Prerequisites and age requirements
Exam prerequisites
| Exam | Prerequisite |
|---|---|
| Intermediate Foundation | None |
| Intermediate | None |
| Advanced Foundation | Intermediate |
| Advanced 1 | Intermediate |
| Advanced 2 | Advanced 1 |
| Solo Seal | Advanced 2 (Distinction) |
Equivalent ballet qualifications from the following organisations are accepted:
- British Ballet Organisation (BBO/bbodance)
- British Theatre Dance Association (BTDA)
- National Association of Teachers of Dance (NATD)
- Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (ISTD)
- International Dance Teachers’ Association (IDTA)
Where, exceptionally, candidates enter for an exam and the prerequisite in the same session, the award of the exam will be dependent on the prerequisite also being passed.
For more information, please see Entering candidates for exams in our Specifications.
Age requirements
An RAD Registered teacher will identify when a candidate is ready to take an exam.
For demonstration classes, the following target ages apply:
| Level | Target age |
|---|---|
| Level 1 | 2½ – 3½ |
| Level 2 | 3½ – 4½ or 5 |
There are recommended age requirements for all RAD exams, class awards and solo performance awards and required ages for Intermediate Foundation, Intermediate and Discovering Repertoire exams and class awards.
Candidates must reach the required minimum age by 31 December in the year in which they are taking the examination. There will be no exceptions to this rule.
| Level | Minimum age | Recommended | Required |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-Primary in Dance | 5 | ✔ | |
| Primary in Dance | 6 | ✔ | |
| Grades 1-5 | 7 | ✔ | |
| Grades 6-8 | 11 | ✔ | |
| Intermediate Foundation | 11 | ✔ | |
| Intermediate | 12 | ✔ | |
| Advanced Foundation | 13 | ✔ | |
| Advanced 1 | 14 | ✔ | |
| Advanced 2 | 15 | ✔ | |
| Solo Seal | 15 | ✔ | |
| Discovering Repertoire | 12 | ✔ |