Before your exam
Here you will find information on specifications, syllabus, music, uniform, and everything you need to know to prepare for taking an RAD exam.
Exams overview
| Name of award | What? | Who? | Assessed? | Where? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Demonstration class (Dance to Your Own Tune) | Free content, led by teacher | Candidates age 2.5 to 5 years | No, the examiner only observes | AEC or RAV |
| Solo performance award (Grades 1-7) | 3 solo dances, at least 2 from exam syllabus | From age 7 | Yes, as per award criteria | AEC or RAV |
| Class award (Pre-Primary in Dance to Grade 8 and Discovering Repertoire) | Class award syllabus (a selection of exercises and one dance), led by the teacher | From age 5, Discovering Repertoire from age 12 | Yes, a broad indication of standard rather than a detailed breakdown | AEC or RAV |
| Examination (Graded, Vocational and Discovering Repertoire) | Candidates perform the exam syllabus | From age 6, Discovering Repertoire from age 12 | Yes, as per exam criteria | AEC or RAV |
| Solo Seal | Candidates perform three variations and a virtuoso finale for a panel of judges and an audience | From age 15 | Yes, by an RAD examiner and a dance professional approved by the Artistic Director | RAV or theatre venue |
*AEC – Approved Examination Centre, normally the teacher’s own studio
*RAV – RAD Approved Venue, premises provided by the RAD.
Our exams glossary explains other terms that you may not be familiar with.
Specifications and syllabus
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.
Exam fees and refunds
Fees for AEC examinations are less than for RAV examinations where the RAD supplies the venue and pianist
If a student wants to sit an Advanced Foundation, Advanced 1, Advanced 2 or Solo Seal exam wishes to take advantage of the reduced exam entry fee they must ensure that membership application form and payment of the membership fee is processed and sent to the RAD Wellington office at least 21 days prior to the closing date of the examination session they are wanting to enter into.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION – Changes and Additions to Exam Entries
2025 Fee table (all fees are in NZD and GST inclusive)
| Examination | AEC | RAV | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Primary in Dance | $79 | $109 | ||
| Grade 1 | $88 | $118 | ||
| Grade 2 | $101 | $132 | ||
| Grade 3 | $113 | $144 | ||
| Grade 4 | $122 | $153 | ||
| Grade 5 | $132 | $162 | ||
| Grade 6 | $138 | $168 | ||
| Grade 7 | $142 | $172 | ||
| Grade 8 | $148 | $180 | ||
| Intermediate Foundation | $188 | $218 | ||
| Intermediate | $201 | $232 | ||
| Member | Non-member | Member | Non-member | |
| Advanced Foundation | $204 | $407 | $235 | $438 |
| Advanced 1 | $207 | $410 | $238 | $441 |
| Advanced 2 | $212 | $415 | $243 | $446 |
| *Solo Seal | n/a | n/a | $296 | $499 |
| Discovering Repertoire Level 2 (per unit) | $65 | $96 | ||
| Discovering Repertoire Level 3 (per unit) | $82 | $112 | ||
| Discovering Repertoire Level 4 (per unit) | $87 | $117 |
| Class Award | AEC | RAV |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-Primary in Dance | $58 | $89 |
| Primary in Dance | $63 | $92 |
| Grade 1 | $68 | $99 |
| Grade 2 | $79 | $109 |
| Grade 3 | $90 | $120 |
| Grade 4 | $97 | $128 |
| Grade 5 | $106 | $137 |
| Grade 6 | $108 | $139 |
| Grade 7 | $111 | $142 |
| Grade 8 | $118 | $149 |
| Discovering Repertoire Level 2 (per unit) | $43 | $73 |
| Discovering Repertoire Level 3 (per unit) | $50 | $81 |
| Discovering Repertoire Level 4 (per unit) | $60 | $91 |
| Solo Performance Award | AEC | RAV |
|---|---|---|
| Grade 1 | $61 | $92 |
| Grade 2 | $69 | $100 |
| Grade 3 | $78 | $108 |
| Grade 4 | $86 | $116 |
| Grade 5 | $92 | $122 |
| Grade 6 | $100 | $131 |
| Grade 7 | $108 | $139 |
| Demonstration Class | AEC | RAV |
|---|---|---|
| Level 1 or Level 2 | $31 | $41 |
| Minimum Fee | AEC | RAV |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum fee payable if examining time less than three hours | $2000 | n/a |
| Surcharges | |
|---|---|
| Incomplete or amended entries and dishonoured payments (administration charge) | $70 |
| Late entries – week 1 | 10% |
| Late entries – week 2 | 20% |
| Replacements | |
|---|---|
| Certificates | $45 |
| Medals/bars | $25 |
| Customer Services | |
|---|---|
| Result Enquiry Report | $82 |
| Appeal | $140 |
| Solo Seal | |
|---|---|
| *Including rehearsals and exam | $60 |
| Exams Feedback Seminar | Members | Non-members |
|---|---|---|
| Attendance fee from 1 August 2023 | $58 | $68 |
Policies and Guidelines
For a breakdown of all our exams policies, please visit the page linked below.
