The report form you receive from Trinity College London following a Music exam offers a chance to reflect on your experience and to gain a clear view of how your performance was assessed. In this post, we explore how examiners apply the assessment criteria to determine marks, and how your report form can be more than just a summary of your performance - it can also be a valuable resource to support future exams and your ongoing journey as a musician.
How examiners award marks
For all of our exams, Trinity examiners mark using published assessment criteria. The example linked in the previous sentence is for a face-to-face Classical & Jazz graded exam (and is what we will be referring to throughout this blog), but you will find different versions to this in the syllabus if you are taking a digital, Rock & Pop grade, Classical Performance or Rock & Pop diploma to reflect the difference in requirements and/or genre of music.
In the assessment criteria you will see that pieces are assessed in three areas:
- Fluency & Accuracy
- Technical Facility
- Communication & Interpretation
But what do these mean? Informally, we might consider these three areas as follows:
- Fluency & Accuracy – the performer and the score: how well does the candidate present the notes before them on the page?
- Technical Facility – the performer and their instrument: how well does the candidate manage the technical demands of the piece they are playing?
- Communication & Interpretation – the performer and the listener: how well does the candidate use the expressive detail and relay the mood and style of the piece?
Each of these areas has graded descriptors. At the top end, you’ll see ‘an excellent sense of fluency with secure control of pulse and rhythm’ or ‘an excellent level of tone control’. In the middle bands, there is a ‘a good sense’ of fluency, tone control or stylistic understanding. Lower marks describe more frequent lapses in control or accuracy.
You may notice that the criteria descriptors talk about the degree of accuracy, or technical control - they don’t say anything about perfection! Therefore, one wrong note or slip in intonation is less likely to be reflected in the marks, although there may be a comment here. As you'd expect, performances where there is more inconsistency or inaccuracy will correspond to the descriptor in the middle or lower bands, so this will be reflected in the both comments and the marks awarded.
The comments provided for each of the three areas of the assessment criteria will correspond to the mark awarded. For example, a performance which demonstrates generally good fluency, mostly good control of the techniques demanded by the music (for instance, hand independence on the piano, or breath control for singers) and incorporates some of the expressive detail and shows a sense of style might receive the following marks:
Fluency & Accuracy: 5
Technical Facility: 5
Communication & Interpretation: 6
Examiners aim to write encouraging reports, even if there are areas for improvement, and they may use justifying words in their reports. These can be useful to look out for: words such as 'mostly', 'generally', 'sometimes', 'occasionally', and 'a little' tell us that something is in place, but not completely so, and that this might be an area to address for the future.
Performance skills sit at the heart of Trinity exams, and with this in mind, there is a slightly higher number of marks (8) available for Communication & Interpretation, whereas a maximum of 7 are available for the other two. If you are taking a Singing exam at Grades 6-8, the breakdown is slightly different, as there are four songs instead of three.
The same principle applies across Supporting Tests and Technical Work. In scales and arpeggios, higher marks are awarded where the comments received reflect secure fluency, accuracy and prompt responses. In sight reading, control of pulse, rhythm and tonality are key.
You can watch back our webinars on Learning & Assessment - Pieces & Technical Work and Learning & Assessment - Supporting Tests where you can hear directly from Trinity examiners about the mark scheme and assessment criteria, including interactive elements where you can put your own marking to the test.
Using your report form to shape future learning
Once you’ve familiarised yourself with the assessment criteria, you can use this to shape your understanding of your report form. This will help inform you of where things went well and what you may want to improve on going forward. Perhaps your Communication & Interpretation was particularly effective, or your Technical Work was fluent and accurate. Recognising what is already working well is vital.
Next, look at where marks were slightly lower. Ask yourself:
- Which section of the exam needs more attention?
- Within that section, what specifically do the descriptors highlight?
For example, if Fluency & Accuracy in the pieces was marked in a band referring to ‘some inconsistencies’, your focus might be maintaining a steadier pulse and rhythmic control. You can also use the detailed feedback the examiner has written to help tailor future practice.
Practical next steps
Your exam report will give you lots of useful information for your future learning, but it can be refreshing to take a short break from your exam pieces after an exam. Play something simply for enjoyment – a favourite tune, a duet, or music outside the syllabus. This can be an opportunity to broaden your repertoire and gain confidence before returning to focused work.
If you would like to take your exam again, remember: there is no rush. Take your time to prepare thoroughly; building consistent technique and confident communication takes time.
It may also be worth reflecting on the type of exam you entered for. Do you perform best when there is a clear sense of occasion and an examiner sitting in the room? Or do you communicate more freely in a less formal setting, recording the exam at home? Considering whether a face-to-face or digital exam suits you best can make a meaningful difference.
Consider a results enquiry and whether it is appropriate
If you believe that your result does not reflect how the exam went on the day, Trinity College London offers services where you can enquire further about your result. This includes options such as a clerical check or a review of the marking.
This process does not involve re-taking the exam, but it can provide reassurance that the assessment was carried out correctly. There are specific guidelines, deadlines and fees, so it is advisable to talk this through with a teacher or parent before making a decision.
To finish
We hope this blog has helped you in understanding how your report form can be a meaningful resource for your future musical development. Every exam builds experience, resilience and musical understanding. With clarity about how marks are awarded and focus on the descriptors, you can approach your next performance with greater assurance – and demonstrate exactly what you’re capable of.
Are you wondering what qualification to work towards next? Why not check out our previous blog posts:
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