A question for UK teachers

[kaff]

This year the ABRSM has agreed with UCAS (university clearing authority) that passes in Grades 6, 7 or 8, practical or theory, will count towards students' UCAS scores for university entrance (even if they're not doing music A-level, or applying to study music at university level).

In your opinion, is this:
a) a good thing.  Students will have an incentive to practice piano more, and will gain a worthwhile and useful recognition for all their years of hard work learning to play piano.

b) a bad thing.  It will mean much more pressure on me, the teacher, to enter my students for ABRSM exams whether or not I think it's appropriate.

Discuss

Kathryn

[bernhard]

That is very interesting, I was not aware of this.

Up to now, Grades had absolutely no value as credentials (as opposed to GCSEs, A levels and ABRSM diplomas). As a consequence (my impression – no one would say that openly) examiners tended to be quite lenient and turn a blind eye to many faults in student’s playing. In short: you would have to do a major flop not to pass a grade. The diplomas – because of their credential value – were another matter altogether, with a failure rate as high as 50%.

Now comes the interesting question: Will grades 6 – 7 – 8 exams become tougher as a consequence? Or will it make no difference following the general trend of lowering educational standards in the UK (it has recently made headlines how it is almost impossible to fail in any exam in the UK).

If they do it seriously (by tightening standards), then I believe it will be a good thing for the reasons you stated above. A grade certificate will have a value, and this is certainly an incentive to take the grade and do well. If this is accompanied by more severe evaluation, all the better. (Although my experience with the English system is that it is all about façade).

Personally, I do not think I would feel pressurised since I do not take upon myself to decide if it is appropriate or not for a student to take a grade. This is his/her prerogative. I see my role as preparing for the exam, not deciding if the student should or should not take it. In any case, a student does not need the teacher for entering the exam (he can enter himself if he is over 18, or his parents can enter him otherwise – unless they are going to change that as well).

Thank you for this interesting piece of news.

Best wishes,
Bernhard.