Rockschool music qualifications are tailor-made for the contemporary musician.
Public Speaking Syllabus Specification
Learners may enter for the exam as follows:
- One learner (all grades)
Examination Formats
There are three types of examination formats offered:
- Face-to-Face examination (schools/venues only)
- Live Streamed examination (schools/venues only)
- Recorded Digital Exam (schools/organisations and
individuals)
Note that examinations via Recorded Digital have slightly different content, and allow the school or individual to submit pre-recorded exams.
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- Face-to-Face exams are only offered to schools/venues. Applications from individuals will not be accepted.
- PAA operates a minimum fee policy for Face-to-Face exams. Schools should ensure that there are enough learners scheduled to meet this fee before applying. All current fees can be found below
- The examiner will come to your school/venue. The Principal (or equivalent) is required to meet with the examiner 30 minutes before the start of the first exam to discuss any absences or changes to the day.
- The examiner or an RSL representative, will call the Principal (or equivalent) two days before the exam, to introduce themselves and confirm the information on the schedule.
- The learners are assessed by one examiner, although there may be another examiner present, for training or monitoring purposes. Venues must provide examiners with an adequate table, chair, lighting and access to drinking water or refreshments.
- Venues must provide examiners with an adequate table, chair, lighting and access to drinking water or refreshments.
- Venues must provide an appropriate space to conduct the examinations.
- Copies of exam pieces (if applicable) must be provided.
- A member of staff must be on hand outside the exam room, to support the organisation of learners, to chaperone learners when waiting outside and once the exam is completed.
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Live Streamed Exams are intended to give learners an experience that resembles face-to-face exams as closely as possible.
LSE are venue-based and therefore entire days similar to face- to-face exams can take place. This can include multiple venues in different geographic locations on the same day.
Live Streamed Exams are conducted via online video conference using Zoom, between the learners at the exam venue and the examiner based at another location.
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For RSL recorded digital exams to be valid, there are a number of rules that must be adhered to. It is important that learners and teachers read the Procedure Guide carefully before applying for a recorded digital exam, to ensure they have the best chance of submitting a video that we can accept for submission.
To ensure their video submission is valid, it is important that learners and teachers adhere to this guidance.
Note that the whole exam must be performed and filmed in one continuous take. No editing is permitted. Pdf copies of poems (if applicable) must be uploaded when the exam video is submitted.
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Below are general regulations for all RSL Public Speaking examinations:
- Tasks must be performed in English. For Premiere/Debut poems, any published translation of a non-English poem is permitted.
- Regional accents: Whilst vocal clarity is an assessment criterion, it is accepted that learners will speak English with a wide variety of regional accents. It should be noted that learners are assessed on how clearly they communicate in English, and not on their accent.
- All selections must be performed from memory. However, for speeches only, small prompt cards may be used.
Speeches must not be read.
- For candidates under the age of 18, one chaperone (the adult responsible for the candidate) must be present during the examination.
The chaperone:
- – must be provided by the school/centre
- – may be positioned outside of the exam room, if there is clear vision through the window of the exam door
- – must not lead, direct, or assist the candidate in any way. Note that any interaction between the chaperone and the candidate (except in an emergency) may be classed as assisting the candidate and may be reflected in the candidate’s final mark.
- For Recorded Digital Exams, the camera operator may assume the role of chaperone
- No unauthorised person will be allowed in the examination room during an examination
- Electronic devices are not permitted unless they are needed for a visual/audio aid. In this case they must be switched to airplane mode.
- Premiere/Debut only: Printed copies of chosen poems must be provided.
- Grade 1/2 only: If a poem by an established author is chosen, a printed copy must be provided.
- Recorded Digital Exams only: pdf copies of poems (if applicable) must be uploaded when the exam video is submitted.
- Live Streamed Exams only: pdf copies of poems (if applicable) must be provided at least 7 days before the exam.
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Learners may feel that their presentation would benefit from the use of visual or audio aids. For example, a back-beat for a rap, or a picture for a story or speech. Whilst learners are not assessed separately on the use of visual aids, the way in which they are used may impact the demonstration of an assessment criterion (e.g., clarity, fluency). Therefore, if used, it is advisable to pay particular attention to the following:
- Any equipment used must be provided by the learner, and any set-up time would form part of the time allowance for that Task.
- Visual/audio aids should be clearly seen or heard by the examiner, however visual/audio aids must not hinder or impede the learner’s
ability to demonstrate the assessment criteria for the grade taken. The learner must be the focus, not the visual/audio aid.
- If the use of a visual/audio aid restricts the examiner’s ability to assess the relevant criteria, this may impact the mark awarded.
Examples of this may be, but are not restricted to:
- – The learner can not be seen clearly or consistently due to the placing, size, or poor use of the visual aid
- – The learner can not be heard clearly due to the volume of the audio aid
- Weapons of any kind (e.g. knives, guns) are not permitted.
