Danz › Dance exam boards in the UK: ISTD, RAD and IDTA
Dance exam boards in the UK: ISTD, RAD and IDTA
Exam boards set syllabuses and run graded exams in many dance styles. They are optional, but many children's classes follow one.
What is a dance exam board?
An exam board publishes syllabuses, registers teachers and sends examiners to assess students. Students work through graded levels and receive certificates or qualifications. Exams are optional. They give structure and goals, and some lead towards teaching or professional dance training. Always check each board's own website for the current details, because syllabuses and exam structures change.
Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (ISTD)
The ISTD runs several faculties. From its published syllabus documents, these include National Dance (European folk dance), Sequence, Line and Country & Western, Latin American, and disco and freestyle. Its National Dance faculty offers graded examinations from Primary to Grade 6, medal tests (Bronze, Silver, Gold and Gold Star) and vocational exams for those aiming to dance or teach. The ISTD offers more than this, so look at its website for the style you want.
Royal Academy of Dance (RAD)
The RAD is a ballet-focused board. Its exams booklet describes Class Awards from Pre-Primary to Grade 8, Graded Exams from Primary to Grade 8, Solo Performance Awards, and a vocational graded syllabus focused on classical ballet technique. Some Level 3 exams earn UCAS points. Students must study with an RAD Registered Teacher to enter, and exams can be taken in person or online. Candidates can choose a syllabus regardless of sex assigned at birth or gender identity, and reasonable adjustments are available.
International Dance Teachers' Association (IDTA)
The IDTA's graded examinations are regulated qualifications assessed by IDTA examiners. Grades 1 to 5 are offered in ballet, tap, contemporary modern jazz, theatre craft, acrobatic dance, modern ballroom, Latin, classical sequence and freestyle, and Grade 6 in Latin. Vocational levels run higher in some styles. Grades 1 to 3 are RQF Level 1 awards, Grades 4 and 5 are Level 2, and the higher vocational awards reach Level 3 and Level 4. There are no prerequisites, and learners include recreational dancers as well as those heading for further dance study.
How graded exams generally work
- Students learn a set syllabus over months or a year, in graded steps.
- An examiner assesses the work, either in an exam session or through the teacher.
- Students receive a result and a certificate.
The exact format differs between boards and between styles.
Do you need exams?
No. Many adults dance for fun without them. Exams can help if you like having a goal, want a structured course, or plan to teach or perform. They may involve entry fees, uniforms and extra lessons, so ask about costs. Children should never feel pressured.
Checking your teacher
- Ask which board or organisation they follow, and whether they are qualified to teach that syllabus.
- Ask about insurance.
- For children, ask about DBS checks and safeguarding.
Memberships do not guarantee a good class, so trust your own observations too. Read how to find a class for the full list of questions, and see ballet, tap and contemporary and ballroom and Latin for the styles boards commonly examine.
Questions to ask before entering exams
- Which board and syllabus do you teach?
- How many classes will it take to prepare?
- What are the total costs, including entry fees and costumes?
- When are the exam dates?
Frequently asked questions
Do I need exams to be a good dancer?
No. Exams are optional and many people dance purely for pleasure.
Which board is best?
It depends on the style and teacher. The RAD focuses on ballet, while the IDTA and ISTD cover a range of styles.
Can I take an RAD exam without a teacher?
No. The RAD says students must study with an RAD Registered Teacher to enter its exams.