ABRSM: Musical shape in scales

[harpogrames]

I am currently working up to taking a grade 2 piano exam. ABRSM's exam marking criterias for distinction in scales/arpeggios says:
-Highly accurate notes/pitch
-Fluent and rhythmic
-Musically shaped
-Confident response

English is not my native language but I can grasp everything except "musically shaped". What does this mean in regards to scale playing? Should I e.g. accentuate every 2nd or 4th tone, vary dynamics ...?

[chopinlover01]

Musical shape just means it sounds like a piece of music rather than a scale, simply put. Start soft on the first notes, and a gradual crescendo to a climax (the top note in the scale) then a gradual decrescendo.

[keypeg]

Why?

[justanamateur]

Why?

They're testing your phrasing skills in scales, not just your ability to memorise. It's not hard though, just play it as though it were a passage in a repertoire piece. 

[harpogrames]

Thanks, that makes sense.

I guess a little rhytmic accentuation wouldn't hurt either
(I feel its easier to keep good rhytm that way)

[justanamateur]

Thanks, that makes sense.

I guess a little rhytmic accentuation wouldn't hurt either
(I feel its easier to keep good rhytm that way)

It's necessary, actually.