Hi all

The results for (UK) diplomas are released next wk, starting 21st Feb!!!

Who else is waiting? I am waiting for results of a resit......I so hope I did better this time

Good luck everyone

Likewise

and good luck too!

I'm waiting for two of my students to get their results. The exams seem absolutely ages ago now!

I almost forgot I took the exam 3 months ago. WHY does it take this long ?! It's ridiculous. Everyone asks me, how did you do ? I keep saying, I don't know, haven't got it yet. They are all in disbelief! ABRSM has to do something about this jurassic age system of giving out results.

No possible satisfactory explanation can be given. Other boards DO NOT take this long. By taking SO LONG to ratify the results does not make ABRSM more "high in standards", or the diplomas more difficult/challenging.

It just says to me, they are not efficient. Especially in high technological times, even University's applications do not take this long for decisions!

I am still waiting for mine. It's a good test of my patience.

Good luck to all of you !

STILL waiting too....hopefully I can change my tag line :-)

ahh! so if they send them on the monday- surely we will all get the results on tuesday right? i heard that only 40% pass- so that means 60% fail- gosh i sure hope i pass

I've not done a diploma, hence I am not awaiting results (good luck to all of you who are), but I am intrigued by the length of time taken to get the results out to people. I appreciate that it takes time to get through red tape and so on in producing results but the time taken does seem excessive. If the entire of the exams can be done in 5 days including assessing every single performance to a high standard, why should it take 8 weeks to verify what has been done completely within 5 days? Fewer people dedicated to it, or simply a long protracted processes? I don't suspect (although I may be wrong) that the tape from every exam is listened to and reviewed again so what happens during the process? Most questions about why it takes so long are met with the official line:

QUOTE

Diplomas are additionally sent for review and ratification by one of our diploma committees. This process is a vital part of our quality assurance procedure and may take several weeks. As with all our exams, diploma results will be made available as soon as possible.

I'm sure that the AB aren't just sitting on the results to make people more nervous, but perhaps if some explanation as to precisely the nature of the process of quality assurance the time taken could be better understood. What do the diploma committies do in ratifying and reviewing the results and how long do they spend on each exam result (I appreciate that some will need more time than others)? I think that perhaps the feeling could be that the results sit on a desk for seven weeks and then get sent to the committie in week 8. Is it because the exams are marked in 5 days by many different (pairs of) people but the same committie has to somehow verify all the results so this takes longer? Are the recordings of every performance used in verifying the results (this seems unlikely as it would take a long time), or do the committie somehow judge how well a performance was evaluated without hearing it? Is it just discrepancies between markings of different examiners that are addressed (i.e. if one examiner fails more people than others their recordings will be checked to verify their marking)?

I think that it is important that there is a very strict quality assurance process in place to ensure that all of these exams are marked fairly and other exams can take similar lengths of time to return results (e.g. A levels) but it would perhaps help to understand the length of time if it was clearer what the quality assurance process was.

Apologies for my digression, and good luck once again to all of you awaiting your results.

Anotherpianist ! THANK YOU !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I couldn't put it better! (B/c I am so frustrated at them !!!! Can't think calmly anymore.)
Any plans related to "piano" in my life is absolutely on hold right now, I can't do anything without knowing the results. I need to KNOW NOW. It's been MORE than 3 months since my exam, AND I called yesterday to ask whether the results have been sent out yet. They told me, NOPE, and they have NO idea when either.

It's unbelievable. Absolutely unbelievable. presently with Royal Conservatory of Music of Canada, candidates find out results by internet in 1 week. The actual certificate takes a lot longer in the mail and the results and comment sheet takes up to 2 months to arrive. THIS seems caught up in techology and seems to be fair to candidates AND teachers.

