A LAMDA Exam is the speech and drama equivalent of a music grade. Like music grades, LAMDA Exams culminate at Grade 8.

Exams can be taken at four levels:

• Entry Level

• Level 1 – Grades 1, 2, 3

• Level 2 – Grades 4 and 5

• Level 3 – Grades 6, 7 and 8 (Bronze Medal, Silver Medal, Gold Medal)

​There are also Introductory Examinations for young performers who are taking the first steps in memorising, reciting, and communicating.

Benchmarks

LAMDA Exams offer an ongoing measurement of progress in speech and drama. The gradual progression through the LAMDA grades provides benchmarks for every stage of a student’s development. It helps to support a steady improvement in self-confidence, vocal and physical technique, and language awareness.

LAMDA Exams are well tailored to the abilities of students of different ages. For a six year-old, reciting an eight-line poem is an achievement to be celebrated, and for a sixteen-year-old, delivering a Shakespeare soliloquy or giving a speech on a pressing moral or ethical issue is equally praiseworthy. LAMDA Exams recognise these achievements, provide a context within which they can be assessed, and reward them with nationally recognised qualifications.

Objectivity

Parents and teachers can be assured that a student’s ability as a performer and communicator is being objectively and fairly assessed.

Inclusiveness

LAMDA’s reasonable adjustment policy makes allowances for students with particular education needs, as well as those with English as a second language. This policy enables Absolute to promote its own practice of inclusiveness.

All kinds of people could benefit from taking LAMDA Exams :

• Anyone who loves drama and wants to do more

• Drama students who want to polish their skills, improve stage technique, work with interesting texts and prepare for auditions

• Those who want to improve their spoken English and work on presentation skills

• Students who could use drama as a way of gaining extra UCAS points

A LAMDA Exam comprises two elements. First the candidate or candidates give a performance, which an examiner watches. Then the candidate or candidates have a short discussion with the examiner. A performance might consist of acted monologues or scenes, a recital of poems and prose pieces or presentations on chosen subjects. The kind of pieces chosen for performance, the number and length of the pieces, and the nature of the discussion depends on the grade being taken.

Some pieces and subjects will be prescribed by LAMDA, and others may be freely chosen by the candidate. At one end of the scale, a young beginner taking an Introductory Exam recites a short poem of around eight lines and then talks informally to the examiner about a favourite toy. At the other end, a Grade 8 Acting student present three monologues or scenes, at least one of which is classical, and then has a lengthy formal discussion with the examiner about the technicalities of the acting process and acting theory.

The maximum score in a LAMDA Exam is 100. 40 marks are awarded for Interpretation, 40 for Technique and 20 for Knowledge.

The Interpretation mark reflects the candidate’s imaginative engagement with the written word – how well has he or she grasped and communicated :

• the surface message

• the underlying emotional content?

The Technique mark reflects the candidate’s vocal and physical performance – how well does he or she use the voice and body to -

• engage the listener

• give a sense of conviction and truthfulness?

The Knowledge mark reflects the candidate’s -

• theoretical understanding of language and/or performance

• ability to share their ideas in discussion.

80+ Distinction

65 – 79 Merit

50 – 64 Pass

LAMDA examinations develop a learner’s ability to :

• read easily, fluently and with good understanding

• expand vocabulary to improve powers of self-expression

• improve confidence in speaking and listening

• memorise and recall information

• engage in constructive informal conversation

• work both on his/her own and participate as a member of a team.