At present there are no statutory qualifications laid down with regard to speech/drama tuition, nor does LAMDA Examinations stipulate any. For those coaching candidates we would normally recommend the holding of at least a Gold Medal, preferably in the Speaking of Verse and Prose, but please note that this is certainly not mandatory. However, one can never underestimate the importance of relevant teacher qualifications and many employers would insist on them, in varying degrees.

For those interested in gaining a specialist qualification, we do offer the LAMDA Diploma in Speech and Drama Education (LSDE). The full LSDE syllabus can be downloaded from the Downloads section of the website. To download the syllabus please click here.

2. What information/materials do I need to begin preparing learners?

Each examination has a syllabus, which can be downloaded by subject or as a whole document, covering all subjects. In preparing learners, it is essential that you read the syllabus for the requisite grade carefully, to ensure that the learner is fully prepared to enter the examination.

In addition to the syllabus, there are two anthologies, one which contains the mandatory selections for the Speaking of Verse and Prose and one which contains the mandatory selections for the Acting examinations. These Anthologies can be purchased from our online shop at http://store.lamda.org.uk

3. How can I enter learners for LAMDA Examinations?

If you are holding your own session on your premises, you must complete and send in a bulk entry form, which contains the details of all learners taking examinations, along with the fees for the examinations, six weeks before the examination date. Alternatively, you can enter your learners using the Online Entry System (OES). For further information on the OES, please click here visit the OES page.

Sessions will be scheduled according to the information you submit and you will receive timetables and report cards a minimum of 14 days before the scheduled examination date.

For Public Centres, an entry form will need to be completed for each learner and each examination that learner is taking (if he or she is taking more than one exam). These forms must then be sent in, along with the fees, by the closing date for that session, which is listed on the Public Centre Date List. You will receive timetables and report cards at least 14 days before the scheduled examination session.

4. Where can I find a LAMDA teacher?

LAMDA Examinations has a membership association, called the Association of LAMDA Teachers, which is made up of teachers who hold a LAMDA teaching qualification. Please click here to download a register of Association members . Any of the teachers on this register can be contacted for enquiries about lessons.

5. How do I organise an examination session on my own premises?

To become a LAMDA examination centre you must complete the new centre registration form. Please click here to download the new centre registration form, which must be returned to LAMDA Examinations Head Office. The registration process is normally completed within 2 weeks and is available free of charge. Once registered you can book examination dates for your private examination centre. If you need guidance on how to complete the new centre registration form please click here.

Teachers with sufficient learner entry fees may hold a private centre at their own venue as long as they satisfy our current minimum fee requirement, details of which can be found on the Administration Fees and Charges sheet, available from LAMDA Examinations Head Office. Please note if you do wish to set up and run your own private centre, a centre coordinator must be nominated to deal with all aspects of examination administration including collecting entries and fees, providing stewards and timetabling examination sessions, receiving timetables and report cards as well as distributing results and certificates. LAMDA will not cover the cost of hiring the examination venue or any other associated expenses. If you have insufficient learner entry fees, you may choose to enter your learners at a LAMDA Examinations regional Public Centre or alternatively join with another private centre.

6. How do I book examination dates for my private examination centre?

Requests for exam dates must be submitted to LAMDA Examinations in writing with at least 10 weeks notice using a private centre date booking form. To download a date booking form, please click here.

Please inform LAMDA Examinations of an estimate of the examining hours you require for your whole session. If you have multiday sessions, please also outline how you wish the hours to be allocated. LAMDA Examinations will then allocate the correct number of examiners in relation to the total examination hours.

Please note that examination sessions are scheduled for 6.5 hours of examining per day per examiner (excluding breaks). For example, where the total examining hours on 1 day is 15.5, LAMDA Examinations will allocate 3 examiners. When you receive confirmation of your booking, please check the number of examiners for each day carefully.

A booking fee is required, which you should then deduct from the total examination fees payable.

If for any reason you do not deduct the booking fee from your examination entry fees, LAMDA Examinations will issue you with a Transfer Credit Voucher (TCV) for the balance amount of the booking fee. The TCV can be redeemed against future bookings or examination entry fees within one year of the date of issue.

7. I only have a small number of learners. How do I enter them?

If you have a small number of learners, or do not have an appropriate venue, we have a number of public centre sessions that take place throughout the year. For these sessions, there is no minimum fee required and you can enter as few or as many learners as you choose. For details of where and when the public centres are held, please click here download the Public Centre Date List from the Downloads section of the website.

8. What accreditation/recognition do LAMDA Examinations have?

LAMDA Examinations is accredited as a UK Statutory Awarding Body by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) in England and the corresponding regulatory authorities in Wales (ACCAC) and Northern Ireland (CEA).

The LAMDA Examinations qualifications listed below are accredited by QCA. This means that they are part of the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) and equate with other qualifications within the UK.

LAMDA Examinations’ qualifications are approved for use on publicly funded courses of study (sections 96 and 97 of the Learning and Skills Act).