I don't even know if I still need to hold my place with my teacher! I can't make any travel plans, any school plans, or in take more students ..... b/c I suspect I have to retake the exam the end of this year ? Or maybe not ? UGH !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I cant believe that the results still havn't been sent out yet. I can understand that they need time to make a decision, but surely once it is decided they can let people know in smaller batches, rather than waiting to send all results together. Surely it wont make any difference to the board to let people know as soon as a decision is made. I wouldn't mind waiting for the certificate to arrive 6 weeks later as long as I knew the result so that I could plan the next course action in my career. This is my second diplomer , I had the result of my first one with another board 2 days after, but waited 6 weeks for the certificate. Very acceptable

My results has arrived today.

And...?

I have got a result that makes me think that I could use time in a better way by looking at other things in life.

how did u do. hope u done well! is it a full and detailed report of all the pieces or just a general overall assessment. Mine still hasn't arrived , have anyone else heard yet? Good luck everyone.

QUOTE (Yogesh @ Feb 22 2005, 12:54 PM)

My results has arrived today.

Are you in the UK or elsewhere?

Sorry to hear that you weren't pleased with your result (I assume this from your comment).

I also took my teaching diploma (piano) exam 3 months ago and am getting very impatient waiting for the results! I dread going to check for post on my door mat as I know (assume) that if it's a small envelope then I've failed, but if it's a big A4, certificate-sized envelope, then I've passed! And there was no post today at all!!!!!! I'm having real trouble concentrating on anything at the moment. Come on ABRSM, put us out of our misery!!!

Mrs M

It's now wednesday! Still havn't heard! Panic has taken hold!!!!!!

When I failed last time I got a small envelope. Hoping this time I get a nice big one saying "Certificate Enclosed"!!!

If not, then do I really attempt it for a thrid time?! I really want to get it but maybe I just ought to face up to the fact I'm a useless teacher as far as ABRSM are concerned - although I haven't had a pupil fail yet and they all enjoy their lessons!

If I fail I will be disappointed but its not the end of the world, I'll just keep trying until I got the letters after my name. Once u have them, u havn't got to add haw many tries u had to get them. I just need to know!!!!!!!
My post has just arrived, result no small or large envelope for me.

My results arrived this morning and I'm in the UK so hopefully you'll hear soon. Good luck!

QUOTE

My results arrived this morning and I'm in the UK so hopefully you'll hear soon. Good luck!

And? Tell tell. How did you do? I hope you passed

Mine havent arrived yet

QUOTE (yamaha @ Feb 23 2005, 10:58 AM)

And?   Tell tell.  How did you do?  I hope you passed  :)

I passed I got 59 overall, which I was pleased with; 30 for pieces, 19 for the viva and 10 for the quick study. A couple of comments about the pedal, although it had about 1cm of travel from fully off to fully on, so it was difficult at the best of times. Are all Steinways like this?

Good luck to everyone else, I hope you get the results you expect! (or get the opposite to what you expect for those who think they've failed )

WOW, BRILLIANT. Do they comment or mark each piece of your recital. Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Fantastic result

QUOTE

I passed  I got 59 overall

Well done!!! Great mark on the Viva!

Still waiting on mine, but then if last September was anything to go by the UK results trickled out over the entire week.
Sanguinely prepared for small envelope, secretly, fervently, wishing for an A4

Musica4 - you don't get a mark per piece, but you can expect a few comments on each one. They've only got about 3/4 of an A4 sheet to provide feedback on the recital, so don't expect an essay on each.

If you've passed does the certificate come with the results or later on? i don't really want to find out whether i've passed my diploma by looking at the size of an envelope on the doormat!

to yet another pianist. What pieces did you play for the diploma? Do you think your choice of pieces made a difference and which was your favorite one?

QUOTE (musica4 @ Feb 23 2005, 07:08 PM)

to yet another pianist. What pieces did you play for the diploma? Do you think your choice of pieces made a difference and which was your favorite one?

I played, in order:

Preludes 9 and 16, Op. 11, Scriabin
Sonata in C Minor (Pathétique), Beethoven
Etude No. 3, Op. 4, Szymanowski
Prelude and Fugue 16 in G minor, WTC I, Bach
General Lavine - Eccentric, Preludes Book II, Debussy

I ordered the programme very deliberately:

• opened with a major, positive-sounding, Scriabin prelude and finished with the lively Debussy;
  
• no two romantic pieces are adjacent (apart from the Scriabin pairing;
  
• the Beethoven is early on in the programme to maintain stamina for the first movement;
  
• the Bach clears the palate after the Szymanowski.
  

