Most students at The Playing Space like to measure their progress by taking an annual LAMDA Exam. We host LAMDA Exam sessions at our studios. We prepare our students well and get consistently good results.
Exams At The Playing Space
As a LAMDA Private Centre, The Playing Space organises and hosts its own exam sessions in December. Our comfortable environment is an excellent venue at which to take a LAMDA exam, and we work hard to ensure that everything runs smoothly. Exam weekends at Southgate always have a special atmosphere, and we get great feedback from everyone who takes part – teachers, students and the visiting LAMDA examiners.
Exams at LAMDA
For some of our students, December is not the best time to take their LAMDA exam. Instead, they have the opportunity to take their exam at LAMDA itself, which is in Baron’s Court (near Hammersmith). We will give students and parents all the information and support they need to manage this process and have a positive exam experience.
What Happens in a LAMDA Exam?
In the first part of an exam, the candidate or candidates give their performance, recital or speeches while the examiner watches. In the second part (the ‘Knowledge Section’), they have a short discussion with the examiner. The kinds of pieces chosen for performance, the number and length of the pieces, and the nature of the discussion depends on the grade being taken.
Why Take a LAMDA Exam?
LAMDA Exams give all of us – child, parent and teacher – an ongoing measurement of a student’s progress in speech and drama. The gradual progression through the LAMDA grades provides benchmarks for every stage of a student’s development in self-confidence, vocal and physical technique, and language awareness.
LAMDA Exams are internationally recognised qualifications. At Level 3 (Grades 6, 7 and 8), LAMDA Exams earn UCAS points, which can be used when applying for higher education courses.
What About Nerves?
Is It Compulsory?
No! We understand that in some cases taking an exam is not in the student’s best interests. However, we do encourage our students to take an annual exam where possible. There are so many benefits (see below).
What Is a LAMDA Exam?
Created and overseen by the prestigious London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, LAMDA Exams might be described as the drama equivalent of music grades.
Many of our students choose to take Performance exams such as Acting, either individually or in pairs. We also enter Playing Space students for exams in Communications. Subjects include Speaking in Public and Speaking Verse and Prose.
LAMDA offers a range of other exams, such as Shakespeare, Devising Drama and Miming. Our youngest students have the opportunity to take Introductory Exams, which explore essential poetry and conversation skills. Here is an outline of the grades offered:
Introductory Level – Stage 1, 2, 3
Entry Level
Level 1 – Grades 1, 2, 3
Level 2 – Grades 4 and 5 (same tier as GCSE Exams)
Level 3 – Grades 6, 7 and 8: Bronze Medal, Silver Medal, Gold Medal (same tier as A-Level and BTEC Exams)
How Are They Marked?
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. It measures how well they have grasped and communicated both the surface message and the underlying emotional content.
- The Technique mark reflects the candidate’s vocal and physical performance. It measures how well they have used the voice and body to express their message and engage the listener.
- The Knowledge mark reflects the candidate’s understanding of language and/or performance techniques. It measures how well they have shared ideas in a discussion.
Overall marks are awarded as follows:
80+ Distinction
65–79 Merit
50–64 Pass
What Is a LAMDA Exam?
Created and overseen by the prestigious London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, LAMDA Exams might be described as the drama equivalent of music grades.
Many of our students choose to take Performance exams such as Acting, either individually or in pairs. We also enter Playing Space students for exams in Communications. Subjects include Speaking in Public and Speaking Verse and Prose.
LAMDA offers a range of other exams, such as Shakespeare, Devising Drama and Miming. Our youngest students have the opportunity to take Introductory Exams, which explore essential poetry and conversation skills. Here is an outline of the grades offered:
Introductory Level – Stage 1, 2, 3
Entry Level
Level 1 – Grades 1, 2, 3
Level 2 – Grades 4 and 5 (same tier as GCSE Exams)
Level 3 – Grades 6, 7 and 8: Bronze Medal, Silver Medal, Gold Medal (same tier as A-Level and BTEC Exams)
How Are They Marked?
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. It measures how well they have grasped and communicated both the surface message and the underlying emotional content.
- The Technique mark reflects the candidate’s vocal and physical performance. It measures how well they have used the voice and body to express their message and engage the listener.
- The Knowledge mark reflects the candidate’s understanding of language and/or performance techniques. It measures how well they have shared ideas in a discussion.
Overall marks are awarded as follows:
80+ Distinction
65–79 Merit
50–64 Pass
Exams At The Playing Space
As a LAMDA Private Centre, The Playing Space organises and hosts its own exam sessions in December. Our comfortable environment is an excellent venue at which to take a LAMDA exam, and we work hard to ensure that everything runs smoothly. Exam weekends at Southgate always have a special atmosphere, and we get great feedback from everyone who takes part – teachers, students and the visiting LAMDA examiners.
Exams at LAMDA
For some of our students, December is not the best time to take their LAMDA exam. Instead, they have the opportunity to take their exam at LAMDA itself, which is in Baron’s Court (near Hammersmith). We will give students and parents all the information and support they need to manage this process and have a positive exam experience.
What Happens in a LAMDA Exam?
In the first part of an exam, the candidate or candidates give their performance, recital or speeches while the examiner watches. In the second part (the ‘Knowledge Section’), they have a short discussion with the examiner. The kinds of pieces chosen for performance, the number and length of the pieces, and the nature of the discussion depends on the grade being taken.
Why Take a LAMDA Exam?
LAMDA Exams give all of us – child, parent and teacher – an ongoing measurement of a student’s progress in speech and drama. The gradual progression through the LAMDA grades provides benchmarks for every stage of a student’s development in self-confidence, vocal and physical technique, and language awareness.
LAMDA Exams are internationally recognised qualifications. At Level 3 (Grades 6, 7 and 8), LAMDA Exams earn UCAS points, which can be used when applying for higher education courses.
What About Nerves?
Is It Compulsory?
No! We understand that in some cases taking an exam is not in the student’s best interests. However, we do encourage our students to take an annual exam where possible. There are so many benefits (see below).