Tips for Examination Preparation Revisited

'Tis the season for practical examinations, and we would like to revisit this previous post: Are you preparing one or more of your students for their very first examinations? Congratulations! At The Royal Conservatory Examinations, we strive to ensure that your student’s examination is a positive and productive experience. We understand that candidates may be a little nervous about their first exam, so to help them feel more comfortable, we have put together the following “Examination Etiquette” tip list to help examination day go smoothly.

Here are the tips you can share with your students:

What to wear…
Dress in comfortable, yet presentable clothing. Wear comfortable shoes (a good idea is to practice performing in the shoes that you will wear to your examination).

What to bring…
Fill out your Examination Program Form, listing your repertoire and studies, and bring it with you to the examination. You should have received your Examination Program Form when you registered online; if you registered with a paper application, it will be mailed to you. Bring your Repertoire and Study books to the examination (it is a good idea to mark the pages with the pieces being performed). Non-piano candidates should bring a tuner to the examination; pianos are not provided for tuning.

What NOT to bring…
Leave your technical requirements, ear-training, and sight-reading books at home. Do not bring cell phones or recording devices into the examination room.

When to arrive…
Arrive 15 minutes early to the examination. Take off your coat and get your books ready before entering the examination room. Non-piano candidates should also ensure that their accompanist arrives 15 minutes early. Parents, teachers, friends, or other family members will be seated in a designated waiting room.

Questions? Contact us!
If you have any questions pertaining to your examination, our Candidate Services Department is here to help! We are open Monday–Thursday from 8:30a.m.–6:00p.m. and on Fridays from 9:00a.m.–5:00p.m. Call us toll-free at 1-800-461-6058.