Many take exams at their teacher's advice or as a prerequisite for tertiary entrance as a benchmark of their education or for recognition of their year’s hard work and achievement.
Preparing for exams can be challenging and time-consuming; sometimes, the effort and time required to complete an exam seem insurmountable. So why sit an AMEB exam at all? Here are five good reasons why it is worth it:
1 | Setting goals
Preparing for an exam requires a significant amount of planning and hard work. Exams provide clearly defined goalposts that are a powerful motivating force. Leading musicians and educators set realistic and appropriate goals within AMEB syllabuses, and examinations allow students to measure themselves against these goals.
2 | Skill development
AMEB exams challenge students to perform repertoire on their instrument or subject of choice and demonstrate other important skills like sight reading, technical prowess, aural recognition and general knowledge. These additional requirements support their learning and provide context and meaning to the experience. Gaining this full range of skills supports their overall music education creating successful musicians and giving them the tools to develop into well-rounded, professional players.
3 | Performance experience
For many people, one of the hardest parts of taking an exam is presenting your programme on stage in front of an audience of strangers. Performing in front of others helps to develop poise and confidence: life skills useful for all sorts of future endeavours, including making presentations, public speaking or even just giving a toast at a party.
4 | Constructive feedback and improvement
Every candidate that completes an exam receives a personal written report from their examiner. This independent feedback encourages the student to progress by highlighting areas of strength and weakness under performance conditions to help guide their development.
The feedback can confirm issues previously identified by the teacher and introduce areas for improvement and further study.
5 | Recognise achievement
Each successful candidate receives an official AMEB certificate recognising their achievement. This certificate is a tangible reminder of milestone achievement and a source of great pride. Our qualifications provide a national benchmark and are recognised across Australia and internationally.
Most students completing exams are still on their way to becoming professional musicians or actors. That being said, overwhelming evidence demonstrates that childhood music and speech education leads to well-rounded, high-performing adults across all fields. For students to set and then achieve a goal such as an exam, they are learning the value of hard work, discipline, and the incredible feats they are capable of in their lives ahead.
More information
Contact your local AMEB state office and learn more about enrolling and practical exam sessions throughout the year.
