8th HORROR in THE WORLd : EXAMINATIONS. Review on Tips on Examinations

E.X.A.M.I.N.A.T.I.O.N.S.... Just hearing the word gives you creeps, doesn't it??? And actually sitting for exams is a nerve wrecking experience, right??? I can see those who have been subjected to this torture nodding their heads feverishly in agreement with me... In fact, I now know how much you must find exams THAT much of a problem if you are desperate enough to read my review!!!!!

But why quibble??? If it is unavoidable, we might as well try our best to get through exams alive and breathing, nevermind if lunatically insane... In MY life, there are TWO kinds of examinations...

1. SCHOOL exams - the usual written paper, the occasional boring aural, and the blah, blah, blah (you know the rest)...

   
   




2. MUSIC exams - In case you are from some distant planet and haven't heard of me and my music exams, I am taking my practical piano exam for Grade 8 this june and my Theory in music exam for Grade 7 this March...

   
   

So.... here is my humble opinion on how to tackle (figuratively, of course) exams...

LAST MINUTE STUDY

Last minute study????? The effects of last minute study is that you confuse yourself and distort the before correct concepts that you had in your head into mumbo jumbo in your panic... Which is why I say, DON'T study a few minutes before the exam.. I tell you, it is pointless.... So, instead of letting your work pile up, start studying a couple of centuries earlier... ok, ok, that might be a teeny bit too early.. So start studying a couple of months earlier and I'm not suggesting that you abandon social life and become a full time nerd, no!!! Just study in moderation and CONSISTENCY!!!!!!

SLEEP

Lullaby, and good night, sleep gently my student, lalala

Uhh, no, I wasnt asking you to sleep during the test, just sleep the night before the test.... Because if you dont and stay up the whole night studying last minute, you will sleep during exam. That is bound to happen unless you are some sort of super human who can stay awake without sleep...

Incident during which I realised this: When I fell asleep during my Geography test and never finished the paper because spent 70% of the test asleep, dreaming, on my table.... And just for the record, I didnt fare too well in that test!!! (obviously)

STUDY SMART

Scenario: Student A studied an average of 6 hours a day.. Student B studied and average of 2 hours a day .. And on the day of the results, student A and student B have the exact same marks and grades... You can deduce that the METHOD of studying is equally as, even more, important than the time alloted.. After all, we all still do want to watch tv and waste time and do our own non educational activities, don't we???

PIANO PRACTICAL EXAM

Is there anyone out here who take this exam?? If you do, is it from the ABRSM (associated boards of royal schools of music)??? If you do, then you know what it is like... If you don't, then...... Anyway, in my life, this piano practical exam is the absolute WORST!!! Here is what happened on each year I took the test..

a) Grade Two - my very first piano practical exam... I walked into the room, shaking like a wind blown feather... The usual ''hellos'' with the examiner and got myself seated at the piano... The examiner said ''You can begin your first piece''.. So I did and was playing halfway through the song when I noticed the examiners reflection on the shiny black piano (coz he was sitting at a table backing the piano) and I was overcome with LAUGHTER!!!! I mean, he looked SOOOO much like a clown... His hair was white and half bald, he was rather plump, had a red nose, and was wearing this pinstriped suit!!! But of course, I controlled my self and finished playing.. Of course, I lost a couple of marks there because as I was trying not to laugh, my fingers slipped a little and hit some wrong notes...

(b) Grade 4 - The examiner, this l\time a lady, was totally so friendly.. Plus, she looked to normal so it was ok..

(c)Grade 7- the latest... I was soooooo NERVOUS!!!!! SOOO nervous that I made a couple of hundred mistakes in my first and third piece.. And when he asked me to play the harmonic minor scale, I lost my wits and played the major scale!!!! It was DISASTROUS!!! And during aural test, I had to sing out this tune and I went TOTALLY out of pitch!!! Need I say more??? I was close to a complete mental breakdown when I came out of the exam room and was convinced that I failed but thankfully, when the results came, I PASSED!!!! No distinction or merit just a pass!!!

(d) Grade 8- This june!! And part of the reason I was so nervous in my last exam was bcoz I didnt practise enough but this year, I am MAKING sure I practise EVERYDAY and no matter what, I AM GOING to get a distinction!!!!! whoops, hope my determination isn't scaring you too much... lol...

MUSIC THEORY EXAM

Must I really say something about this??? I am studying very hard for it now because my music theory is very weak... Definitely a very depressing chapter of my life... Melody composition is torture BECAUSE the chords and the piano accompaniment is already given and answering questions 4 and 5 is terror... ONE TIP FOR PREPARING FOR THIS EXAM : Your teacher's cellphone number!!!Yes, I am serious and no, I am not kidding... If you are stumped at a question while doing sample papers at home, just go to the phone, call up your teacher and ask her on the phone!!!! My teacher who has been my music teacher for the past 10 years, is an angel and a very nice person so she doesn't mind and no teacher should mind, either!!!! In fact, sometimes its like she is more my friend than my teacher... Thank You, Miss Lee!!!!

I see that I have chattered away quite a lot and I also see that you have read quite a lot so I shall just try to conclude whatever I said..... In conclusion,

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN!!!!!!