this difference at Grade 5 level, as all you need to do is identify that the chord needed is II.

Thanks Andante
my 12 year old seems to think that that might work , and it would be simpler , than writing the notes on the stave.We now have a system , this is very difficult if not a piano player .
many thanks

Yes, definitely stick to writing I, II, IV, V - much less scope for error

And of course when they ask what about VII, we cough and change the subject, like they've asked about that member of the family that nobody talks about

I also opted for Roman numerals in the exam, so much easier and quicker than writing out the notes.
Best wishes.

Also E G B is an E minor triad.
You'd need a G# to make it major.

Thank you Sbhoa,
You have no idea how far above my head that is
Can we just confirm please for the purposes of Grade 5 any II are always minors
PLEASE

Yes, they are.
Your 12 year old will have covered major and minor triads so though it may be above your head it's something that is part of the syllabus.
Though it's not as easy for a non pianist chords are arpeggios with all the notes played at the same time instead of one after the other.

For the purposes of grade 5, assuming the exercise will always be in a major key, yes. But in a minor key, the II chord (BDF in A minor) is diminished. However (it's a year or so since I've read the regs, only worked through past papers) if it's only going to be in a major key, that needn't worry us.