Exam Preparation Tips from an Examiner's Perspective

If you are thinking of doing the exams, I've just got a few tips for you:

Be Prepared

• Preparation is Key: The first tip is to be as prepared as you can possibly be. It can feel a little bit stressful walking into a room and playing all these pieces that you've performed in your bedroom or for your friends in front of a complete stranger.
• Mindset Matters: Remember that the examiner wants you to do as well as you can. They're not there to catch you out.

Extra Steps to Decrease Exam Day Pressure

From your perspective, here are a few things you can do to prepare for the extra pressure you may feel on exam day:

1. Perform for Others:

   • Try performing your pieces in front of your parents or friends at home as a little warm-up exam.

2. Run a Mock Exam:

   • Work with your teacher to run a mock exam under exam-style conditions. This can help you mentally prepare for how the actual exam will feel, which is different from practicing alone at home.

3. Push Your Technical Exercises:

   • Rather than just learning your technical exercises up to the required exam tempo, push yourself a little further. For example, aim to play these exercises at 120 BPM instead of the required 100 BPM.
   • This extra preparation can give you confidence on the day, knowing you can play at a higher tempo even under pressure.

Conclusion

These are two simple things you can do to make your exam go a little smoother on the day. Good luck!