Hi, cecilia, in order to do well for any music exams or assesments, it's very simple, just make good music and don't worry about scores.
First, you have to discard the worry of scoring low for ur exams, practice your pieces well and make sure the musical ideas
are communicated effectively. It helps greatly if you really love the music you are playing now, as it will remove the barrier between the notes and your mind easier.

To make scale practice less boring, play them in a more musical way. I like to do interesting scales when I play scales, I will play try to play them in interesting rythms and dynamic changes. Scales are the basics of many pieces, especially in classical compositions, and they are not meant to be played dry and drone-like at all, which is sadly the case with the many students.

And no, the examiner will not mark you down if you have perfect pitch.

For period and style, I would recommend that you get this book Music - An Appreciation by Roger Kamien and read through the whole book ( and listen to the CDs ).

It strikes me that you are really worried about scoring, music is something that cannot be constrained by exams, I suggest that if you are too worried by exams, you should take a break from exams and should just learn pieces you like and listen to more music.

I am Hong Kong Students passed Grade 7 Examination last year.

Calm yourself and practice more are the best way to get higher marks in the examination.

I usually play scales first when I start practice piano(Part of the scales syllabus). Then I play pieces and so on. If you feel bored, you can stop it and practice other part (E.g. Pieces).

The feeling, you listen/play the song is the style.
Such as in Grade 7 Examination Pieces
B2, C3 --> Sleepy
B3 --> Sad
C2 --> Humorous
A2 --> energetic

Listen more songs, you can find out the style of each song.

Hope you get this before your exam!!
I took my Gr7 recently, and got 128 merit (really annoyed to miss out on the distinction but back to the point!)

I found that the hardest part of the exam was the aural, esp. the last part! However, I managed to bluff my way thru the question, and if you can prepare some things to say before hand, all the better (e.g. for a baroque piece, say it's contrapuntal, romantic, use of pedal etc.) so you don't have to think on the spot. I took style to mean "why" the piece was composed. Perhaps it's a dance, or a very royal sounding piece. If the piece is sad, it could be for a funeral march (a bit extreme but just ideas).

Too damn right that the scales are boring though, but just stick with them, as if you get a good mark, then you can afford to lose marks on the aural/sight reading.

P.S. The examiner really shouldn't take marks away just because you have perfect pitch, that's unfair, and it doesn't say anywhere that he's allowed to. If s/he does, s/he's v. naughty. Hee Hee!

P.P.S Gd luck!!

Thanks so much you guys- I really appreciate it.
I'm trying to relax about it now...