Before your exam

Music

More information on music in exams can be found in our Specifications (see Music), and CDs and sheet music can be bought from the RAD New Zealand shop.

Please note: for graded exams, it is better if the teacher does not serve as the pianist or operate the CD player as this can be very distracting for the candidates.

We suggest the following:

• A screen should be placed between the performing space and the CD operator.
• The CD operator should sit with their back towards the exam area, or facing away from the candidates, making no eye contact with the candidates.
• Candidates should understand beforehand that the examiner will conduct the exam and even if their teacher is operating the CD player, their teacher will not assist at any point.

All vocational graded exams must be performed with a pianist, but the variations are performed to the orchestral tracks on the CD. The pianist must operate the CD player.

For a breakdown of Exam timings for Graded, Vocational, and Discovering Repertoire exams, please view this document.

For a breakdown of session dates by city/region, please visit this page.

From January 2020 all AEC and RAV exam entries are to be processed on the new Online Exam entry system.  Access to this is through your Members’ Area login.  Please contact the office if you require any assistance with this.

Exam prerequisites

Equivalent ballet qualifications from the following organisations are accepted:

• British Ballet Organisation (BBO/bbodance)
• British Theatre Dance Association (BTDA)
• National Association of Teachers of Dance (NATD)
• Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (ISTD)
• International Dance Teachers’ Association (IDTA)

Where candidates enter for an exam and the prerequisite in the same session, the award of the exam will be dependent on the prerequisite also being passed.
For more information, please see ‘Entering candidates for exams’ in our Specifications.

Age requirements

An RAD Registered teacher will identify when a candidate is ready to take an exam.

For demonstration classes, the following target ages apply:

There are recommended age requirements for all RAD exams, class awards and solo performance awards and required ages for Intermediate Foundation, Intermediate and Discovering Repertoire exams and class awards.

Without exception, candidates must reach the required minimum age by 31 December in the year in which they are taking the exam.

Filmed exams were introduced to offer an alternative for teachers and students wishing to enter exams during the COVID-19 global pandemic when live exams were not possible.

Filming of exams will continue to be offered.

For assistance or more information

For more information, as well as guides for filming and uploading filmed exams, please visit the Members’ Area.

Special examinations can be arranged for dates outside the sessions listings above. They are subject to a surcharge which reflects the additional costs (see below).

Please note, the RAD cannot guarantee to fulfil requests which depend on examiner availability.

Overview

A Reasonable Adjustment is a pre-assessment adjustment made to enable a disabled or disadvantaged candidate to demonstrate their knowledge, skills, and understanding to the levels of attainment required by the specification for that qualification. They are intended to support candidates with certain conditions (normally a special educational need, disability or medical condition) known about at the time of entry. Reasonable Adjustments involve changes to assessment or administrative procedures only. The assessment criteria and mark will not be adjusted.

Where a Reasonable Adjustment is not necessary, but the candidate does have a condition that they would like the examiner to be aware of, we will inform the examiner. This is known as Examiner Awareness. Further information and guidance on this can be found in the Reasonable Adjustments vs Examiner Awareness guidance document.

Application procedure

Applications for Reasonable Adjustments or requests for Examiner Awareness should be submitted via the RAD Online Exam Entry by activating the RA check box when you add your candidate. Alternatively, if your candidate has been added to the Exam Entry already, you may submit your application by using the pencil icon to the far right of the relevant candidate and activating the RA check box (new window opens) to select ‘Reasonable Adjustment’ or ‘ Examiner Awareness’ on the Exam Entry. Once the RA check box has been activated, please ensure that your application form is uploaded to the notes section of the Exam Entry.

Application or request timelines

Live in-person assessments – Any Reasonable Adjustment application or Examiner Awareness request must be completed by the closing date of the relevant assessment period ideally, but no later than 5 working days before the date of the assessment. All applications after the closing date of the entry should be submitted to examscustomerservices@rad.org.uk

Filmed assessments – Any Reasonable Adjustment application or Examiner Awareness request must be completed no later than 5 working days prior to the filming of the assessment.

• Please read the Reasonable Adjustments policy and procedure before you complete your Reasonable Adjustment Application Form or Examiner Awareness Request Form
• Please find the RAD Examinations Privacy Policy
• Forms should not be given to the examiner on the day of the assessment.

In our specifications, uniform is recommended for each grade, but where this is not possible, suitable alternatives may be worn.

Candidates are not assessed based on their uniform.

• All uniform should be clean and well-fitting.
• Jewellery should not be worn unless required for religious or cultural reasons.
• Where used, makeup should be kept light and to a minimum.
• Hair should be neat and tidy, styled off the face and neck so that the line of the head and neck is not obscured.

We want to ensure that candidates feel comfortable and secure in their exam. If you have any queries about uniform, or wish to talk about any adjustments, please do get in touch.

RAD New Zealand Shop stocks a range of recommended exam uniforms.

Filmed exams were introduced to offer an alternative for teachers and students wishing to enter exams during the COVID-19 global pandemic when live exams were not possible.

Filming of exams will continue to be offered.  If you wish to film your exams please contact info@rad.org.nz 

More information can also be found in the Members’ Area

Submitting your filmed exams

We use secure video hosting platform Planet eStream to administer filmed exams.

Once a discussion has been had with the RAD NZ Office and agreement to proceed with filmed exams has been given,  a secure login and password for Planet eStream will be arranged for you.