So you're wondering what this exam thing is all about and why your child should do one?
Maybe their teacher has suggested an exam and you want to know what all the fuss is about.
Every year, thousands of Australians of all ages choose to sit an AMEB exam. These exams serve various purposes, from fulfilling teacher recommendations to acting as prerequisites for tertiary entrance. But why should your child do one? Let's explore a few compelling reasons.
1. Setting goals
Did you know that children's learning capabilities are optimised when they have short, medium, and long term goals to aim for? An AMEB exam is an excellent medium-term goal. Preparing for the exam involves meticulous planning and hard work. The exam itself is a clearly defined goal post, acting as a powerful motivator, and source of reward once it's complete.
2. Skill development
AMEB exams challenge students to perform and extend their craft. Beyond the music, script, or routine, exams also assess essential skills like technique, sight-reading, aural recognition, general knowledge, and improvisation. These additional requirements enrich the learning experience, creating well-rounded performers who are better equipped for success in their journey.
3. Performance experience
Presenting a program on stage in front of strangers can be nerve-wracking. Tackling those fears and feelings is a challenge, however it's just like building any muscle - the more you practice performing, the easier it becomes. The exam experience is invaluable in building those performance skills, which are the same skills for dealing with stress and anxiety.
4. Constructive feedback
After completing an exam, each Candidate receives a personalised report from the Examiner. This report contains not just the result of the exam but feedback highlighting the strengths of the performance, as well as suggesting areas to guide future development. These report insights complement the teacher's curriculum, often reinforcing the work done in lessons as well as introducing areas for improvement.
5. Recognising achievement
Every successful Candidate receives an official AMEB certificate. This piece of paper isn't just a tangible reminder of their milestone achievement. It serves as a source of pride and recognition. Moreover, AMEB qualifications provide a national benchmark and are recognised internationally.
6. Pathways to future success
AMEB exams are more than just the assessment on the day. They teach students the importance of time management, goal-setting, and critical reflection. They can help develop poise, confidence, resilience, memory, and an attitude of life-long learning - all essential and sought-after skills applicable to any future endeavour, including public speaking, interviews, presentations, managing teams, creative problem solving and more.
Most AMEB exams are eligible for bonus TCE points. These can really boost the future of students by unlocking more study opportunities.
1. High quality
Each syllabus is carefully crafted by a team of expert teachers and pedagogues. Technical work is curated to support each stage of development and all aspects are carefully aligned to ensure they work harmoniously to challenge and engage learners of all ages. Our member organisations are all nationally recognised institutions (universities and government departments) which helps to maintain the high calibre of syllabuses but also enables us to provide internationally recognised qualifications. Our team of Examiners includes some of the finest teachers and performance across the country. We offer specialist Examiners (not generalist) so report feedback is bespoke, relevant, and encouraging so that the student can use the comments to support their ongoing development.
2. Breadth of repertoire
Our syllabuses boast some of the largest collections of repertoire for each learning specialty. They're graded to match the various stages of learning development and offer a huge variety of composers/authors, genres, and styles. This means that each student is sure to find repertoire that they love, that will also support them to grow.
3. Flexibility
With almost 1,000 different exams available, there really is something for everyone. We offer two types of exam formats - Comprehensive and Repertoire - and exams can be undertaken face-to-face or via video. We find that a lot of students who are grappling with anxiety, or who may be neurodiverse, can find an accessible and supportive option to achieve their exam goals. We have dozens of different syllabuses which: many instruments range from classical to contemporary, and speech and drama students now have five different syllabuses to choose from. There really is something to suit everyone's interests and goals.
4. Australian made
Australian isn't just in the title - AMEB came into being to create something truly Australian! At the time, the only examining bodies were based in Europe. The first syllabuses were developed right here in Australia, for the Australian education context, for Australian students. We continue this legacy and are privileged to continue to work with our local community of examiners, teachers, and member organisations to ensure AMEB continues to support quality arts education across the country (and beyond). Delivering about 90% of music exams across the country, AMEB is a trusted and renowned name that denotes quality and is an understood benchmark throughout the industry.
The performing arts are not just a great addition to your child's portfolio learning. They provide skills for life, and enjoyment in the process. Remember, childhood arts education lays the foundation for well-rounded, high-performing adults across all fields. Whether your child pursues a career in the performing arts or elsewhere, by setting and achieving goals through AMEB exams, you're instilling values like hard work, discipline, and the pursuit of excellence.
Enrol your child today and witness the transformative power of the performing arts.
