Graded Exams for Performance: Miming

Explore the art of communication without using words and test the limits of body language and facial expressions.
A LAMDA Exams learner

About the Miming exam

Mime allow us to communicate without using a single word. 

Through single mimed activities and fully developed scenes, our learners work on coordination and control, physical awareness and precise movements of their body to articulate emotion and characterisation in their storytelling. They are also creating their own work, expanding their physical theatre skills as they assemble their own scenes. 

At the higher grades our learners are also discovering the work of famous mime artists like Charlie Chaplin and Marcel Marceau, and learning the history of one of theatre’s most influential forms, commedia dell'arte. 

Learners can either take their Miming exams by themselves (solo) or with a fellow learner (duologue). 

Teaching the Miming exam

Find Teacher Support Materials for this examination on our Download Centre.

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 will the exam involve? 

Type of exam: Solo or Duologue 

Time allowance: Solo: 10 minutes, Duologue: 15 minutes

  • Performing a prepared mime scene using a title provided by LAMDA, 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: Solo: 10 minutes, Duologue: 15 minutes

  • Creating and perform one mime scene and one prepared mime, using a title provided by LAMDA, detailed in the syllabus
  • Answering questions related to their performances

Please see LAMDA Communication Graded Examinations Syllabus (2019) for full details. 

Type of exam: Solo or Duologue 

Time allowance: Solo: 20 minutes, Duologue: 25 minutes

Performing:  

  • Two prepared mime scenes, both created following parameters detailed in the syllabus
  • Answering questions related to their performances

Please see the LAMDA Communication 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: 40 minutes

  • Learners will create and perform two (Grade 6 & 7) or three (Grade 8) mime scenes, following parameters detailed in the syllabus.

Please see the LAMDA Communication 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.

Resources & Teaching Materials

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 materials available via our Download Centre
  • Performance Graded Examinations Syllabus from August 2024 (for examinations from 1 August 2024)
  • Mime Matters                                             

Download the syllabus   Visit the online shop

Where music and/or sound effects (live or recorded) are integrated into a performance, the Learner must provide and operate their own equipment. Any use of music and/or sound effects must not affect the flow or timing of the exam.