Of all the pieces I think the Bach was my favourite. I think one of the reasons is that its the piece I started working on most recently, about 9 months before the exam. The other pieces I'd been playing for longer, although I didn't really practise them properly (a little short of motivation as an undergraduate as I didn't have a piano of my own and walking a long way and sitting on my own in a cold room isn't that much fun). The Szymanowski was good too, it's the first piece I chose simply on the 'I have to play that' criterion. I think that my preference of pieces came across in my playing too - the examiners' comments seem to suggest that those two pieces were better played than the others.

If I were to do it again, I wouldn't play the Pathétique - not that I have anything against it, but since I chose it my knowledge of the other Beethoven Piano Sonatas has developed. I ended up playing it more because I happened to have the music. I'd probably pick no. 12; my advice on this to anyone would be to listen to them all a good few times each and pick the one which suits you. The popular ones I'd guess are easier to get into after maybe one listening - that's why they're popular, after all! The others, give it a few goes and they'll click. No. 12 is less splashy than the Pathétique but some of the variations are just so much fun - I'm learning it now recreationally, just so I don't miss out!

Does the choice of pieces matter? I'd guess balance is an important consideration - trying to argue that Baroque music is irrelevant in a viva wouldn't be easy! You will play the pieces that you like better than the others, something I've learnt from the comments today, so try to pick a programme that is balanced and that you feel you enjoy - don't pick anything because you feel it needs to be in, or it fills the time up nicely. Really do try to explore the syllabus in choosing your pieces - I explored it a lot after I'd chosen mine, and regretted a few of my decisions. By the time I came to the Bach I pottered around with 12, 14 and 16 for a week or two and settled on 16. Besides, it'll hardly do your sight reading any harm!

Finally, do the programme notes well in advance - you'll learn something that'll affect the way you approach the piece. The Mozart A-minor sonata (K310?) is different once you know he wrote it upon his mother's death - it immediately loses all pretence of being superficial and pompous.

Thanks, sounds like good advice. I played bach, Haydn, Schubert, Debussy and Bartok. Hope I hear soon, either way Ijust need to know and then can get down to studying for my A Levels. Once again, CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!

I got my results today..........I failed again

Congratulations YetAnotherPianist

sorry to hear that yamaha. are you going to do it again or have a break for a while?

Congrats, YAP (lol...) Sounds like you worked hard and thought your programme out well and got the result you deserved! Well done - hope you're as pleased as punch!

Results arrived today, over the moon! Best of luck everyone else who is waiting. :

Well done musica4, and commiserations Yamaha.

Working from home today, the post's been and gone and no envelope. Am now hoping that they DON'T arrive tomorrow as it's the Adult Learner's Concert... Don't want any distractions!!

Arrrgghhh!!!!! Today's post has been and gone, and still no results!!!!

I understand that it takes time for the ABRSM to do the assessment etc, but surely, if they know that they are going to be delayed, they could at least let those people affected know a rough date of when they can expect to receive the results.

I would much rather know if my results are going to take another week to arrive so that I can waste my nervous energy elsewhere!

Mrs M

Bad luck Yamaha - best of luck when you do it next time.

Not appeared on my doorstep yet. But in a way at least it drags out the hope for a little bit longer!

Hi all

Well done to everyone who has passed and good luck to those still waiting.

I'm not sure what to do next really, I also want to do the teaching Dip so maybe I'll do that and try some different pieces for the performance Dip. I dont really want to use the same pieces again, I've done the exam with them twice now!! Trouble is I spent so much time researching for the viva and new pieces of course means new programme notes etc.......

What do you think? Anyone else ever done a resit and changed their pieces?

QUOTE (musica4 @ Feb 25 2005, 09:18 AM)

Results arrived today, over the moon!

musica4 - well done

sarah-flute - thanks; I wonder why punch has a reputation for being particularly pleased....

