How the exams are marked
Songs
The marks for the songs are made up of three different assessment areas:
|
Assessment area |
Criteria include the following elements: |
Songs 1 & 2 |
Song 3 Technical focus |
|
Fluency & Musical Detail |
Sense of pulse, synchronisation with backing track, continuity, rhythm, notes, dynamics, phrasing, articulation |
8 |
8 |
|
Technical Control |
All instruments and Vocals: balance, tone, sound quality, co-ordination, expressive shaping of phrases, use of instrumental resources |
8 |
12 |
|
Bass & Guitar: bends, slides, vibrato, use of fx pedals and amp |
8 |
12 |
|
|
Drums: stick control, rudiments, posture, independence of hands and feet, use of the kit |
8 |
12 |
|
|
Keyboards: pedalling, fingering, use of function keys |
8 |
12 |
|
|
Vocals: breathing, diction, intonation, use of microphone |
8 |
12 |
|
|
Communication & Style |
Giving a confident performance, being musically engaged, feel and expression, communicating the musical mood and character, demonstrating stylistic awareness in ad libs, fills, improvised bars and solos |
9 |
10 |
|
|
TOTAL |
25 |
30 |
Session skills
Candidates choose one of the two Session skills. Each is marked out of 20:
|
Component |
Criteria |
Total mark |
|
Playback |
How accurately and fluently the candidate performs the music |
20 |
|
OR |
||
|
Improvising |
How effectively the candidate creates an original response to a backing track |
20 |
Mark bands
|
Mark band |
Song 1 |
Song 2 |
Song 3 |
Session skills |
TOTAL |
|
TOTAL MARKS AVAILABLE |
25 |
25 |
30 |
20 |
100 |
|
Distinction |
22 |
22 |
26 |
17 |
87 |
|
Merit |
19 |
19 |
22 |
15 |
75 |
|
Pass |
15 |
15 |
18 |
12 |
60 |
|
Below Pass 1 |
11 |
11 |
14 |
9 |
45 |
|
Below Pass 2 |
below 11 |
below 11 |
below 14 |
below 9 |
below 45 |
You’ll find more details about the marking criteria on the Syllabus page.
