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Performing Arts
Acting Exams
PAA Acting develops candidates of all ages and levels, assessing a range of communication, interpretative and technical skills through practical assessment. PAA Acting’s flexible delivery approach gives teachers complete creative freedom to compile scenes from plays or anthologies, adapted excerpts from novels, or even original scenes written by the candidates themselves. These can be performed in an exam as monologue(s), duologue(s) or scenes for three.
Performance Focussed
Depending on the requirements at each grade, candidates can perform scenes from plays (all grades), anthologies and adapted excerpts from novels (Premiere – Grade 5). There’s also the option to perform original scenes written by the candidates from Grades 1 – 8.
Creative Freedom
PAA encourages creativity; the performance material is chosen by the teacher or candidate(s), allowing creative freedom and the opportunity for learners to study material of particular interest to them or from their own culture.
Teaching Support
Repertoire suggestions have been carefully compiled to provide a comprehensive and varied range of scenes/plays, as a useful starting point for teachers. We have championed authors from diverse cultural backgrounds, as well as a fair representation of gender, enabling students to feel comfortable performing or studying material which is enjoyable and relevant to them.
Assessment Flexibility
At all grades, candidates can enter their exam as a solo, or in twos or threes, performing monologues, duologues or scenes for three. In addition, candidates taking grades 1-8 in twos/threes, may also perform a monologue each for one of their choices.
Accessible Exam Formats
There are three types of examination formats available across all grades to suit your learners needs: Face-to-Face examinations (schools / venues only), Live Video examinations (schools / venues only), Recorded Video examinations.
Regulated Qualification
All PAA graded exams are recognised and regulated by the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual). UCAS Points allocation are confirmed and available from May 2022. Please contact paa@rslawards.com for more information.
The Exam
PAA Acting assesses a range of interpretative skills, technical skills, and knowledge and understanding through the following components.
Practical Assessment
Performance of the chosen scene(s): the number and content of which are dependent upon the grade taken – 90% of marks (100% at Premiere)
Knowledge & Understanding
Candidates present their responses to chosen questions – 10% of marks (Debut – Grade 8)
How It Works
01
Download the syllabus for free
Download the PAA Acting syllabus for free to see how you can incorporate these qualifications into your schedule and teaching offering.
02
Take advantage of innovative resources
PAA offers a range of resources to help you achieve with this syllabus. Suggested repertoire and exemplar materials give you the tools to get started today.
03
Book an exam day
Once you are prepped and ready, book an exam where our PAA examiners will assess your performance. PAA qualifications are the ideal way for students and individual candidates to be awarded for their hard work.
Repertoire Suggestions and Guidance for Choosing Scenes
General Notes
PAA encourages creativity and does not make any compulsory recommendations for material selection. However, this document is designed to support teachers and learners with tips on how to select appropriate repertoire. Firstly, in the syllabus you will find the following information:
- Each scene must adhere to the required duration for the relevant grade and the number of candidates.
- Teachers should ensure that the content is suitable for the individual age and overall maturity of the candidate(s).
- Scenes should be selected carefully to ensure that they provide suitable opportunity for candidates to demonstrate the relevant assessment criteria.
- Candidates are reminded that if a chosen piece does not meet these requirements this may impact on the level of achievement possible within the examination.
- The second scene (grades 1-8) and third scene (grades 7-8) should provide a degree of contrast in theme, character, mood, setting or style.
Monologues:
- – Solo candidates may choose to perform a soliloquy, or a monologue involving another character Monologues or characters. If you choose the latter, you should perform solo, directing your speech to the imagined character(s) as appropriate.
- – If a chosen monologue is a direct address to the audience, candidates may either perform the
monologue to a wider imagined audience, or directly to the examiner/camera.
- When choosing scenes for two or three candidates, care must be taken to ensure that each
candidate has a similar proportion of involvement in the scene. There should also, as much as possible, be a similar balance of dialogue. However, for grades 1 to 8, the weight of dialogue between the scenes could be considered, ie, if there is less dialogue for one candidate in one scene, there should be more dialogue for that candidate in the next scene.
