ROYAL CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC EXAM WORKSHOP SUMMARY

Part II: Background and Insight into the Mind of an Examiner

Hello again!

Here is my second post summarizing the fantastic workshop I attended a few weeks ago, put on by the Royal Conservatory of Music and presented by two RCM Examiners. 

In order to prepare for your exam, it is helpful to know more about the people you will be taking the exam from: your Examiners. Here are some short insights into the background of your Examiners and what they are thinking as you perform your exam.

Examiners at the Royal Conservatory of Music must complete a rigorous training program that includes lectures, workshops, demonstrations and three sessions of shadowing with a Mentor Examiner. In order to even be accepted into the training program, potential examiners must have: 

• A Bachelor of Music or equivalent degree/diploma
  
• Five years professional teaching experience after completion of undergraduate degree
  
• Adjudicating experience at festivals/competitions
  
• Knowledge of the The Royal Conservatory Examinations curriculum through student participation in examinations
  
• Strong organizational and time management skills
  
• Membership in a professional teacher association such as CFMTA or MTNA

After completing the training program, Examiners must still attend annual conferences and meetings to discuss marks and results with other examiners across the country. As well they are consistently reviewed by the Royal Conservatory's Chief Examiners. Their marks and feedback comments are constantly checked in order to assure top-quality, unbiased examination results. If you feel an Examiner marked you unfairly, keep in mind they have several people marking them in order to make sure all students are evaluated impartially.

Given the strict time limit on exams, Examiners cannot sit back and relax during your performance, but are constantly writing and evaluating. Luckily, they are trained in listening while writing so that they can evaluate your performance as they are marking down their comments. Through their comments, they attempt to give the student's teacher a snapshot of what happened during the exam. They understand, like most teachers, that positive feedback and encouragement will motivate students to continue on their instrument and so are not attempting to negatively judge or discourage a student's abilities. However, unless they receive 100%, Examiners feel each student deserves to know why they lost marks in certain areas. Therefore, they provide not only the mark breakdown, but also written feedback with advice on how to improve the techniques that need work. They are very conscientious and one mark over another does matter to them. After the exam, they re-read their comments, re-mark the exam, and make sure the comments, marks and re-marks are consistent and match. 

The two Examiners presenting the workshop also discussed how at the annual meetings, often Examiners will argue over a half-mark that should or should not have been given to a performing student. They are so dedicated to providing an accurate representation of a student's abilities, that one mark here or there will cause hour long discussions. 

So, keep in mind, potential exam participants, you are in safe hands with your Examiners. They will do their best to mark you fairly, encourage your continued growth, recognize your strengths and advise you on the best ways to improve your weaknesses. They are 100% on your side and are ready and willing to give you full marks for an outstanding performance. 

In my next post, I will share some advice direct from the Examiners on how best to prepare for your exam. That outstanding performance may only be a few steps away.