>Do any colleagues have any idea of the equivalences of musical
>qualifications, for example Violin Grade 8?
>
>I wonder whether this might be a higher qualification than a low-ish A level
>score. To me (a non-musician) Grade 8 seems quite impressive.
>
>Any advice gratefully received.
>
>Jim Wells
Associated Board exams bear no resemblance to A levels. They are a test of
performing ability, so are concerned with technique and musicality. In
order to qualify to do a Grade 8, you do have to pass Grade 5 music theory
first, but this is about reading and analysing written music at a fairly
basic level. It is analogous with the written test you now have to do to
qualify for a practical driving test. AB exams require no knowledge of
history, and only rudimentary analysis, although by Grade 8 I would expect
candidates to have picked up some knowledge of contemporaneous performance
practice. A levels (at least in my day) concentrate on history and
analysis, so they are examining quite different skills.
There is a wide range of marks - does the candidate say what he/she got? A
pass is 100, 120 is a merit and 130 a distinction. If it's over 120 you
might expect the candidate to be reasonably intelligent - but unfortunately
this is not always the case!
If the Grade 8 mark is high, it could be worth an interview to see if
something went wrong with the A level.
Anna Whelan (MMus, ARCM)
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Anna Whelan
Planning Officer
Imperial College of Science, Technology & Medicine
Sherfield Building
London SW7 2AZ
UK
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Tel: 0171 594 7278
Fax: 0171 594 7273
Email: [log in to unmask]
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