Students are entered for the Grade Three exam from the age of 7 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 being in the studio with them.
Students enter the examination in groups of 2’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 2 leading in, they will have their exam forms with them which they hand to the examiner and each student should have their number pinned onto their front. They then line up in front of the examiner starting with number 1 from left to right.
The students say either “Good morning” or “Good afternoon” the examiner will check their names against their numbers before they commence.
LENGTH OF EXAMINATION
The exam is only 20 minutes long. Make sure that the next group of candidates are ready to go into the exam room once your first group have 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
We would always encourage putting a stronger candidate with a weaker one. When numbering the children make sure number 1 is the strongest candidates, as they are the ones who will lead 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.
MIRRORS
These must be covered if your students are facing them. If they are dancing with their backs to them they can be left uncovered.
UNIFORM AND HAIR
Girls: Leotard either with or without a skirt, pink ballet tights, under 12’s may wear ballet socks. pink ballet shoes with or without ribbons.
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.