Graded Exams for Performance: Devising Drama

For those with creative flair, learners showcase their imagination from ideas through to performance.
Two learners

Coming Soon: Syllabi Update (2024)

Please note, the qualifications have now been finalised and the updated syllabi will be available in PDF format on the website soon.

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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.

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. 

Resources & Teaching Materials

How to find the set pieces for each exam

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.

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What syllabi will I need for this exam?

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

Download the syllabus   Visit the online shop