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Every year thousands of Australians of all ages sit AMEB exams in music and speech & drama for a variety of reasons. Many take exams at the advice of their teacher or as a prerequisite for tertiary entrance or as a benchmark of their education or for recognition of their year’s hard work and achievement.

Preparing for exams can be challenging and time-consuming and sometimes the effort and time required to complete an exam seem insurmountable.

So why sit an AMEB exam at all? Here are 5 good reasons why it really is worth it after all:

1. To assist in setting goals

Preparing for an exam requires a significant amount of planning and hard work. Exams provide clearly defined goal posts that are a powerful motivating force. Leading musicians and educators set realistic and appropriate goals within AMEB syllabuses and examinations are an opportunity for students to measure themselves against these goals.

2. To encourage the development of a broader range of skills

AMEB exams challenge students not only to perform repertoire on their instrument or subject of choice, but also to demonstrate other important skills like sight reading, technical prowess, aural recognition and general knowledge. These additional requirements support their learning and provide context and meaning to the experience. Gaining this full range of skills supports their overall music education creating successful musicians and giving them the tools required to develop into well-rounded, professional players.

3. To gain valuable performance experience

For many people, one of the hardest parts of taking an exam is presenting your programme on stage in front of an audience of strangers. Performing in front of others helps to develop poise and confidence: life skills that are useful for all sorts of future endeavors including making presentations, public speaking or even just giving a toast at a party.

4. To get constructive feedback

Every candidate that completes an exam receives a personal written report from their examiner. This independent feedback encourages the student to progress by highlighting areas of strength and weakness under performance conditions to help guide students in their development.

The feedback provided can confirm issues previously identified by the teacher and also introduce areas for improvement and further study.

5. To recognise achievement

Each successful candidate receives an official AMEB certificate recognising their achievement. This certificate is a tangible reminder of a milestone achievement and a source of great pride. Our qualifications provide a national benchmark and are recognized across Australia and internationally.

Most students completing exams are not necessarily on their way to becoming professional musicians or actors. That being said, there is overwhelming evidence demonstrating that childhood music and speech education leads to well-rounded, high performing adults across all fields. For students to set and then achieve a goal such as an exam, they are learning the value of hard work, discipline, and the incredible feats they are capable of in their lives ahead.