- The content of the scenes must demonstrate a comparable level of technical and interpretative demand to those suggested in the PAA online catalogue of suitable material at each level, (found later within this document).
- Use of accent/dialect: It is not a requirement to use accents/dialect, however, candidates should ensure that their vocal interpretation reflects the character/situation and the author’s style and intention.
- Published scenes may be edited if necessary, and dialogue spoken by other characters edited out, however the overall meaning of the scene, and the author’s intention with regards to character and situation, must be maintained. Adding your own dialogue to scenes from published plays is not permitted.
- Candidates should play only one character in each scene.
For further information on choosing scenes, understanding the context of scenes, Anthropologies of stand alone monologues/scenes, adapting scenes from a novel and more, download the Teacher Supported Repertoire Suggestions below.
Acting Grade 8 Exemplar video
The below video is designed to further support teachers and learners when preparing for a PAA Acting examination.
Marks awarded and Rationale:
The first scene from “Miss Julie” was performed with fluency and spontaneity. The maturity in style and delivery demonstrated a total understanding of subtext in the performance (Distinction). The character was fully sustained all the time, showing a clear awareness of objective in delivery (Distinction). There was a sophisticated understanding of the world of the character presented, demonstrating a comprehensible sense of place, period, and other characters (Distinction).
Your vocal skills responded to the technical demands of the text throughout, maintaining support of your voice through to the end of all phrases (Distinction). Your vocal qualities also successfully conveyed the subtleties of characterisation and mood within the scene (Distinction).
A range of facial play effectively and convincingly conveyed the subtleties of characterisation and mood almost throughout (Distinction). Physically, you sustained the physical characterisation of the character through appropriate movement, gesture, stance, and use of space.
Overall, based on this monologue alone at a Grade 8 level, this learner has been awarded a Distinction grade.
Marks awarded:
- Learning Outcome 1: perform from memory, demonstrating an understanding of the content and meaning of the chosen material – 19 out of 20
- Learning Outcome 2: use vocal skills in response to the material being presented – 18 out of 20
- Learning Outcome 3: use face and body in response to the material being presented – 17 out of 20
Assessment Summary
| Assessment | |
|---|---|
| Form of Assessment | All assessments are carried out by external examiners. Candidates are required to carry out a combination of practical tasks underpinning the technical and performance assessment. |
| Unit Format | Unit specifications contain the Title, Unit Code, Credit Level, Credit Value, Learning Outcomes, Assessment Criteria, Grade Descriptor, and types of evidence required for the unit. |
| Bands of Attainment | There are four bands of attainment (Distinction, Merit, Pass and Unclassified) for the qualification as a whole. |
| Quality Assurance | Quality Assurance ensures that all assessments are carried out to the same standard by objective sampling and re-assessment of candidates’ work. A team of external examiners is appointed, trained and standardised by RSL. |
Assessment, Marking and Attainment Bands
All candidates, whether entering for their exam as a solo, or in twos or threes, are assessed individually by the examiner, and receive an individual mark and (on passing their exam) certificate. The examiner will award marks in line with the published assessment criteria for the relevant grade taken, full details of which can be found later in this document, within the Content Specifications for each grade.
The exams are marked out of 100. The attainment bands are as follows:
| Marks Received | Attainment Level |
|---|---|
| 85 and above | Distinction |
| 65–84 | Merit |
| 50–64 | Pass |
| 0–49 | Unclassified |
Learning Outcomes
A ‘Learning Outcome’ is a statement of what has been demonstrated as a result of successful completion of the assessment criteria.
The following are the broad Learning Outcomes which apply to all graded Acting examinations, along with the relevant exam section. The Assessment Criteria, repertoire, technical challenges and knowledge requirements are set at each grade, and increase in difficulty as the grades progress:
Premiere Candidates
| Learning Outcomes | Exam Section |
|---|---|
| Learning Outcome 1: perform the chosen material, demonstrating an understanding of the content and meaning | Performance Piece |
| Learning Outcome 2: use vocal skills in response to the material being presented | Performance Piece |
| Learning Outcome 3: use face and body in response to the material being presented | Performance Piece |
Debut to Grade 8 Candidates
| Learning Outcomes | Exam Section |
|---|---|
| Learning Outcome 1: perform from memory, demonstrating an understanding of the content and meaning of the chosen material | Performance Piece(s) |
| Learning Outcome 2: use vocal skills in response to the material being presented | Performance Piece(s) |
| Learning Outcome 3: use face and body in response to the material being presented | Performance Piece(s) |
| Learning Outcome 4: demonstrate an understanding of the chosen material, including content, context and role (as appropriate) and rehearsal process (Grades 5–8 only) | Knowledge and Understanding |
Resources
Download the syllabus and relevant documentation to support your teaching with PAA Acting for free!
