Working Towards Examinations
Majority of students learn the piano with the incentive of completing an exam for each grade, as it a motivator, an educational extender, and an achievement when completed. It can take a year (or more - depending on the students rate of progress) to complete all the requirements of an examination (piano pieces, scales, general knowledge, sight reading, aural skills, performance training).
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Examination Dates 2019
When it is time for an examination to be booked, I will inform you and book the examination under my teaching number. To complete the application form, I will need some details of the student and a list of block out dates that the student will not be able to attend an examination on within the block of dates provided by the AMEB.
The final examination date is released 3-5 weeks before the examination occurs.
The final examination date is released 3-5 weeks before the examination occurs.
Examination Costs
After the Examination
After the examination, the teacher will receive the student report. The report outlines the performance, accuracy of scales/general knowledge/sight-reading/aural skills, and includes a general comment from the examiner with a grade. If the student passes the examination, a certificate of completion will be mailed to the teacher.
NOTE: The examination report and certificate are not immediately given to the teacher. It can take 2-5 weeks for this to occur.
When the student has completed their examination, we can immediately begin the content of the next grade.
NOTE: The examination report and certificate are not immediately given to the teacher. It can take 2-5 weeks for this to occur.
When the student has completed their examination, we can immediately begin the content of the next grade.
Other Information:
Please note that certain grades of performance require a completed theory examination for a certificate to be issued.
Additional Requirements for Upper Grades
The additional requirements do not need to be completed before the practical exam and there is no time limit in which to pass the written exam after the practical exam. The practical certificate will be posted to the enrolling person approximately one week after the written certificate has been issued. Requirements are as follows:
Non-English-Speaking students:
Non-English-speaking students may apply to the AMEB in writing to have an accredited interpreter present at their exam. The cost of the interpreter is the responsibility of the student. Accredited interpreters may be contacted through Multicultural NSW. Please note that teachers and family members are not allowed to act as an interpreter.
Special Provisions (please ask for the separate application form)
Below are examples of special provisions that candidates with disabilities may request.
Medical documentation should be mailed to the AMEB (NSW) office at the time of enrolment. Attach all recent medical documentation of the candidate’s disability to the special provisions request. The applicant or their guardian must give permission for details of the candidate’s special needs to be relayed to the examiner. The AMEB (NSW) Office Manager and Senior Information Officer assess requests. Applicants are advised of the AMEB’s decision within one month of lodging their request.
Applicants may lodge an appeal within 14 days of the AMEB’s decision. Appeals must include additional medical documentation. Appeals are assessed by the State Manager. Once special provisions have been granted the same candidate number should be used for each enrolment. This ensures that the special provisions are provided in each exam. The AMEB (NSW) State Manager and Senior Information Officer assess requests. Applicants are advised of the AMEB (NSW) decision within one month of lodging their request.
TYPES OF SPECIAL PROVISIONS
Below are examples of special provisions that candidates with disabilities may request.
VISUAL IMPAIRMENT (BLIND OR PARTIALLY SIGHTED)
Written exams
Candidates may make large print versions of their music without breaching copyright. General knowledge exam questions are generally taken from the piano part. It is the responsibility of the candidate to provide an enlarged version if required. They must own the original music and which is still controlled by an AMCOS publisher. For copyright information, please refer to the AMPAL guide to print music.
DYSLEXIA
Written exams
Written exams
MOBILITY DISABILITIES
The AMEB studios and the Sydney Conservatorium of Music are wheelchair accessible. Candidates with mobility issues taking exams at the Conservatorium High School should request studios on the ground level. The lifts at this venue are not always operational on Saturdays. Teachers using private studios should ask the venue owners about access provisions for their candidates. AMEB (NSW) is not responsible for lack of wheelchair accessibility at private venues.
ACQUIRED BRAIN INJURY
Candidates who experience mental processing difficulty or delay may apply for:
PSYCHIATRIC DISABILITY
Candidates who experience:
OTHER DISABILITIES
Each case is considered on its merits and must be supported by current medical documentation. In some cases, such as behavioural problems, candidates may not need special provisions. The examiner may still be made aware of the condition and how it may affect the examination.
OTHER LINKS:
Why do exams: https://www.ameb.nsw.edu.au/exams/why-do-exams
Examination Venues: https://www.ameb.nsw.edu.au/exams/venues
The Exam Day: https://www.ameb.nsw.edu.au/exams/exam-day
Additional Requirements for Upper Grades
The additional requirements do not need to be completed before the practical exam and there is no time limit in which to pass the written exam after the practical exam. The practical certificate will be posted to the enrolling person approximately one week after the written certificate has been issued. Requirements are as follows:
- GRADE 6: Pass (65%+) in AMEB Grade 2 Theory of Music
- GRADE 7: Pass (65%+) in AMEB Grade 3 Theory of Music
- GRADE 8: Pass (65%+) in AMEB Grade 4 Theory of Music
- CERTIFICATE OF PERFORMANCE: Pass (65%+) in AMEB Grade 4 Theory of Music
Non-English-Speaking students:
Non-English-speaking students may apply to the AMEB in writing to have an accredited interpreter present at their exam. The cost of the interpreter is the responsibility of the student. Accredited interpreters may be contacted through Multicultural NSW. Please note that teachers and family members are not allowed to act as an interpreter.
