Can I still do a Recorded Exam when face-to-face exams are available?
Yes. We recognise that there are lots of factors as to why this may be what you need right now. Both Face-to-face and Recorded Exams will be available for all sessions. You may also request an out-of-session Recorded Exam for a group of your students. These are subject to availability and a few other requirements so please contact the AMEB Tasmania office to find out more.
Can I change to a recorded Exam if I'm enrolled in a face-to-face exam?
Yes but please note that, if your exam is already scheduled, we will require a minimum of two weeks' notice so that we can provide you with the details you need. Additionally, there is a transfer fee associated with this change (please check our Policies page for more details).
If I am preparing a selection of orchestral excerpts for my Recorded Exam, do I need to perform them all in the recording?
No, you won't need to perform all of the excerpts. Please have a look at the Recorded Exam Guidelines, where we have included instructions for this unique exam component.
What happens if the technology fails for me and I am unable to complete my exam?
You may restart the recording once you have solved your technology issues. Please note that the entire exam performance must be recorded in one take.
How good does the recording quality need to be?
Good enough to convey the abilities, tone, and stylistic nuances performed by the candidate - this means that higher grades will need better quality. While we're not expecting recording studio-level quality, AMEB does reserve the right to request the Candidate to repeat the exam if the quality is insufficient for the purposes of assessing their capabilities.
Can I provide a separate audio recording?
Yes. If your recording equipment does not record your audio with your visual, you may provide a better quality version of the audio separately. In this case, you MUST still provide the full video (with original audio) so that we can confirm that the two recordings are a match.
What happens next? How do I know when to do my recording? What's the timeline?
After enrolments close, we'll start timetabling exams just like the face-to-face schedules. Candidates will be notified at least two weeks prior to an exam due date. Candidates may undertake their exam recording at any time from enrolment up until the exam is due. The exam recording and all accompanying documentation must be submitted on or before the due date. Candidates who do not meet this deadline will be recorded as non attendance for their exam. Following the due date, we'll take about a week to process and check exams, preparing everything for the Examiners - at this point, we'll email you to confirm we have everything as quickly as we can. The Examiners will then assess the exam recordings in bulk, much like they would attend an exam day. Candidates should have their report within three weeks of their exam due date.
Can I supervise my child/student's exam?
Yes. We require that all Supervisors are over 18. Where the supervisor is not the parent/guardian of the candidate, we expect that they will hold a valid Working With Vulnerable People Check.
I'm over 18 - do I need a Supervisor?
Yes. The role of the Supervisor is to maintain the integrity of the exam, not just to ensure the safety of children.
As a Supervisor, can I read the exam instructions to the Candidate?
Yes. Absolutely no problem with this, particularly for the younger Candidates who may not have advanced levels of reading. There are a few requirements for this: the person stating the Candidate's name and exam key MUST be recorded speaking to the camera; and you are ONLY permitted to read the instructions provided, and these must be in English.
Can I use a page turner?
Yes. Physical distancing and isolation practices may make this a challenge so we do recommend setting yourself up to minimise or negate the need for a page turner as the first preference. Your Supervisor is permitted to be your page turner. Your page turner does not need to appear in your video but should be audible in the recording (obviously!).
Who has access to my recording?
The AMEB Tasmania team will be checking all recordings and documents to ensure everything is ready for our Examiners. AMEB Examiners will be provided access to the recordings and repertoire forms, plus any further detail required for assessment. No personal contact information is shared with Examiners and your recording will not be shared with anyone else without your explicit consent. All AMEB team members hold and maintain valid Working With Vulnerable People Checks. Exam recordings will be deleted from any device or storage following the report being issued. We may contact you to request sharing of some exams for the purposes of training Examiners - this will not be done without your consent and the recording will be edited to remove any names or personal details.
Do I need to scan my music/texts for the Examiner?
Only the items outlined in guidelines - please check your syllabus to ensure you're providing all that you need to, as well as the relevant Guidelines for any other accompanying documents required for your Recorded Exam. Classical Certificate of Performance and Diploma Candidates please note: the Recorded Exam Guidelines do require a scan of ALL of your works performed.
Will my certificate still be as valid as my other exams?
Yes. This process is stringently managed to ensure your exam result and accreditation will have exactly the same validity as a face-to-face exam. It's for this reason that it's super-important you read all of the guidelines and adhere to them.
Will I still be able to get extra TCE points for my Recorded Exam?
Yes. Recorded exams are just as valid in their accreditation as a face-to-face exam so you'll still be eligible for points. Check out TASC recognition to find out more about what's available.
Can I do a group exam via Recording?
Yes. Obviously, this depends on what syllabus you're enrolling in but we're happy to accept group exams via recording. It is your responsibility to ensure that any physical distancing requirements are met and that the recording has sufficient scope and quality to effectively portray the performance standards of all Candidates.
Are the fees the same for Recorded Exams as normal, face-to-face exams?
Yes. While some costs are reduced through recorded exams (such as staffing on the day and piano tuning), these are offset by the technology required to maintain confidentiality and integrity of the exam process, as well as increased administrative load. Fun fact: The main expense for exams is actually the Examiners' time - and this remains a fixed cost.
COVID-19 Statement
We continue to offer the Recorded Exam format as an alternative to face-to-face exams in order to support students’ learning and ongoing development during the pandemic. Our first and biggest priority is the health and safety of all AMEB team members and exam day attendees, and we are taking various measures to support that (you can read those in our Pandemic Policy). However, physical distancing regulations, and various restrictions are recognised as highly variable, even more so when considering everyone's personal situation. Furthermore, some venues have mandated that all eligible attendees must be fully vaccinated (or hold a valid medical exemption). We invite anyone who does not feel comfortable attending an exam venue to enrol in a Recorded Exam.
I still need help!
Please get in touch. While the world may be shutting down, we have diverted phones and set up shop in our homes. Kirsty and Michelle are here to help - please contact us.
