Groundhog Day Exams
By Philip Johnston

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There is something horribly final about an exam

A twenty minute blur of concentrated scales, pieces and various tests, and suddenly it’s all over. The examiner gives you a smile, and you’ll get the results in due course. Your heart is still pumping semiquavers to your fingers, but there is now nothing you can do to change the examiner’s verdict.

It’s around about then that you replay various parts of the exam in your mind, and the “if only’s” start. And once they start, they’re hard to stop.

If only I had not messed up the fingering in the Bb Major scale. If I only I had not been so stupid as to take my etude too fast. If only my pedalling had been better in the Beethoven. If only I had not mixed up the major third with the minor third in my aural test. If only I had spotted that clef change in the sightreading…

Here’s what you need to realise.

All these laments and regrets really all boil down to one “if only”. It’s an important one, and we are going to use it shortly to help your exam results:

If only I could do it all over again…

Well, you can.  And just like you thought, you will do it all much better the second time around. (Experience being such a good teacher and all)

I don't understand...are you telling me to take the exam twice?!!