Why take an exam?

Exams are a great way to:

• have something to work towards
• challenge yourself
• show your achievement
• record your improvement.

Costs

For guidance, 2010 Trinity Guildhall examination prices are:

• Grade 6: £59
• Grade 7: £65.50
• Grade 8: £73

For more information see www.trinitycollege.co.uk.

Parents or carers wishing their child to take exams at this level will be invoiced for the cost of the examinations.

Dates and location

We hold exams twice a year, once in February and once at the end of the school year in July.

Exams will either take place in your school or at the Centre for Music, Bayards Hill School.

Exam resources

Information about resources will be given to your child by their teacher.

Music Service exam systems

The Music Service operates two exam systems depending on the grade being taken:

Initial to Grade 5

The examiners will be Music Service staff and will be specialists within the family of instruments being examined, for example, a woodwind teacher will examine all members of the woodwind family.

Students will need to do the following in the exam:

• Play three pieces at least one of which should be accompanied (this can be a CD recording).
• Play scales, arpeggios or rudiments as specified in the syllabus.
• Two out of four supporting tests of their own choice from aural, sight-reading, improvisation or musical knowledge.

These exams are marked out of 100 and there are three levels of pass:

Total 100, Distinction = 87, Merit = 75, Pass = 60.

Grades 6 to 8

These exams are taken under the regulations of Trinity Guildhall, are assessed by a Trinity Guildhall examiner and normally take place at the Centre for Music in Oxford. Students passing exams at Grades 6 to 8 earn UCAS points which can contribute towards higher education applications.

Students will need to do the following in the exam:

• Play three pieces at least two of which should be accompanied.
• Play scales, arpeggios or rudiments as specified in the syllabus.
• Sight-reading.
• One of the two supporting tests of their own choice (aural or improvisation).

These exams are marked out of 100 and there are three levels of pass:

Total 100, Distinction = 87, Merit = 75, Pass = 60.

All harp exams will be entered directly with Trinity Guildhall.