GRADES
A ladder of skills
Graded exams build up progressively, so the steps learned at lower grades prepare for harder movements later. Each grade ends with an assessment by an external examiner.
Compare exam typesHOW DANCE EXAMS WORK
Show what
you have learnt.
A dance exam is a step on a ladder.
STEP BY STEP grade by grade
90,000 ISTD exams and medal tests each year
- Each grade builds on the last
- An external examiner marks
- Higher grades carry UCAS points
- A clear ladder, one rung at a time
From a first class exam with friends to the higher grades that count towards university applications, UK dance exams build up one level at a time. Here is how the ladder is put together, in plain English.
THE SHORT ANSWER
Small steps,
marked fairly.
Dance exams come in several kinds.
Each one does a different job.
MEDAL TESTS
For the joy of it
Medal tests are shorter and not regulated. The ISTD describes them as designed for people who dance for recreation, from children to adults.
Getting ready
THE DAY
Neat hair, no jewellery
Candidates are asked to be well presented, with neat hair and no jewellery unless it is part of a costume. Ask your teacher about the right clothes for the style.
What happens on the dayA QUICK COMPARISON
Which kind
of exam is it?
Pick a type of dance assessment to see what it is for. The bar shows how formal it is, from a relaxed class setting to regulated qualifications that can count towards higher education.
Based on the ISTD exam structure and the UCAS, ISTD and bbodance Tariff pages. Other awarding organisations organise their exams in their own ways, so check with your teacher.
FOUR WAYS TO PREPARE
Ready on
the day.
Most preparation happens in class over many weeks. These simple steps help the day itself go smoothly.
Ask about the uniform
Each style can have its own dress requirements. Check with the dance teacher well before the exam.
Plan the hair the night before
Neat hair is expected, and jewellery comes off unless it is part of a costume.
Expect a new room
The exam may be at a different venue from the usual studio, so allow time to find it and change.
Know who goes in
Only candidates, the examiner and an accompanist if needed go into the exam room. Parents wait outside.
TWO NUMBERS WORTH KNOWING
Lots of exams,
some real points.
One figure on how many exams are taken,
one on what the higher grades can be worth.
90,000
ISTD exams and medal tests each year
The Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing says it conducts 90,000 examinations and medal tests around the world each year, across theatre and dancesport styles.
EXAMS A YEAR · ISTD
8–20 points
Points for Grades 6 to 8
At bbodance, Level 3 grades carry 8 points for a Grade 6 Pass up to 20 for a Grade 8 Distinction. Values differ between organisations: an ISTD Grade 6 Distinction is worth 14.
UCAS TARIFF · BBODANCE
UCAS says having Tariff points does not guarantee a course will accept a qualification, and qualifications without points may still be accepted. Always check each course's entry requirements.
IN THE EXAM ROOM
Focused,
not chatty.
The ISTD describes a typical exam: the examiner says hello, asks candidates to show exercises and stays focused on the performance rather than chatting. When the exam is finished, the candidates are thanked and leave for the next group.
The examiner is not allowed to tell the teacher anything about the performance. Marks go directly to the ISTD, and certificates and medals are sent to the dance school within 6 weeks. The ISTD says its examiners attend several days of standardisation training each year for each style they examine.
Questions
Questions people ask
What is the difference between a graded exam and a medal test?
At the ISTD, graded exams follow a progressive structure and grades 1 to 6 are regulated by Ofqual. Medal tests are shorter, non-regulated tests designed for people who dance for recreation.
Do dance exams count for UCAS points?
Graded dance exams at Level 3, usually Grades 6 to 8 and some vocational grades, are included in the UCAS Tariff. The number of points depends on the grade, the result and the awarding organisation.
How many UCAS points is a Grade 8 dance exam?
At bbodance, a Grade 8 is worth 16 points for a Pass, 18 for a Merit and 20 for a Distinction. Other organisations publish their own figures, so check the one your teacher uses.
Who regulates dance exams?
In England, Ofqual oversees regulated qualifications. CDMT says many of its member awarding organisations are recognised by Ofqual and its partners in Wales and Northern Ireland.
Can parents watch a dance exam?
Usually not. The ISTD says only the candidates, the examiner and an accompanist, if one is needed, are allowed in the exam room.
Where the facts come from
Updated
- ISTD: UCAS points and ISTD dance qualifications
- ISTD: Examinations structure (grades, class exams, medal tests, vocational grades)
- ISTD: What is a typical exam day like?
- CDMT (Council for Dance, Drama and Musical Theatre): Qualifications
- bbodance: UCAS Tariff points for dance examinations
- UCAS: Tariff points, what they are and how they work