Special Provisions (please ask for the separate application form)
Below are examples of special provisions that candidates with disabilities may request.
- Extra time to complete the exam or a reader
- Transcription of papers into large print or Braille
- A scribe to read the questions and transcribe answers
- Substitution of aural tests for sight reading
- Paper of a specified colour
- Seating near the front of the room for written exams
- Exams early or later in the day
Medical documentation should be mailed to the AMEB (NSW) office at the time of enrolment. Attach all recent medical documentation of the candidate’s disability to the special provisions request. The applicant or their guardian must give permission for details of the candidate’s special needs to be relayed to the examiner. The AMEB (NSW) Office Manager and Senior Information Officer assess requests. Applicants are advised of the AMEB’s decision within one month of lodging their request.
Applicants may lodge an appeal within 14 days of the AMEB’s decision. Appeals must include additional medical documentation. Appeals are assessed by the State Manager. Once special provisions have been granted the same candidate number should be used for each enrolment. This ensures that the special provisions are provided in each exam. The AMEB (NSW) State Manager and Senior Information Officer assess requests. Applicants are advised of the AMEB (NSW) decision within one month of lodging their request.
TYPES OF SPECIAL PROVISIONS
Below are examples of special provisions that candidates with disabilities may request.
VISUAL IMPAIRMENT (BLIND OR PARTIALLY SIGHTED)
Written exams
- Transcription of Theory, Musicianship and Speech and Performance Theory papers into Braille
- Large print versions of papers to a specified enlargement ratio
- Extra time to complete the exam
- A scribe may be used, providing that he/she is neither the candidate’s teacher nor a relative of the candidate. Their role is to read the questions and transcribe the candidate’s answers. They may not answer the questions themselves. The scribe is to be provided by the candidate. If a scribe is used, separate supervision will be arranged.
- Enlarged sight reading tests to a specified ratio
- Braille sight reading
- Substitute aural tests from the grade above for sight reading
- Candidates may request to sight read "from memory". The examiner plays the sight-reading example for the grade in two bar sections twice each. Then the candidate plays it back, also in two bar phrases.
Candidates may make large print versions of their music without breaching copyright. General knowledge exam questions are generally taken from the piano part. It is the responsibility of the candidate to provide an enlarged version if required. They must own the original music and which is still controlled by an AMCOS publisher. For copyright information, please refer to the AMPAL guide to print music.
DYSLEXIA
Written exams
- Specified paper colour
- Extra time to complete the exam or a reader
- A medical practitioner or psychologist must provide certification that a reader is required. The candidate supplies the reader and they may not be a relative or teacher of the candidate.
- AMEB can notify written assessors when a candidate’s written expression may be affected by their condition.
- Sight reading music on specified paper colour
- Extra time to prepare for sight reading
- Sometimes candidates find it easier to read from paper of a particular colour. It is their responsibility to bring a photocopied, coloured paper version of their music to the exam. To comply with copyright regulations they must also bring the original music.
Written exams
- Seating near the front of the room
- An oral/sign interpreter provided by the candidate and separate supervision where appropriate
- Higher grade sight reading instead of aural tests
- Waive the rule for the candidate to face away from the examiner during aural tests
- An oral/sign interpreter provided by the candidate
MOBILITY DISABILITIES
The AMEB studios and the Sydney Conservatorium of Music are wheelchair accessible. Candidates with mobility issues taking exams at the Conservatorium High School should request studios on the ground level. The lifts at this venue are not always operational on Saturdays. Teachers using private studios should ask the venue owners about access provisions for their candidates. AMEB (NSW) is not responsible for lack of wheelchair accessibility at private venues.
ACQUIRED BRAIN INJURY
Candidates who experience mental processing difficulty or delay may apply for:
- extra time in written examinations and
- a scribe (provided by the candidate, where applicable).
- Separate supervision may be provided where appropriate.
PSYCHIATRIC DISABILITY
Candidates who experience:
- anxiety
- difficulty with concentration or cognition
- depression
- obsessive-compulsive disorder or
- other documented psychiatric conditions
OTHER DISABILITIES
Each case is considered on its merits and must be supported by current medical documentation. In some cases, such as behavioural problems, candidates may not need special provisions. The examiner may still be made aware of the condition and how it may affect the examination.
OTHER LINKS:
Why do exams: https://www.ameb.nsw.edu.au/exams/why-do-exams
Examination Venues: https://www.ameb.nsw.edu.au/exams/venues
The Exam Day: https://www.ameb.nsw.edu.au/exams/exam-day