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Home  * About me  * My musicCOVID-19 LatestLatest NewsArticlesLessons  * Practical  * TheoryAdviceTestimonials  * Page 1  * Page 2ResourcesContactTerms of use
 

Online theory exams

Progress and cost cutting
It's sad and frustrating to see that Trinity has followed ABRSM down to route of online theory exams. I make no secret of the fact that I see this as a bad move. I know I am not alone.

Every organisation these days is looking to cut costs and become more efficient in any ways possible to them and that is understandable. When changes lead to a poorer product or service, though, then that's not such good news. And if it's cheaper for them, should those savings not be reflected in lower entry fees for the exams? It appears that fees have continued their upward trend regardless. No doubt the boards would point to the investment that they've had to make in the move to an online process, but that investment is largely a one-off, up-front cost (yes there will be maintenance costs too). Balancing that, there will be no need to hire venues and invigilators, no printing costs for exam papers, no costs to transfer completed papers for marking, or indeed no need to incur the not inconsiderable cost of having a person mark those papers. I see lots of financial savings for the boards!

Where's the music?
My concern is not primarily about cost though. I have made my thoughts known about the musical downsides of online exams before in another article and it is this aspect that is most disappointing. Taking an already dry subject, which to many candidates music theory clearly is, and then squeezing any remaining music out of it can't be good. Removal of creative elements, execssive use of multiple choice questions, even the removal of the need to draw musical notation by hand are all backward steps in my opinion. Clicking on right answers and using music notation software just isn't music.

The process
ABRSM has provided a video online that shows the process that candidates have to follow when taking an online exam. It involves doing a 360 degree sweep of the room to show that there are no clues or hints (such as an uncovered piano keyboard) for the candidate to make use of. The video also shows how the candidate is to confirm their identity, and various other steps before the exam starts. Even with multiple cameras at my disposal having embarked on teaching via video calls during the pandemic, I think the 360 sweep would not be easy. Suppose the only camera you have is the one built into your laptop? Also during the pandemic it became clear that some pupils have less than ideal hardware and/orinternet connections. You have to remain connected throughout the exam (for obvious and understandable reasons) but this could be troublesome for some. Some laptops have very poor quality cameras built in. Likewise microphones.

Those who know me will know that I have worked in the IT industry for many years, so I'm no technophobe. Perhaps working in the industry has made me more sceptical, as I know that IT is not as intuitive and reliable as some would like us to believe. I am sure that the pandemic was a catalyst in bringing forward the use of technology by the exam boards, but sometimes it feels to me like using technology for technology's sake. Fixing what ain't broke, to use the common phrase. This is one such example. Is it a coincidence that ABRSM was taken over by Chris Cobb as its Chief Executive, a computer scientist with "an interest in music"?

Time will tell
To be quite clear and fair, I have yet to make use of online theory exams for any of my pupils. I stopped using ABRSM when they 'went digital' and switched to Trinity. Sadly, they have followed suit. What I have seen of the process doesn't encourage me, but I should wait until I have actually been through it before condeming it.

The exam boards will point out the benefit of being able to sit your exam at a time convenient to you, the candidate, rather than giving up a specific Saturday morning to drive to your nearest exam venue. Perhaps this is a positive, but it's the only one that I can think of. I can't think of a single pupil that I have entered for theory exams over the years that has have the slightest objection to making the effort to go to a centre to sit their exam either.

Time will tell. Let me know what you think.



Last Updated: 26th March 2025

Back

Online theory exams

Progress and cost cutting
It's sad and frustrating to see that Trinity has followed ABRSM down to route of online theory exams. I make no secret of the fact that I see this as a bad move. I know I am not alone.

Every organisation these days is looking to cut costs and become more efficient in any ways possible to them and that is understandable. When changes lead to a poorer product or service, though, then that's not such good news. And if it's cheaper for them, should those savings not be reflected in lower entry fees for the exams? It appears that fees have continued their upward trend regardless. No doubt the boards would point to the investment that they've had to make in the move to an online process, but that investment is largely a one-off, up-front cost (yes there will be maintenance costs too). Balancing that, there will be no need to hire venues and invigilators, no printing costs for exam papers, no costs to transfer completed papers for marking, or indeed no need to incur the not inconsiderable cost of having a person mark those papers. I see lots of financial savings for the boards!

Where's the music?
My concern is not primarily about cost though. I have made my thoughts known about the musical downsides of online exams before in another article and it is this aspect that is most disappointing. Taking an already dry subject, which to many candidates music theory clearly is, and then squeezing any remaining music out of it can't be good. Removal of creative elements, execssive use of multiple choice questions, even the removal of the need to draw musical notation by hand are all backward steps in my opinion. Clicking on right answers and using music notation software just isn't music.

The process
ABRSM has provided a video online that shows the process that candidates have to follow when taking an online exam. It involves doing a 360 degree sweep of the room to show that there are no clues or hints (such as an uncovered piano keyboard) for the candidate to make use of. The video also shows how the candidate is to confirm their identity, and various other steps before the exam starts. Even with multiple cameras at my disposal having embarked on teaching via video calls during the pandemic, I think the 360 sweep would not be easy. Suppose the only camera you have is the one built into your laptop? Also during the pandemic it became clear that some pupils have less than ideal hardware and/orinternet connections. You have to remain connected throughout the exam (for obvious and understandable reasons) but this could be troublesome for some. Some laptops have very poor quality cameras built in. Likewise microphones.

Those who know me will know that I have worked in the IT industry for many years, so I'm no technophobe. Perhaps working in the industry has made me more sceptical, as I know that IT is not as intuitive and reliable as some would like us to believe. I am sure that the pandemic was a catalyst in bringing forward the use of technology by the exam boards, but sometimes it feels to me like using technology for technology's sake. Fixing what ain't broke, to use the common phrase. This is one such example. Is it a coincidence that ABRSM was taken over by Chris Cobb as its Chief Executive, a computer scientist with "an interest in music"?

Time will tell
To be quite clear and fair, I have yet to make use of online theory exams for any of my pupils. I stopped using ABRSM when they 'went digital' and switched to Trinity. Sadly, they have followed suit. What I have seen of the process doesn't encourage me, but I should wait until I have actually been through it before condeming it.

The exam boards will point out the benefit of being able to sit your exam at a time convenient to you, the candidate, rather than giving up a specific Saturday morning to drive to your nearest exam venue. Perhaps this is a positive, but it's the only one that I can think of. I can't think of a single pupil that I have entered for theory exams over the years that has have the slightest objection to making the effort to go to a centre to sit their exam either.

Time will tell. Let me know what you think.



Last Updated: 26th March 2025

Back

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Copyright © 2020-2025 Robin Padgham.

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E&OE.
Copyright © 2020-2025 Robin Padgham.
Terms of use