Exam Etiquette
Students can be entered for the Preparatory grade from the age of 4 years. They must be at a level where they can execute the syllabus work without the aid of a teacher and know the work fully without being prompted. The exam is taken without the teacher’s assistance, the teacher is allowed to go in with the children but mustn’t give any assistance but may also send the children in on their own. Sometimes entering the exam room can be distracting to the children. This needs to be the teacher’s discretion.
Students enter the examination in groups of 4’s. If you have an odd number then it is acceptable to enter an individual or a group of 3.
The students enter the examination room with number 4 leading in. They will have their exam forms with them filled out in advance by the teacher which they hand to the examiner. Each student should have their number pinned onto their front and line up in front of the examiner starting with number 1 from left to right.
They say either “Good morning” or “Good afternoon” and the examiner will check their names against their numbers before they commence.
LENGTH OF EXAMINATION
The exam is only 15 minutes long. Make sure that the next group of candidates are ready to go into the exam room once your first group has entered.
Some examiners like to ring a bell to let you know when they are ready for the next group but others like to just keep the groups flowing, one after the other. Make sure you check with your examiner before the session starts as to which way they prefer.
PARTNER WORK
Always put a stronger candidate with a weaker one. When numbering the children make sure numbers 1 and 4 are the strongest candidates, as they are the ones who will lead the group in some of the exercises.
MUSIC
Your music must be operated by an independent person, not the teacher. There should be a screen around this person so they are unable to see the students but must be able to see the examiner.
Your playlist should be unticked so that the tracks don’t run straight into each other. Always practise first with your music operator before the exam day to iron out any foreseeable problems.
MIRRORS
These must be covered.
UNIFORM AND HAIR
Girls: Skirted leotard, pink ballet socks. pink ballet shoes
Hair in a ballet bun, if too short for a bun a ballet hairband is required.
No jewellery, nail polish or makeup.
Boys: Black tights or shorts, leotard or unitard, white ballet socks, black ballet shoes.
Hair out of eyes and tidy.