PAA Acting Syllabus Specification
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PAA Acting Syllabus SQA Accredited (Scotland only)
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PAA Acting Teacher Support & Repertoire Guidance
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PAA Acting FAQs
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PAA Recorded Digital Exam Guide (UPDATE Sept. 2024)
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PAA Acting – Recorded Digital Exams Example Script
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PAA Acting Grade 8 Exemplar
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PAA Acting – Live streamed Digital Exam Guide
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193.2 KB
Acting Fees
Please see the information below for all Acting fees
Please note that the fee listed is per candidate. Exams can be taken as a solo, duo, or in scenes for three. The fees vary accordingly.
| Grade | Recorded Digital | Live Stream | Face-to-Face |
|---|---|---|---|
| Premiere | £30 | £33 | £36 |
| Debut | £32 | £34 | £37 |
| Grade 1 | £37 | £40 | £42 |
| Grade 2 | £38 | £41 | £43 |
| Grade 3 | £38 | £41 | £44 |
| Grade 4 | £45 | £50 | £54 |
| Grade 5 | £49 | £54 | £58 |
| Grade 6 | £57 | £62 | £66 |
| Grade 7 | £66 | £72 | £79 |
| Grade 8 | £78 | £84 | £91 |
| Grade | Recorded Digital | Live Stream | Face-to-Face |
|---|---|---|---|
| Premiere | £26 | £29 | £32 |
| Debut | £27 | £30 | £34 |
| Grade 1 | £34 | £36 | £39 |
| Grade 2 | £34 | £36 | £39 |
| Grade 3 | £35 | £37 | £40 |
| Grade 4 | £42 | £45 | £49 |
| Grade 5 | £44 | £47 | £51 |
| Grade 6 | £51 | £57 | £61 |
| Grade 7 | £61 | £65 | £71 |
| Grade 8 | £70 | £76 | £82 |
| Grade | Recorded Digital | Live Stream | Face-to-Face |
|---|---|---|---|
| Premiere | £24 | £25 | £27 |
| Debut | £24 | £26 | £29 |
| Grade 1 | £29 | £32 | £35 |
| Grade 2 | £30 | £34 | £36 |
| Grade 3 | £32 | £35 | £37 |
| Grade 4 | £38 | £40 | £43 |
| Grade 5 | £39 | £42 | £45 |
| Grade 6 | £44 | £49 | £53 |
| Grade 7 | £53 | £58 | £63 |
| Grade 8 | £62 | £66 | £72 |
Please see “other fees” below relating to UK PAA Graded Exams.
Late Entry, Date Changes & Deferrals
| Service | Applicable When... | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Date Change | Changing exam date/time after appointment slip has been issued | £30 |
| Deferral | Deferring exam to future exam period | £30 |
Please see the UK Graded Exams Date Change & Deferral policy for circumstances where the fee can be waived.
Enquiries about Results / Appeals
| Service | Fee | Cap for Multiple Candidates | Refundable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Remark | 50% of Exam Fee | £100 | If marks change by more than +/-5 or there is a change of assessment band |
| First Level Appeal | 60% of Exam Fee | £150 | If enquiry is upheld |
| Second Level Appeal | 75% of Exam Fee | £200 | If enquiry if upheld |
Replacement Certificate
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Replacement Certificate | £15 |
Key dates
PAA examinations are open all year round and can be scheduled to fit with your existing programme.
Need more information?
Please visit our PAA FAQ page to find some useful information to help you get started.
Book your PAA exam!
PAA examinations are open all year round and can be scheduled to fit with your existing programme.