Yahama - sorry to hear about that. It's good that you're sticking it out though. Perhaps looking at another piece or two might help, even if you just use it to work on some technique and have a little break from the pieces you did for the exam. If you don't want to change your whole recital, look at the comments and see if there's a piece or two that weren't as well received as the others. If you don't want to do lots of extra programme note research - how about other pieces by the same composer?

My sympathy goes to all those still awaiting results - I was lucky to get mine comparatively early on. I hope it's worth the wait!

So do I, YetAnotherPianist, otherwise I will be mega-annoyed!

Mrs M

QUOTE

It's good that you're sticking it out though.

Yes, I'll get it...........one day

Several friends of mine who took Diploma exams in early Nov 2004 still haven't got their results TODAY while some took it in late Nov 2004 had already got theirs!!

Pianokc, what about yours?

Promise this is the only grizzle I'm going to make about results delivery.

I don't have a major problem with the fact it takes two months - esp since the week after the exams in the UK was Christmas. But what I don't understand is why once the results are released they take a week or so to percolate through to all candidates...
I know Royal Mail/Consignia/Whatever are slow, but not THAT bad....

OK, grizzle over. Normal Sunny Disposition resumed...

I spoke to the Diploma office today. They are busy sending out the results and as far as diplomas taken in London are concerned have been sending them out over the last week. Looks like we all might get some results tomorrow. AAHHH!!!

Just managed to scrape a pass in singing performance, but it's still DipABRSM! Comments were helpful but i was a little peeved about a comment on lack of detail on the prognotes - given the struggle i had with 9 pieces to keep the wordcount within limits!

QUOTE (YetAnotherPianist @ Feb 25 2005, 02:32 PM)

sarah-flute - thanks; I wonder why punch has a reputation for being particularly pleased....

because it's full of booze? I don't know.

totally sympathise with those waiting for results - I was bad enough waiting for my last exam result, and that was only grade 4 and I only had to wait just over 3 weeks...

Sorry to hear about your result, Yamaha.

What were the examiners' comments? Did they shed any light on why you failed?

[QUOTE=sarah-flute,Feb 25 2005, 06:05 PM] I wonder why punch has a reputation for being particularly pleased.... [/QUOTE]
because it's full of booze? I don't know. [/QUOTE]

Punch with a capital P, as in ...and Judy, who was pleased to be a masochistic murderer to the delight of children on beaches everywhere!

I am STILL waiting.................................................... I expect a fail, but would just like to actually SEE the small envelope to confirm so I can actually go and apply again next month in HK . I called the HKEAA, and they said apparently, some centers in HK do not have results at all yet for diplomas. I wonder why this happened? So, if I took the exam in an other center, the diploma results have all been sent out.

What IS THE POSSIBLE reason that an examination LIKE ABRSM and the size and reputation of it can explain how come a candidate have to wait almost 4 months for my results.

I am SO fed up.

my friend got her results today and passed and i still havent got mine!!!! are we thinking tomorrow??? are the people who havent got theirs yet the failers? OR is it based on how far from the office u are situated?

QUOTE (kate1234 @ Feb 25 2005, 07:07 PM)

my friend got her results today and passed and i still havent got mine!!!! are we thinking tomorrow??? are the people who havent got theirs yet the failers? OR is it based on how far from the office u are situated?

It's neither: results arrived in Glasgow early this week but people in London are still waiting (the only time distance makes a difference is if you're outside the UK...). As for the people who get their results last failing this isn't true either: the last person here to recieve their results last time got a distinction (as did an earlier person too) there appears to be no correlation between the time at which results are sent and the result itself.

Margaret, did you take the teaching FRSM this time?

QUOTE (pianokc @ Feb 25 2005, 06:49 PM)

I am STILL waiting.................................................... I expect a fail, but would just like to actually SEE the small envelope to confirm so I can actually go and apply again next month in HK

Will you enter again immediately if you don't pass? Are the times to take exams a long way apart such that you'll have plenty of time between now and then?

Well done to those who have passed and comiserations to those of you that have failed. Finally good luck to those still awaiting results.