Graded Exams for Performance: Devising Drama
About the Devising Drama exam
For those that want to make their own work, our Devising Drama exams allow learners to create their own scenes from scratch.
Provided with a list of themes to pick from, learners create the characters and write the scripts themselves. As they progress to the higher grades, learners will develop an understanding of dramatic structure and staging, using movement and mood, style and space. For their Level Three exams, learners will also perform short improvised scenes – unplanned and unscripted.
Learners can either take their Devising Drama exams by themselves (solo) or in a pair with a fellow learner (duologue).
Teaching the Devising Drama exam
Find Teacher Support Materials for this examination on our Download Centre.
All Devising Drama - Solo exams are available online.
LAMDA is recognised to award qualifications on the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF) in England by the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual), in Wales by Qualifications Wales (QiW), and in Northern Ireland by the Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA).
What does the exam involve?
Type of exam: Solo or Duologue
Time allowance: Solo: 10 minutes, Duologue: 15 minutes
- Devising and performing one scene as detailed in the syllabus
- Answering questions related to their performance
Please see the LAMDA Performance Graded Examinations Syllabus (2019)
Type of exam: Solo or Duologue
Time allowance: Solo: 15 minutes, Duologue: 20 minutes
- Devising and performing two scenes as detailed in the syllabus
- Answering questions related to their performance
Please see the LAMDA Performance Graded Examinations Syllabus (2019)
Type of exam: Solo or Duologue
Time allowance: Solo: 20 minutes, Duologue: 25 minutes
- Performing two scenes devised by the learner, as detailed in the syllabus
- Answering questions related to their performances
Please see the LAMDA Performance Graded Examinations Syllabus (2019) for full details.
Type of exam: Solo or Duologue
Time allowance:
Grades 6 & 7: Solo: 25 minutes, Duologue: 30 minutes
Grade 8: Solo: 30 minutes, Duologue: 35 minutes
Performing:
- two scenes devised by the learner as detailed in the syllabus
- one short, improvised scene based on a stimulus provided by the examiner
- answering questions related to their performances
Please see the LAMDA Performance Graded Examinations Syllabus (2019) for full details.
Requirements
Full details of the requirements, assessment criteria and regulations for each grade can be found in the LAMDA Performance Graded Examinations Syllabus.
2024 (in effect for examinations from 1 August 2024)
We have assessed the feedback received from customers following the release of our new publications, and will be releasing an updated version of our Introductory, Communication and Performance syllabi in due course.
As part of this update, Learners will be able to perform all pieces in the new Acting Anthology Volume 5 and previous Acting Anthology Volume 4, and all pieces in the new Verse and Prose Anthology Volume 20 and Verse and Prose Anthology Volume 19, for first assessment from 1 August 2024.
2019 (in effect for examinations until 31 July 2024)
Resources & Teaching Materials
The list of set pieces for each Exam can be found in the corresponding syllabi for each exam. You can download the syllabi as a free pdf via our Download Centre or visit our online shop.
We are unable to verify the suitability of own choice pieces, please refer to the Exam Content and Assessment and Grading Criteria detailed for the exam subject and grade entered.
All our syllabi listed below are available for free via download, or you can purchase our full range of publications from our online shop.
You will need:
- Teacher support material available via the Download Centre.
- Performance Graded Examinations Syllabus from August 2019 (for examinations taken until 31 July 2024) or August 2024 (for examinations from 1 August 2024)
Our regulations don't stipulate that a piece should or needs to be provided.
If a learner wishes to use sound effects they must provide and operate their own sound equipment.
As the awarding body we are unable to confirm the suitability of stimuli. We ask teachers to use their judgment to assess whether a piece enables the learner to meet the assessment criteria to the best of their ability, answer the knowledge questions and comply with the regulations.
