Exam Information
Here's an outline of the RGT's exam entry procedures...
Electric and Bass Entries
Each of the grade books includes an examination entry form for the relevant grade. Completing one of the specially stamped official entry forms that are in the back of each handbook is the only method of entry to an examination.
Variations on entry methods
- To avoid completing each entry form individually, teachers can, if they prefer, submit their own summary sheet of all their students' entry details – providing that an appropriate entry form from the relevant handbook is attached for each entry.
- There are also special 're-entry forms' which will be freely available for candidates who wish to re-take an exam if they did not achieve a high enough mark on the first attempt. In such instances, candidates simply need to write a note to the RGT and enclose a copy of the relevant report form.
- There are also 'sibling entry forms' freely available for entries from the same family e.g. brother and sister. A letter of request should be submitted, together with proof of the family connection.
Rationale
There are two main reasons why RGT adopted the system of having the exam entry form only within the handbooks:
- To ensure all candidates are fully aware of the exam requirements: Our research over the initial years of running the exams has shown that the vast majority (over 90%) of candidates who failed the examinations were those who had not obtained a grade handbook! Examiners frequently reported instances of candidates who seem ed completely unprepared for many sections of the exam – simply because they had not had the handbook to read. Failing candidates is not something any examiner likes to do: the purpose of the exams is to reward and encourage students, not discourage them. We hope that by requiring students to obtain the handbooks this situation can be redressed for the better. This system has been used very effectively in the LCM classical guitar exams and the percentage of exam failures has dropped enormously.
- To discourage illegal photocopying of the books: organising specialist exams across the whole of the UK and overseas, with specialist examiners, is an extremely costly process which is only made feasible by the funds raised through handbook sales. Unfortunately, some people had taken to illegally photocopying the handbooks in bulk, thereby potentially undermining the continued viability of this specialist exam system. The inclusion of a specially stamped official entry form, which is available only within an exam handbook, should hopefully prevent such illegal and unethical actions.
