I never did get hung up on grades etc. From what I know and remember they were all about classical music reading ability and theory knowledge. As a saxophone player I didn’t follow through into the classical world (obviously!)
The people I would get with for playing gigs and joining bands etc couldn’t care less what grade level I tested in. If you have grade 8 and they think your playing sucks having grade 8 didn’t help you there. It all comes down to playing well and sounding good…if following through the graded system helps you get there then nobody can argue against it that’s for sure. Theory is important. When I was in high school they didn’t teach it (just had band class) so I went on a bus downtown once a week and took theory lessons with a private teacher. I learned a lot, have forgotten much of it but know enough to do what I’m doing today and for the last 25 years of playing professionally. So, I highly recommend it, but the bottom line is always to sound good on your instrument… if you do, nobody will ever think of asking you what grade level are you at!

Had my Weekly Sax lesson today & discussed doing a grade.
Decided to go for a grade 2 exam in November instead of grade 3.
It only involves learning F, G, D major scales and D,A minor scales off by heart and their corresponding arpeggios!
It also involves learning a few pieces for the exam! and a few other things.
Hopefully this should improve my playing of written music.
So at some stage i hope you don’t mind me uploading them to the blog for feedback?