Victoria College of Music, London - Examinations

Examinations

The College has a full range of examinations, with special emphasis on encouraging young beginners. This has resulted in the four introductory grades available for most subjects at First Steps, Preliminary, Preparatory and Advanced Preparatory. This are aimed at players within the first twelve months of playing, acknowledging that it can take up to 18 months to reach the required standard for grade 1 level with much material specially composed by the Colleges professional advisors to aid development in the first stages of playing. Both pupils and parents may want to see concrete signs of progress and these short exams provide that, introducing all the skills required in later levels at an appropriate pace. Following on from these introductory grades are the standard grades 1 to 8, available in music subjects and speech and drama.

The grade exams consist of the following sections;

• Solo Pieces – Two items from a selected list, usually accompanied and a third unaccompanied technical exercise or study. Marked out of 60.
• Scales and Arpeggios – Various scales, arpeggios and broken chords appropriate to the instrument are set for each grade. Marked out of 12.
• Musicianship Tests or Own Composition – Three short tests developing the candidates aural skills are asked. Alternatively students may submit a composition demonstrating criteria specific to the grade for which full marks are awarded. Marked out of 10.
• Theory Questions – These are based upon the pieces performed and general terms that it is assumed a candidate of the grade would know and understand. For holders of theory exams exemptions are available at specified grades. Marked out of 8.

A mark of 65 is required to pass, 80 with merit and 90 for distinction (honours in Ireland).

Parallel to the graded examinations is a series of medals that take the form of recitals with theory questions drawing from the same repertoire but without scales, arpeggios or musicianship tests, enabling those who wish to take assessment but for whom the grade system is not appropriate to have the opportunity to. It is also available as an additional qualification for those who take the graded exams. Medals have been awarded from the earliest years of the Colleges existence. The medal examinations are;

• Junior Bronze Medal
• Junior Silver Medal
• Bronze Medal
• Silver Medal
• Gold Medal
• Platinum Medal (in certain fields)

For medals the pass mark is 75 out of 100, 85 with honours.

The College has a full system of diploma examinations, available in most fields. In the majority of music subjects these have begun with a Pre-Diploma certificate but this is currently being phased out. This is the followed by the first full diploma, the Diploma of Victoria College of Music (DipVCM) which carries with it the right to post-nominal letters and reduced academic dress. This is followed by the standard three diplomas of Associate (AVCM), Licentiate (LVCM) and Fellow (FVCM) which all carry post-nominal letters and academic dress. These are available in all fields as performers or teachers diplomas, as well as by composition, conducting, research or theory. There also exists the award of Certificated Teacher (CT,VCM) which is an award based upon teaching ability and the Honorary Life Membership (HonVCM) for those who have given many years service to the College as teachers, local secretary, examiner etc. Both these carry post-nominal letters but only CT,VCM awards robes. FVCM is also awarded as an honorary award from time to time for distinguished service to the College. Some diplomas also carry the Ed. Suffix for in Education. However teachers and education diplomas do not confer UK Qualified Teacher Status, rather they show that the examiner would recommend them to a prospective student. In addition the diplomas of Associate (ACV) and Licentiate (LCV) of the College of Violinists are available as a performance diploma to string players, while Fellow of the College of Violinists (FCV) is awarded purely for services to the arts.