Observation

(a) The overall performance in this question was below average. Some candidates wrote melodies which were meaningless and in most cases, without any form and structure. Some neglected the time signature and wrote notes less or more than necessary in the bars. In addition, many candidates did not show evidence of modulation to the dominant as required. A few who modulated indicated no understanding of how to modulate and almost all candidates failed to show any phrasing in the melody. These wrong responses made the candidates to lose substantial marks.

(ii) A few candidates who attempted the question performed below average. Candidates were unable to set the given texts to a suitable melody.  Some candidates assigned two or more syllables to a single pitch, while some set the text without recognising their importance in the melody. Important syllables were inappropriately placed on weak beats.

(b) Candidates showed a palpable evidence of inadequate preparation for this question. Many candidates only duplicated the correct key signature, time signature, clef and barred inappropriately. Many of them demonstrated a poor understanding in two part writing. The counter melody did not stand on its own. There was no independence in melodic curves as well as melodic interest, contrasting and rhythm/contour, harmonic interest, final cadence could not be spelt out and copying, phrasing and alignment were poor. These led to poor performance in the question.

(c) Candidates’ performance in this part was also poor. Despite many candidates wrote the correct time signature, key signature, clef and barred correctly, they exhibited poor understanding in the harmonic interest (progression), final cadential progression, phrase marks and alignment. Candidates who were unable to do this lost enormous marks.