Tips for Exam Preparation

If you are thinking of doing the exams, I've just got a few tips for you from an examiner's perspective.

Be Prepared

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 to your friends in front of a complete stranger.
• Just remember that the examiner wants you to do as well as you can possibly do. They're not there to catch you out.

Mental Preparation

From your perspective, make sure you're extra prepared for that little extra pressure you'll feel on exam day.

How to Prepare

1. Perform for an Audience:

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

2. Mock Exams:

   • Run a mock exam with your teacher under exam-style conditions. This will help you mentally prepare for how the exam setting will be different from playing at home alone in your bedroom.

3. Technical Exercises:

   • With your technical exercises, instead of just learning them up to the required exam tempo, consider pushing yourself a little further.
   • For instance, aim to play these exercises at 120 bpm instead of the required 100 bpm. This will give you added confidence, knowing you can perform better even with the exam pressure.

These are two simple strategies to help make your exam go a little bit smoother on the day. Good luck!