MATSEC AM Music exam-day guide
MATSEC AM Music · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Photo identification
Bring the ID document specified in your entry confirmation. The exact accepted forms (passport, national ID card, etc.) are set by the examining board, so confirm with the provider which document is required and whether a signature is also needed.
Entry statement or exam slip
Carry the confirmation issued to you (candidate number, centre, date and time). If your centre issues no such document, confirm with the provider what proof of entry you should present.
Candidate number and centre details
Know your candidate number and the exact venue and reporting time. Write them down separately from your phone in case the device is collected or switched off.
Instrument and accessories in playing order
Pack your instrument, bow or sticks, reeds, mouthpieces, strings, strap, capo, picks, and any spares you normally rely on. Check that cases are labelled with your name and candidate number.
Tuning device and spare batteries
Bring a reliable tuner and spare batteries. Confirm with the provider whether you may tune on stage between items or whether tuning must happen silently before you begin.
Sheet music, scores and page turns
Bring clean copies of the pieces you will perform, with page turns planned or a page-turner arranged if permitted. Confirm with the provider whether photocopies are allowed or whether original copies are required.
Accompanist arrangements
If your programme includes accompanied works, confirm rehearsal time, entrance arrangements and whether the accompanist can enter the room with you. Confirm with the provider who is responsible for providing the accompanist.
Water and a small towel
Bring water in a closed container and a small towel. Confirm with the provider whether drinks are allowed in the warm-up room and in the exam room itself.
Warm-up plan written on one page
Prepare a short written warm-up routine (scales, long tones, a passage from each piece) that you can follow without thinking. Keep it to one page so it fits in a pocket or instrument case.
Programme order and timing sheet
Write your programme order with approximate durations and the total. Confirm with the provider the total time allowed and whether you may choose the order of your pieces.
Watch or small silent timer
A simple watch helps you judge tempo and pacing during preparation. Confirm with the provider whether smart watches or phones are prohibited in the exam room.
Transport and arrival buffer
Plan to arrive with a generous buffer for instrument assembly and registration. Check local travel disruptions the day before. Confirm with the provider the latest arrival time and what happens if you are late.
Plan the day
Run a full mock performance in the order you will play, timed end to end, including walking in, tuning, pauses between pieces and walking out. Record it if you can and listen back once, noting only two or three things to fix rather than rewriting your interpretation at this stage.
Check every practical detail: venue address, reporting time, ID requirements, accompanist arrangements, instrument maintenance (new strings settled, reeds broken in, valves and pads working). Confirm with the provider any point you are unsure about now, not on the day.
Reduce physical load. Keep practice in short, focused blocks with rests, and avoid learning new repertoire or making major technical changes that cannot be consolidated in the time left.
Do a light technical session only: slow scales, long tones, and slow practice of difficult transitions. Stop while you still feel fresh. Do not play through the whole programme at full intensity.
Pack the instrument case completely and leave it by the door. Lay out clothes, ID, exam slip and music. Charge or replace batteries in any electronic device and tuner.
Review your programme order and timing sheet, and mentally rehearse the start of each piece (first phrase, tempo, first dynamic). Eat a normal meal, avoid alcohol, and aim for a full night's sleep.
Eat a normal breakfast and hydrate. Do a short, gentle warm-up (10-15 minutes) rather than a heavy practice session, then rest your embouchure, voice or hands.
Arrive at the venue with your buffer, register, and locate the warm-up room and the exam room. Use the warm-up to play slow, easy material and to check intonation and response, not to practise hard passages.
Enter calmly, set up your instrument and any music stands, take a breath, and begin only when you are settled. If you make a slip, keep the pulse going and recover into the next bar rather than stopping.
Pace yourself against your timing sheet. If examiners indicate a change of item or ask a question, respond clearly and briefly. If you are asked to sight-read or demonstrate technical work, look at the key, time signature and tempo before starting.
Thank the examiners and accompanist, pack your instrument carefully, and leave the room as instructed. Do not discuss your performance in detail with other candidates; note privately what you would do differently next time.
Rules to check
Bring the identification document specified by the examining board and be ready to show it at registration. If you are unsure which forms of ID are accepted, confirm with the provider before the exam day.
Follow the centre's instructions on phones, smart watches and recording devices. Assume these must be switched off and stored away unless the provider explicitly permits otherwise; confirm with the provider if you need a device for tuning.
Respect the total time allowance for your programme. Confirm with the provider in advance whether exceeding the time limit affects assessment, whether you will be stopped, and how timing is measured.
Perform the programme you submitted. If you need to change repertoire, tempo or instrumentation, confirm with the provider as early as possible whether changes are allowed and by what deadline.
Notify the provider in advance of any access requirement, injury, illness or instrument problem that may affect your performance, and ask what evidence or arrangements are required. Do not assume adjustments can be made on the day.
Follow the provider's rules on breaks, water and leaving the room. If you need to stop during the exam, ask the examiners rather than leaving without explanation, and confirm with the provider how such situations are handled.
Treat examiners' questions and any aural or sight-reading tasks as part of the assessment. Answer honestly and do not ask examiners to reveal marks or comment on your performance unless the provider's rules allow it.
Do not bring unauthorised help into the exam room, and do not communicate with other candidates about the content of the test while it is in progress. If you are unsure what counts as permitted material or assistance, confirm with the provider.