Taking Online Exams

A learner stands in the middle of a room for their exam

Online assessments are just like our other exams, except instead of taking it in the same room as your examiner, you’ll use a computer or another device. This means that you can take your exam at home, or at a venue organised by your teacher.

Referred to as remote online assessments (or ROAs), our online exams are designed to replicate the in-person assessment experience. The same structure, standards, and expectations are maintained, while offering greater accessibility for learners who need or prefer remote assessment.

Preparing for an Online Exam

The first thing you need to check is where you’ll be taking your exam. Many learners take their online assessments in their own home, but your teacher may have decided that it is better for you to go to their venue instead. 

If you’re taking your online assessment at home, there’s a bit of preparation to get it exam ready first.

For your online exam, you will need:

  • A device with integrated camera and microphone (external microphones and cameras are not permitted). This can be a desktop computer, laptop, tablet or even a phone. Please note, phones are not suitable for Level 3 exams.
  • A stable internet connection.
  • A parent or guardian (if needed) to help you set up and introduce you to the examiner. This can be a parent, guardian or someone else responsible in your household.
  • Your exam materials. Your teacher can advise what you need to have with you for the exam.
  • Photographic ID (current) to show to the steward on the day of the exam, if you are 16 years or older.
  • You may wish to have earphones with you in case they are needed for the Knowledge section.

This text will be drawn from the same book as your prose. This can either be a physical book or an eBook.

If you are using an eBook, you will need to use a secondary device and not the same one that you are using for Zoom.

For Level 3 Shakespeare, you will need an unannotated copy of the syllabus (hard copy or digital) for the sight-reading. 

You may wish to have a pen and blank paper to write down your conversation topic (for Grades 4 and 5).

For Grades 6, 7 and 8, where there is preparation of an impromptu speech, you will need blank paper or note cards and a pen, along with a table placed in full view of the examiner to prepare your speech (you may need to alter the angle of the camera to achieve this).

For your visual aids, you can use PowerPoint (for Grades 4-8 only). This will need to be presented on a secondary device which is visible on camera. You will not be able to use the screenshare feature on Zoom (as your on-screen image would become too small for an examiner to assess you).

Musical Theatre exams contain a self-tape element. These must be filmed using your computer or tablet’s own internal camera and microphone. Keep the device stationary and make sure that you are capturing your full body, facial expressions and movement throughout your piece in one single shot – not cuts (not even between songs!). 

Check the settings. We recommend a minimum of 720p for the video quality. It’s best to do a test run to make sure the sound and video are both clear! 

A technician or accompanist may be in the room with you and do not have to be in view of the camera. If you are using a recorded backing track, make sure that you are using a secondary device and not the one you are using to record your performance. 

Just like a live exam, you’ll need to introduce yourself with your full name, the exam and grade you are taking at the start of the recording. You’ll then announce the piece you have chosen by its title, the lyricist and composer, as well as the character you are performing before beginning each piece. 

When you’ve finished your performance, convert the recording to an mp4 and include a time and date stamp. Double check the file to make sure you’re always in frame and that the quality is okay. Then save the file with your name, subject and grade before uploading it to the link we sent you. 

All Group exams are submitted by self-tape in the same way as Musical Theatre exams, although there is no live element as there is no Knowledge section.

At the beginning of each tape, we ask that you hold a sign with your name on it, and that all members of the group are announced with their full name in the order of the group register. If any members of the group are absent or any stand-ins are included in the recording, it is vital that this is mentioned at the beginning, and that stand-ins are clearly identifiable throughout the performance (we do not need the names of stand-ins).

Setting Up

All our online assessments are conducted on Zoom. You can join the Zoom meeting using the link that has been shared via ExamTrack (your teacher may also send this to you), or by entering the meeting details on the Zoom app. You can download the Zoom app for free and you don’t need to register to join the meeting.

Here are our top tips for setting up:

  • Pick a room where you have space to move around. Ideally this should be somewhere you can have a bit of quiet, but for online safety reasons, it’s better not to use your bedroom. You should have at least a six-foot square area of floor space to perform in. It might help to move some furniture out of the way. Most of our exams require a view from at least the knee-up, and some need head to toe. For further details, check our online requirements.
  • Find a spot to set up your device so the camera captures you clearly. You want plenty of light, but make sure that you don’t have a window behind where you will be performing, otherwise we won’t be able to see you properly.
  • You’ll need something to put your device on. This can be a tripod (if you have one) or a table. Whatever you are using, make sure that it is level and secure, so it won’t slip during your exam. We don’t want a tilted view of you!
  • Have a chair in the room. You’ll be able to sit down during the Knowledge and Conversation part of your exam.
  • Once you’re set up, we recommend you record yourself in the space so you can see what your camera sees. This is what the examiner will see so it’s important to get it right. Work out where the camera’s boundaries are so that you don’t accidentally move out of view during your exam.
  • Test all your equipment and have a go at using Zoom if you’ve never tried it before. Run through your pieces with your teacher, or ask a friend or family member to watch to make sure that everything is working, that your background is not blurry, and that they can see and hear you properly.
  • Check that you don’t have any personal photos in the background or anything else that might identify you.
  • Dress comfortably and appropriately, just as you would for an exam at a centre.

Right Before the Exam

  • Remember to fully charge your device, or plug it in. If you have access to a backup device, have it ready.
  • Close all the other applications or windows on your device other than Zoom and turn off notifications so that you don’t get interrupted during your exam.
  • Check that everyone in your household knows when your exam is so that they can leave your internet connection clear for you. During the exam they’ll need to be quiet so that they don’t interrupt or distract you.
  • You may like to have copies of your own-choice pieces to hand to refer to in the Knowledge section. These should be clean copies without any markings or notes on them, and should be additional to the pieces on SharePoint that you upload for the examiner.

During the Exam

  • Fifteen minutes before your exam time, sign into the Zoom meeting using the link you’ve been sent, or by going to http://join.zoom.us and typing in the Meeting ID and password.
  • While online, do not tell anyone your personal information, such as your phone number, address or any passwords.
  • You will be met by a LAMDA steward in the Zoom waiting room.
  • When the examiner is ready for you, you will be allowed into the Zoom meeting where you will be taking your exam.
  • Once you’ve been introduced to the examiner, your chaperone will leave the exam room. The steward will also put themselves on mute and will switch off their camera.
  • The examiner will ask you to confirm some information about the exam you are taking, will check your space, and will make sure that your equipment is working. They will then guide you through your exam.
  • Do not record the exam, either via Zoom or on any device.