LAMDA Accredited Qualifications

Level 1: Foundation – Graded Examinations in Speech: The Speaking of Verse and Prose

Level 2: Intermediate – Graded Examinations in Speech: The Speaking of Verse and Prose

Level 3: Advanced – Graded Examinations in Speech: The Speaking of Verse and Prose

Level 1: Foundation – Graded Examinations in Speech: Reading for Performance

Level 2: Intermediate – Graded Examinations in Speech: Reading for Performance

Level 3: Advanced – Graded Examinations in Speech: Reading for Performance

Level 1: Foundation – Graded Examinations in Speech (Communication): Spoken English

Level 2: Intermediate – Graded Examinations in Speech (Communication): Spoken English

Level 3: Advanced – Graded Examinations in Speech (Communication): Public Speaking

Level 1: Foundation – Graded Examinations in Drama: Acting (Solo/Duologue/Combined)

Level 2: Intermediate – Graded Examinations in Drama: Acting (Solo/Duologue/Combined)

Level 3: Advanced – Graded Examinations in Drama: Acting (Solo/Duologue)

Level 1: Foundation – Graded Examinations in Drama: Devised Performance (Solo/Duologue)

Level 2: Intermediate – Graded Examinations in Drama: Devised Performance (Solo/Duologue)

Level 3: Advanced – Graded Examinations in Drama: Devised Performance (Solo/Duologue)

Level 1: Foundation – Graded Examinations in Drama: Mime (Solo/Duologue)

Level 2: Intermediate – Graded Examinations in Drama: Mime (Solo/Duologue)

Level 3: Advanced – Graded Examinations in Drama: Mime (Solo/Duologue)

Level 1: Foundation – Graded Examinations in Musical Theatre for the Actor/Singer (Solo/Duologue)

Level 2: Intermediate – Graded Examinations in Musical Theatre for the Actor/Singer (Solo/Duologue)

Level 3: Advanced – Graded Examinations in Musical Theatre for the Actor/Singer (Solo/Duologue)

Level 3: The LAMDA Certificate in Speech and Drama: Performance Studies (P.Cert.LAM.)

Level 5: The LAMDA Diploma in Speech and Drama Education (L.S.D.E.)

9. What LAMDA Examinations can be used to gain UCAS points?

The following LAMDA examinations, accredited at Level 3, can be used to gain UCAS tariff points.

Graded Examinations in Speech: The Speaking of Verse and Prose

Grade 6 – Bronze Medal

Grade 7 – Silver Medal

Grade 8 – Gold Medal

Graded Examinations in Speech: Reading for Performance

Grade 6

Grade 7

Grade 8

Graded Examinations in Speech (Communication): Public Speaking

Grade 6 – Bronze Medal

Grade 7 – Silver Medal

Grade 8 – Gold Medal

Graded Examinations in Drama: Acting (Solo/Duologue)

Grade 6 – Bronze Medal

Grade 7 – Silver Medal

Grade 8 – Gold Medal

Graded Examinations in Drama: Devised Performance (Solo/Duologue)

Grade 6

Grade 7

Grade 8

Graded Examinations in Drama: Mime (Solo/Duologue)

Grade 6

Grade 7

Grade 8

The LAMDA Certificate in Speech and Drama: Performance Studies (PCertLAM.)

Please note that Group examinations are not accredited and will therefore not carry any UCAS tariff points.

10. How many UCAS points will my exams get me?

UCAS points are awarded according to level and attainment within that level. Please see the points table in the UCAS section of the website for exact point totals.

Please note that points will not be awarded cumulatively. Each exam subject, for example the Speaking of Verse and Prose, is classified as a different qualification. However, each grade within that subject is classified as the same qualification, but at a different level. This means that if a student were to take Grades 6, 7 and 8, it is only the highest attainment that he or she would be awarded points for.

However, if a learner were to take examinations in two different subjects, he or she would be awarded points for both. Each of LAMDA Examinations’ subjects is classified as a different qualification, so students can take examinations in a number of different subjects and be awarded points for each. For example, a student could take Grade 8 in both the Speaking of Verse and Prose and Acting, achieve a distinction in both and be awarded 130 points.

11. How do I become a LAMDA examiner?

LAMDA examiners must have wide-ranging experience, either as a teacher or as a practitioner/professional actor. Please request an application form from LAMDA Examinations, which should be returned to us, along with a current CV and a covering letter. Examiner trainee short-listing takes place annually. The final trainee intake for the year will be decided based on this interview. Successful candidates will then be invited to begin their training programme.

12. What qualifications do I need to apply for membership of the Association of LAMDA Teachers?

The Association of LAMDA Teachers is a membership organisation made up of teachers who hold either the previous LLAM Licentiate Teaching Diploma or the LAMDA Diploma in Speech and Drama Education (LSDE). Students registered on the LSDE are not yet eligible for full membership, but can apply to be a Student member, with a view to upgrading to a Full member once the LSDE is completed.