Timings and sets
For a breakdown of Exam timings for Graded, Vocational, and Discovering Repertoire exams, please view this document.
Session dates
For a breakdown of session dates by city/region, please visit this page.
NZ Entry Forms
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.
Prerequisites and age requirements
Exam prerequisites
| Exam | Prerequisite |
|---|---|
| Intermediate Foundation | None |
| Intermediate | None |
| Advanced Foundation | Intermediate |
| Advanced 1 | Intermediate |
| Advanced 2 | Advanced 1 |
| Solo Seal | Advanced 2 (Distinction) |
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:
| Level | Target age |
|---|---|
| Level 1 | 2½ – 3½ |
| Level 2 | 3½ – 4½ or 5 |
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.
| Level | Minimum age | Recommended | Required |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-Primary in Dance | 5 | ✔ | |
| Primary in Dance | 6 | ✔ | |
| Grades 1-5 | 7 | ✔ | |
| Grades 6-8 | 11 | ✔ | |
| Intermediate Foundation | 11 | ✔ | |
| Intermediate | 12 | ✔ | |
| Advanced Foundation | 13 | ✔ | |
| Advanced 1 | 14 | ✔ | |
| Advanced 2 | 15 | ✔ | |
| Solo Seal | 15 | ✔ | |
| Discovering Repertoire | 12 | ✔ |
Reasonable adjustments
If you are concerned about whether to enter an RAD exam due to a special educational need, disability or medical condition, you can request special arrangements (reasonable adjustments) to be put in place. We can make these to administrative and exam procedures if they are judged to be reasonable, necessary, and practicable.
Applications for adjustments should be made by the closing date for exam entry, to enable the RAD to ensure that a candidate’s particular requirements are met.
To safeguard the integrity of the award, all candidates will be assessed against the same criteria and no concessions will be made in this respect.
Forms should be submitted at the closing date for the exam entry. Please highlight the check box next to the relevant candidate in your exam entry.
Submit the reasonable adjustment form via email or attach to your online entry. Please do not submit medical notes – if such information is needed we will be in touch.
If you attach a form to your online entry after the closing date, please notify exams customer services and your local organiser.
Forms received less than 2 working days before the exam date may not be processed.
- Reasonable Adjustment Application Form
- Before completing this form please read the Reasonable adjustments and special considerations policy
- Please find the RAD Examinations Privacy Policy
- Forms should not be given to the examiner on the day of the exam.
What to wear
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.
Online Entries
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.
Happy to help
If can’t find what you are looking for, get in touch:
Contact us at exams@rad.org.uk, or alternatively, you can view further exam information in the Member’s Area.
Become an RAD Registered Teacher
Only RAD Registered Teachers (RAD RTS) are eligible to enter students for our exams.
To enrol your students and better prepare them for success, visit our Member’s Area for more resources.
Not a registered teacher? Sign up and become a member today, and help your students succeed on their dance journey.