As an ABRSM examinations interpreter with 30 years of piano teaching experience, I have seen, in the exam room, many candidates lose marks by overlooking details. For students and parents preparing for ABRSM grades, grasping the practical exam details is the first step toward a good showing. Beyond playing the pieces fluently, it is worth noting a few common ways to lose marks, and the preparation and improvement for each. Here they are, one by one.
Five Common Ways to Lose Marks, and How to Improve
• Memorising only the fingering, overlooking expression marks and phrasing. Improve: analyse each piece first, spend a little time each day reading the score away from the piano, marking all the dynamics, expression and phrasing; play to the markings, not just the right notes.
• Scales and arpeggios rushed for speed, with messy rhythm and tone. Improve: practise slowly with a metronome before the exam, prioritising even tone, smooth key changes, balanced dynamics and line; after each attempt, listen carefully to whether the tone is right.
• Stopping and restarting when a sight-reading slip occurs, disrupting the flow. Improve: keep sight-reading regular in daily practice; with a new piece, check the key and time signature first, and even if you slip, keep going with the rhythm. Sight-reading should never be crammed just before the exam.
• Cramming aural at the last minute, with an underdeveloped inner ear. Improve: weave aural into daily practice, sing often, and train yourself to hear tone, melody and harmony; in the exam, even if unsure, describe the details you notice.
• Not adjusting to the exam venue, with nerves affecting the playing. Improve: do full mock exams beforehand, running pieces, scales, sight-reading and aural in one go; get used to pianos of different touch, and gradually adapt to the pressure of the stage.
What You Can Learn Beyond the Exam
Practising exam pieces is never just playing the right notes at speed. Studying phrasing, dynamics and a work's background is really training musical expression — learning to convey emotion through the instrument. Many students play very fluently yet don't understand a piece's feeling; even a high mark is then only a mechanical performance.
Theory, sight-reading and aural are not just exam tasks either: theory helps you read the logic of a score; sight-reading builds reading so you can approach new pieces on your own; aural develops an inner ear for tone, rhythm and harmony. These abilities remain useful after the exam — even if you stop taking grades, you can still play the music you love and appreciate performance.
The Grade Is a Tool, Not the Destination
Preparation also tempers character: planning practice, facing stage pressure, accepting setbacks and improving. This patience and persistence matter as much as playing technique.
I don't deny the value of an ABRSM certificate — grades can drive progress; but be clear: a grade is a tool, not the destination. A certificate reflects a period of effort, not the whole of one's musicianship. In sitting ABRSM, beyond using technique to earn a result, focus on the music itself — learn to read the score, feel the melody, understand the work — and even if you never take another exam, you can still enjoy music. This inner musicianship matters far more than a certificate. To understand your child's current preparation direction, you are welcome to book a one-to-one piano consultation.
Further Reading
What Do Examiners Listen For? ABRSM Piano Marking Criteria Explained
ABRSM Exam Day: Preparation and Procedure for Parents and Students
Beyond “Passing the Exam”: Why I Care More That Students Can Truly Play
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most common ways to lose marks in ABRSM?
Common ones: memorising only fingering while overlooking expression and phrasing; rushing scales so tone gets messy; stopping at a sight-reading slip; cramming aural; and nerves from not adjusting to the venue. Improving each in daily practice is more effective than last-minute drilling.
Can sight-reading and aural be crammed just before the exam?
Not advisable. Both need steady accumulation; last-minute cramming rarely builds stable ability. Weaving them into daily practice is far more useful in the long run.
Does a high mark mean strong musical ability?
Not necessarily. A score reflects one moment's showing, but mechanical playing without understanding a piece's feeling doesn't equal real musical ability. Understanding and expression are the lasting core.
How can I prepare for exam nerves?
Do full mock exams beforehand to become familiar with the whole flow, and get used to pianos of different touch. Familiarity reduces the strangeness and nerves in the moment.
Ms. Kannaz Kwok
30+ years of piano teaching experience. Holder of internationally recognised qualifications from the Royal Academy of Music and Trinity Laban Conservatoire.