EXAM INFORMATION AND PROCEDURE

MEDALS AND CERTIFICATES
MINIMUM AGES
TEACHERS AND EXAMINERS EXAMS
APPLYING FOR EXAMS
STUDIO EXAMS
CITY EXAMS
CANCELLING EXAMS
DAY OF EXAMS
MUSIC
DRESS
THEORY
SITTING MORE THAN ONE EXAM
RESITTING
CHANGING FROM ANOTHER ASSOCIATION TO SDAA
ILLNESS
GENERAL NOTES

~ Close Window ~

4th Grade – Gold Medal

5th Grade – Gold Bar Medal

6th Grade – Double Gold Bar Medal

Pre Teachers Medal

Pre Primary Assessment and Single Dance Assessments shall only be awarded a certificate.

Medals and Diplomas shall be issued for Teachers and Examiners exams.

Back to Top

MINIMUM AGES

3rd Grade – Silver Bar Medal At Least 11 years
6th Grade – Double Gold Bar Medal At least 14 years
Pre Teachers Medal – At least 16 years
Teacher – At Least 17 years
Examiners – At least 20 years and hold SDAA Teachers Certificate

TEACHERS AND EXAMINERS EXAMS

There is no set syllabus for the Teachers or Examiners Diploma. Candidates are expected to have a complete knowledge of the official text book of the SOBHD for Teachers exam and a complete knowledge of all dances and textbooks for the Examiners exam.

APPLYING FOR EXAMS

All teachers may apply for Studio exams on written request to the Examination Administrator of the Management Committee. Applications must be received three (3) months prior to request date. This must state approximate numbers for exams and grades. An administration fee of $15.00 must be forwarded with this application, and the Examination Administrator must receive fees four (4) weeks prior to the date of examinations.

STUDIO EXAMS

Teachers must arrange and supply the following:
• Suitable Hall
• Music Player and music
• Suitable refreshments for examiner whilst examination is in progress
• Arrange their pupils in order of examination and usher them into the exam room
• Arrange fill ins for any reels danced
• Where necessary teachers must supply suitable meals and accommodation at the Studios expense
• Make sure there is adequate room for dancing, particularly for the Seann Truibhas and Reels and on a good even surface
• If the candidate does not attend without good reason or medical certificate there will be no refund
• If the amount of time changes in any way (i.e. 8 hours to 6 hours) please contact Examination Administrator immediately
• 5 minutes between each examination and half an hour for lunch must be allowed. (note: This is included in your total minimum of 7 hours)

CITY EXAMS

These will be held once a year. A teacher may submit a candidate for examination or any dancer may make an application to be examined. Applications must be received six (6) weeks prior to exam date. This must state approx. numbers for exams and grades. An administration fee of $15.00 per studio must be forwarded with this application.

CANCELLING EXAMS

A cancellation fee of $100 will apply if exams have been cancelled after the appointment of an examiner, subject to the decision of the Management Committee.

Back to Top

DAY OF EXAMS

• Candidates should arrive for the examination at least 15 minutes prior to the allocated time of their exam
• No teacher shall be allowed in the examination room during their Candidates examination.
• Each candidate shall be examined individually, except for Pre Primary in which up to 4 children may be assessed together.
• At the completion of the examinations, Medals and Certificates for the successful candidates will be handed to the teacher or a representative who has been authorised by the teacher to accept it on his / her behalf. Reports will be forwarded direct to the teacher or the candidate (when not entered by the teacher) by mail within fourteen days (14) of the examination, unless alternate arrangements are made between the teacher and the Examination Administer.
• The examiner may use a laptop in the exams if both the teacher and examiner agree. The examiner will ask teacher prior to the conducting of exams

Back to Top

MUSIC

‘Foot Notes’ CD or SDAA tape is recommended. Both are available from the SDAA Secretary.

Back to Top

DRESS

Candidates should appear for examination correctly attired – in kilt. For younger candidates a kilt and white blouse with plain hose is acceptable. Aboyne skirt or similar is to be taken into the exams when required to do a National Dance in the exam. Pre Primary may wear studio uniform. Pre Teachers may wear studio uniform and must bring Jig Shoes.

Back to Top

THEORY

• It is necessary for teachers to ensure that the candidate understands the Theory and can apply theory to practice.
• Theory Questions may be asked in any order.
• Previous grade work must also be known.
• Prepare candidate as thoroughly as possible, i.e.

Back to Top

SITTING MORE THAN ONE EXAM

At any one examination session, a candidate may enter for not more than TWO Grades, the grades being attempted in numerical order, EXCEPT that Grades 4, 5 & 6 MUST be taken on separate occasions. There must be at least ONE month between these grades as well as Pre Teachers and Teachers exams.

The Primary and Pre Primary Assessments are not compulsory.

Back to Top

RESITTING

A Candidate can be re-examined on the payment of half the original fee. It shall take place not less than one (1) month and not more than twelve (12) months after the first examination, where possible. (If a candidate passed the exam but wishes to re-sit a full fee applies.)

Back to Top

CHANGING FROM ANOTHER ASSOCIATION TO SDAA

Candidates who have sat exams with other associations must repeat the equivalent of the last passed exam with SDAA. eg. Candidate who passed Grade 2 with another association must repeat Grade 2 of SDAA

Back to Top

ILLNESS

Candidates unable to attend the examination due to illness should produce a medical certificate and at the discretion of the management committee, the candidate may be able to sit the exam at a later date.

Back to Top

GENERAL NOTES

All teachers submitting candidates for examination must be financial members of the association.
The Examination Administrator appoints examiner and no correspondence shall be entered into.
The examiners decision is final.

There are many ethical issues that relate to both teachers, students and examiners, the following are just some general guidelines.

• Candidates should not stand too close to the examiner during examination.
• Ensure that the dancers are familiar with the music provided.
• Examiners should not have lunch with the candidates.
• Instruct the candidates to day ‘Good Morning / Afternoon’ to the examiner and ‘Thank you’ at the completion of the exam
• Advise candidates to stand still when speaking and not to fidget.
• Provide a chair for the candidate to sit on when instructed to do so from the examiner, water and box of tissues.
• Invite the examiner to lunch with you and your family. A little light conversation over lunch refreshes everyone ready for the afternoon session. However exams should not be discussed.
• On receipt of the exams reports, teachers and dancers should go through the report sheet together and correct any errors the dancer made, as this is what the report sheet was designed for.
• Should you have any queries with any Technical comments written on the report sheet, you may like to write to the SDAA secretary.
• Please note that the examiners decision is final, however you do have the right of reply.
• What the candidate does in the room is often very different to what you have taught them, however the examiner can only report on what was shown to them on the day.
• Most examiners try to help the candidates through their exams, but if the candidates are not sufficiently prepared this can take extra time.
• Candidates must pass all 3 sections of the exam i.e. Practical section (dances), theory and demonstrations, with a 65% pass mark before they are deemed to have passed the examination. Examiners exam must have an 80% pass mark.

Back to Top