13. How can I become a member of the Association of LAMDA Teachers?

To become a Member of the Association, please click here to download a copy of the application form and send it, along with the annual membership fee, to LAMDA Examinations.

14. Where can I get information about LAMDA Examinations’ courses and workshops?

A number of workshops are held throughout the year, normally in spring. The content of these workshops is generally focused on specific areas of the syllabus and is often aligned with new examinations that are coming out. These workshops are held in a number of regional locations and vary from ½ day workshops to two conferences.

In addition to the regional courses, we also offer a week of workshops based at our headquarters in Barons Court. These workshops cover a huge range of different subjects that are of interest to our centres and teachers worldwide. The seminars are led by LAMDA examiners, members of the LAMDA faculty and/or industry specialists. Please continue to check the workshop section of the website for updates.

15. Does LAMDA run any competitions for learners?

We have a set of Awards called the Communication and Performance Awards. Once they have completed three specific examinations at set levels, learners qualify for either a Communication or Performance Certificate. Once they have achieved this certificate, learners can enter for the Competition Day, which is held at our centre in Barons Court and at the MacOwan Theatre in Earl’s Court. The five top scoring learners in each category are invited to perform in the Competition and compete for cash prizes and the opportunity to perform on the MacOwan stage, in front of friends, family and other learners. For further information about the Communication and Performance Awards and the Competition Day, please visit the Awards section of the website www.lamda.org.uk/exams/awards

16. How old does a person have to be to take LAMDA Examinations?

LAMDA Examinations currently have no age restrictions. However, the minimum age limits from the previous syllabus can be used as a guideline.

17. I live overseas. Are there any LAMDA Examinations in my country?

LAMDA Examinations run in 30 countries worldwide. To locate your nearest centre, please visit the international contacts page of the website, www.lamda.org.uk/overseas. If your country is not listed, please contact LAMDA Examinations at exams@lamda.org.uk and we will do our best to accommodate you and your candidates.

18. Does LAMDA Examinations produce any materials to support the examinations?

LAMDA Examinations produces a range of publications, to support the majority of the examinations. Click here to go to the Publications section of the website, where our full range of publications and merchandise can be found. Publications can be ordered through the online shop, http://store.lamda.org.uk or over the telephone by contacting LAMDA Examinations direct. Please note that telephone orders must be paid for with a credit/debit card and a £1 administration fee will be charged.

19. I have submitted my entries. When can I expect to receive timetables and report cards?

Sessions are scheduled in date ordered. We aim to dispatch information, timetables and report cards to centres at least 14 days before the examination session is scheduled to commence.

20. Is it possible for me to enter my learners online?

LAMDA has an Online Entry System (OES) that allows teachers to enter learners securely online. OES is a faster, more convenient way for teachers to enter candidates, as it allows you to enter your learners exactly how you would like them to appear on the day and there is little margin for error, as you enter all of the learners yourself.

Please note that currently this service is available for Private and Overseas Centres but not Public Centres.

If you would like to use OES, please click here to register.

21. My examination session has just taken place. When can I expect my results and certificates?

Results and medals are issued within 6 weeks of the end of the examination session, as stated in our Customer Service Statement.

22. I’ve lost my certificate, can I get a replacement?

Duplicates of certificates issued since 2000 are available at a cost of £10.00 and duplicates for certificates issued prior to 2000 are available at a cost of £20.00. Please fill out a Certificate and Medal Requisition form, which can be downloaded from the Downloads section of the website, www.lamda.org.uk/exams/downloads and return it to the Examinations department along with the payment. All UK accredited replacement certificates will have duplicate printed on them due to regulations set by the QCA.

23. What do I do if a learner is ill on the day of the exam?

If you are a parent/guardian of a child or an adult taking an exam at a private centre, you must let the administrator or teacher responsible for that centre know as soon as possible. If you are the parent/guardian of a chills or an adult taking an examination at a public centre, you must let the public centre coordinator (details can be found on the Public Centre Date Card) know as soon as possible. The teacher/centre will then be responsible for informing the relevant examiner. Where a doctor’s note is provided, LAMDA Examinations will arrange to issue a Transfer Credit Voucher (TCV)to the value of half the relevant examination fee.

24. Can a learner change the time of an examination?

It is not possible to change the dates/times for any examinations.

25. If a learner is no longer able to attend an examination, can (s)he get a refund?

For a learner who is sick on the day of the examinations, LAMDA Examinations offers a Transfer Credit Voucher (TCV) to the value of half the relevant examinations fee, which can then be put towards the total examination fee when the learner does take the examination. If you would like to apply for a TCV, you must write into LAMDA Examinations with supporting evidence within 10 days of the examination that the learner was unable to attend. Once it has been verified that the learner did not take the examination, a TCV will be issued in the learner ’s name.

The above conditions also apply if the learner suffers a family bereavement.There are no conditions other than those stated above in which a refund, partial or otherwise, will be given.