LAMDA Exam FAQs & Grade Guidelines

Which module should I choose?  

Essentially all the modules are good for performance, public speaking and  communication skills, for confidence and expression. Each module hones slightly different aspects of these broader skills. When we meet your children, we will assess the appropriate level for them and recommend a  module we think will suit them best. We advise you not to stick to just one module, but try to explore as many of them as possible over time, as this is  a more holistic approach and helps to create talented ‘all-rounder’s’.   

What Grade will my child study? 

After enrolment, we will assess your child and discuss our recommendations with you. As a general rule of thumb, if you start from an early age, you’ll follow the below guideline. If you join at a later age, we may suggest starting on a lower grade to build confidence and then progressing up the ranks as appropriate. 

Pre-school: Can begin classes aged 4+, but no examinations at this point. 

Reception: Introductory Stage 1

Year 1: Introductory Stage 2

Year 2: Introductory Stage 3

Year 3: Entry Level: 2 modules/year

Year 4: Grade 1: 2 modules/year

Year 5: Grade 2: 2 modules/year

Year 6: Grade 3/Level 1 Shakespeare: 2 modules/year

Year 7: Grade 4: 2 modules/year

Year 8: Grade 5: 2 modules/year

Year 9/10: Grade 6: 1-2 modules/year

Year 10/11: Grade 7: 1 module/year

Year 11/12: Grade 8: 1 module/year

Year 12: Shakespeare Level 3 or a second Grade 8 module

Year 13/University: P-Cert LAM Diploma *not for the faint hearted! 

Why does my child cover one grade a year?  

We comply with LAMDAs guidelines on age appropriate levels for each exam. Within each grade level, there are the 4-5 modules we have discussed in the literature above, all of which are on parity with each other in terms of difficulty and maturity. LAMDA exams are not like music exams, where once you’ve taken your Grade  1 piano, you might move straight up to Grade 2, within the same academic year. Think of it instead, like taking your Grade 1 Piano, and then your Grade 1 Clarinet. Each module has a different set of skills to learn and the best way to progress holistically and develop a wider range of ability is to move across the modules. As children move up a school year, they move up a grade. In a perfect world, they would complete two of the modules- for example Verse and Prose, and Reading for Performance, in one school year, and then the next year, opt to take Public Speaking and Acting - and so forth. But we have also built some flexibility into the programme, so if for example a child enjoys one module in particular, or is less keen on another, they can take it more or less frequently. 

We can also adapt the exams to take one a year instead of two, if this helps your child’s personal work-life balance (and yours), and indeed we can opt not to go in for exams at all if they are not right for you. 

The only rule we have is that children do not progress higher up the grades than LAMDAs guidelines. Trying to progress to a grade above the level set for their school year, we strongly believe is not best for the children – for one thing we have to consider content and what is appropriate. Higher grades require pieces of greater emotional depth and maturity and may be inappropriate for a younger performer. Trying to exceed the grade level often results in depreciating marks as examiners feel younger students cannot fully grasp the motivations and intentions of adult roles and this can ultimately erode be detrimental for confidence and go against the very grain of what we are trying to achieve. We ultimately have a duty of care to all children who enrol within our school, and as the largest and longest running LAMDA Centre we have a great deal of experience in helping children thrive and challenge themselves to the best of their ability.  

Does my child have to take the exam? 

Not at all! We do recommend the exams as a good goal to work towards, and a good benchmark to show progress. We find our students often enjoy  the experience (once they get past nerves!) and benefit from the feedback.