International Examinations

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Errors on Theatre Report Forms >>

Minimum travel time >>

Ages for Entry to Exams >>


International Department News Archive >>

Errors on Theatre Report Forms

As all International teachers will be aware, Theatre report forms have been returning to ISTD HQ for checking by the Customer Services & Quality Assurance Department since 1st October 2004.

If all is well with the results, we aim to dispatch report forms back to ‘Teacher 1’ by six weeks of the teacher’s last exam day, however, the ISTD cannot be held responsible for postal services between ISTD HQ and the rest of the world.

If the Customer Services & Quality Assurance Department discovers any errors, the report forms will automatically be delayed whilst the errors are resolved. The examiner will be contacted and asked to re-write the incorrect forms. Once these forms are returned to the Customer Services & Quality Assurance Department, they can be cleared and sent to ‘Teacher 1’.

We have been finding that there are more and more errors on report forms and these are causing additional delays with returning report forms to teachers. I urge all teachers to be extra careful when completing their report forms. If a teacher makes an error when completing the form or discovers a candidate name is incorrectly spelt, please inform the examiner on the exam day. He/she will be able to resolve the problem before sending the report form to ISTD HQ.

Please ensure:
• that teachers leave the box empty at the bottom of the report form. This is for the examiner to sign and authorise the results

• the correct pin number is used and it is the one that is shown on the timetable, returned to teachers from London. If teachers discover that a candidate has two pin numbers, please resolve this matter directly with the International Exams Department before completing the report form

• the correct spelling of the candidate’s name is used. If the spelling is incorrect please inform the examiner so that they can amend their timetable and the database at ISTD HQ can also be amended

• that no tippex is used to correct mistakes. Teachers should complete a new report form or if they do not have any spare forms, should inform the examiner

• the report forms are completed in blue or black pen and not a mixture of both

• that only the report forms that have been recently mailed to you by the ISTD or your organiser are used

Minimum travel time

All teachers should be aware that they require at least four hours of examinations (not including breaks) for the examiner to come to the school.

If a teacher does not have sufficient examining time, the teacher will be asked to take the candidates to another school to be examined. Another potential solution will be to add coaching hours. However, this is not always possible and therefore will need to be discussed with your organiser at a later stage.

If you have any questions please contact your organiser.

Ages for Entry to Exams

I would like to stress that it is the teachers’ responsibility to ensure that they are checking the minimum and maximum age requirements for taking ISTD exams.

We have recently been in the unfortunate position of having to refuse entry to some candidates who have been too young for some Ballet, Modern, Tap and National exams and other candidates who were too old to enter for some Ballet exams.

The minimum and maximum age information is located within the Syllabus Outlines, which are free of charge and which all teachers should read. If teachers do not have these booklets they should call the International Exams Department or email internationaladmin1@istd.org and request the necessary booklets. For your information the most recent Syllabus Outlines are listed here:

Modern Theatre – May 2005
Tap – May 2005
Imperial Classical Ballet – 2006
Cecchetti Classical Ballet –
September 2004
National – January 2005

If teachers have booklets which are older than these versions, you must obtain a revised copy by contacting internationaladmin1@istd.org

I advise teachers to check the age restrictions at the beginning of the academic year as this may affect which classes the students are placed in.

Many International teachers must forward their entry several months before the exam session is scheduled and this may mean that at the time of sending paperwork some of your students are too young. As long as your candidates are the correct age by the exam date, there is no need to worry.

There is also a 60-day allowance whereby a candidate can be 60 days too young or 60 days too old by the exam date and still be allowed to enter for examinations.

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