Grade 5 at 15 would maybe be slightly less good than average, though I don't know an absolute number. How long it takes to get G8 depends on your instrument - singing is notoriously easy to attain grade 8 on, while it is exceptionally rare to have it before the age of 16 on the piano, and the people who get it at 16 are talented. I would guess that if you're prepared to put in the practise, it might take you about 10 years to get grade 8 (or, at least, that's how long it took me on the piano, I think), but it really does vary from person to person, and changes with your chosen instrument.
I do singing at my school, and I took Grade 3 about three years ago, and I've just done Grade 5, and I'm now going straight to Grade 8 (after taking Grade 5 theory which I'm currently studying for).
If you're dedicated to what you're learning, and enjoy it, then you will find it a lot easier. For example, I love to sing, so I'm more likely to put effort into it as it's something I really want to do.
There are a few girls and boys at my school who have grade 5 and better, but I'm the only one studying for Grade 8 at the moment, cause it's really hard haha, but so much fun
It really depends on the instrument and the individual as to how long you need. By the way, there are exams after grade 8. I started piano at age 7 and got grade 8 at 16 and my diploma at 17, but I started flute at age 10 and got my grade 8 at age 15 (though I was almost 16) and my diploma at 17.
I have no idea how many 15 year olds have grade 5 in an instrument, and I wouldn't want to hazard a guess because I haven't a clue how many 15 year olds there are in the UK!
It depends a lot on both ability to start with and the time and dedication you put towards it, I started learning Piano when I was 7 and took Grade 6 when I was 13 I think (failed ), but started singing when I was 13 and took grade 8 at 16 (passed ). So it varies a lot
Couldn't possibly hazard a guess at your second question
Yeah, i agree, it varies. I got grade 8 in about 10 years, but only practised about an hour a week... only put my pieces together 4 days before the exam lol.. not really dedication...
The strangest thing just happened. I was just trying to find this random piece of statistics on google (and failed) but instead found all these posts already on page 2 on google. Is this even possible?
It's taken me about 7 years to get to grade standard on the clarinet, will be nearly 8 by the time I actually take the exam. I'd say a grade a year is pretty average, but it tends to be significantly less for second/third etc. study instruments.
At 15, I had my grade 5, so did about one or two other people in my GCSE Music class, but then again we weren't a particularly strong class performance-wise. As a complete guess I'd say maybe 3%
I was around 11 when i did grade 5 on violin (stopped playing it years ago though) and 14 when i did piano grade 5. I'm 17 now and working towards grade 8 which i hope to do a month or so before my 18th birthday.
AS Level music standard is grade 5 and A2 is grade 6
It's taken me 4 years to get to grade 8 on the saxophone. But I'm doing the exam in spring so I can make sure I get the distinction that I want.
It took me 5 years to get to grade 8 standard on oboe but I never did the exam.
If all goes to plan I will have achieved grade 8 bassoon in 3 and a half years but I may push the exam further back.
The level of progress does all depend on the instrument really.
For example you make quick progress on woodwind and brass in the beginning which then slows down. And piano and strings are slower in general to make progress on at the beginning.
Then again some people have natural affinity for certain instruments and make rapid progress.
I doubt that many 15 year old have a grade 5 to be honest at for one thing, not a large percentage of people play an instrument in the first place let alone doing grades.
In my school, there were a fair few amount of kids who played guitar, drums, keyboard etc. at good levels, some far better than I've ever played, yet never done a single ABRSM exam, I think there were about... 25 people who had a grade5+ in my school, if that? Unprivileged school ftw
In my school, there were a fair few amount of kids who played guitar, drums, keyboard etc. at good levels, some far better than I've ever played, yet never done a single ABRSM exam, I think there were about... 25 people who had a grade5+ in my school, if that? Unprivileged school ftw
I did grade 5 piano, music theory and flute at 15 years old last year.
In about 4 weeks I will do my grade 6 piano and at easter do grade 6 flute.
I haven't skipped any grades, as personally I like to see how I improve I did my first grade on the piano/flute when I was about 10-11 I think, so it takes about a grade a year. Though I have been playing the piano since I was four, and flute 9. So when I did the first few grades on the piano, I was able to cope easily. I have been doing my grade 6 pieces for about 8 months; I had to choose the challenging ones didn't I haha!
I'm also studying Music AS on OCR now, so you have to be at least a grade 6.
I plan to start preparing for grade 7 as soon as grade 6 is done hopefully!
Personally I would never skip from a grade 5 (or anything below) to grade 7/8, because the jump from grade 5 to grade 6 is huge enough. It helps if you're good at theory too! Though you do need music theory to do grade 6+
For discussion of anything to do with musical instruments or classical music. Share sheet music, discuss equipment, music board exams etc.
ABRSM exams
), but started singing when I was 13 and took grade 8 at 16 (passed 
). So it varies a lot 
