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). Please click here to be taken to the LSDE information on this website.

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

Each examination has a syllabus, which can be downloaded by subject or as a whole document, covering all subjects. In preparing candidates, it is essential that you read the syllabus for the requisite grade carefully, to ensure that the candidate 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 sho. Please click here to go to the online shop.

3. How can I enter candidates 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 candidates taking examinations, along with the fees for the examinations, at least one calendar month before the examination date. Alternatively, you can enter your candidates using the Online Entry System (OES). For further details on OES, please click here to 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 candidate and each examination that candidate 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 Card. 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 or other equivalent teaching qualification. Please click here to download a copy of the latest register of Association member teachers . 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?

If the total of your examination fees comes to over £400, you can request to set up a private centre on your own premises. This will allow you to have the examination session on whatever day(s) suit you in your choice of venue and we will send an examiner to you.

If you would like to register as a private centre, please write, email or fax LAMDA Examinations to request a date, ideally at least three months before the date you wish to request. Date requests must be sent to LAMDA Examinations at least three months before the requested date. A booking deposit of £50.00 is to be paid with date requests for each separate session you are booking. This deposit should then be deducted by you when entering candidates for the examinations. When booking a session, please clearly state the duration of the session (i.e. two days). Please note that examiners will examine for a maximum of six and a half hours per day. If your total examining time is estimated to be over this amount, you will need to request an additional day.

6. I only have a small number of candidates. How do I enter them?

If you have a small number of candidates, 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 candidates as you choose. For details of where and when the public centres are held, please click here to download the Public Centre Date Card.

7. 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.)

8. 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

Graded Examinations in Musical Theatre for the Actor/Singer (Solo/Duologue)

Grade 6 – Bronze Medal

Grade 7 – Silver Medal

Grade 8 – Gold Medal

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

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

9. 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 candidate 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.

For further information, please click here to download the UCAS information sheet.

10. 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 contact LAMDA Examinations for an application form request an application form, 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.

11. 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 or Associate Member once the LSDE is completed. There are two grades of membership for teachers: Full and Associate.

12. 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.

13. 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-day seminars and workshops.

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.

For further information about about our current workshop programme, please click here to visit our Workshops page.

14. Does LAMDA run any competitions for candidates?

We have a set of Awards called the Communication and Performance Awards. Once they have completed three specific examinations at set levels, candidates qualify for either a Communication or Performance Certificate. Once they have achieved this certificate, candidates 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 candidates 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 candidates. For further information about the Communication and Performance Awards and the Competition Day, please click here .

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

LAMDA Examinations currently have minimum ages, but no maximum ages. The youngest a candidate can be to take a Graded examination is 5 and the only exam they are allowed to take at this age is the Introductory examination. By the time a candidate is 8, they can begin to take any of the other subjects. Please note that this is not the case for Group or Musical Theatre examinations, where there are no minimum ages.

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

LAMDA Examinations run in 40 countries worldwide. To locate your nearest centre, please click here to visit the Overseas pages of the website.

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

LAMDA Examinations produces a range of publications, to support the majority of the examinations. The full range of publications and merchandise available can be found in the Publications section of the website. 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.

18. 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.

19. Is it possible for me to enter my candidates online?

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

20. 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.

21. 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 by clicking here 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.

22. What do I do if a candidate 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.

23. Can a candidate change the time of an examination?

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

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

For a candidate 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 candidate 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 candidate was unable to attend. Once it has been verified that the candidate did not take the examination, a TCV will be issued in the candidate’s name.

The above conditions also apply if the candidate suffers a family bereavement.

There are no conditions other than those stated above in which a refund, partial or otherwise, will be given.