Marking Standards
All examinations set out in this syllabus are marked out of a total of 100 marks.
Attainment Levels
Distinction
Merit
Pass
Below Pass
Marking Bands
Grades Introductory Grade – Grade 7 (Silver Medal)
Distinction: 85 and over
Merit: 75 and over
Pass: 65 and over
Below Pass: 64 and below
Grade 8 (Gold Medal)
Distinction: 85 and over
Merit: 80 and over
Pass: 70 and over
Below Pass: 69 and below
Diplomas
Pass: 75 and over
Fail: 74 and below
Levels of Achievement
Pass
Learners must:
- perform their selections
- demonstrate satisfactory preparation
- show a basic background knowledge of all selections
- show a basic understanding of any theory set
Merit
Learners must:
- show preparation has been thorough
- demonstrate their work clearly, expressively and enthusiastically
- demonstrate good attention to detail
- show a good background knowledge of all selections
- show a good understanding of any theory set
Distinction
Learners must:
- demonstrate work is of a really high standard
- fully meet the requirements of the syllabus
- present work that is artistic, well communicated, technically correct and altogether excellent
- show an excellent background knowledge of all selections
- show an excellent background knowledge of any theory set
Certificates of Excellence
NEA present the following five Certificates of Excellence annually to the learner who gains the highest Distinction mark in:
- Grade 3 (Foundation Medal) Speech and Drama
- Grade 3 (Foundation Medal) Mime
- Grade 6 (Bronze Medal) Acting
- Grade 5 (Intermediate Medal) Public Speaking
- Grade 5 (Intermediate Medal) Interview Technique
Marking Standards
- The way in which marks are allocated is clearly set out in the syllabus and on each learner’s examination mark and Report Form.
- For EntryLevel examinations learners will receive their mark and completed Report Form on the day of the examination.
- For all other examinations, examiners will write the Report and allocate the marks. This will then be moderated by the Chief Examiner and the marking confirmed. Results should be received with 2 weeks of the examination.
- In the earlier grades, the marking scheme is designed to give more emphasis to developing a learner’s confidence by giving a greater percentage of marks to performance and speech than to sight reading and theory.
- As the grades progress, however, the marking scheme has a more even allocation so that the learner must achieve a standard of excellence throughout all sections to be successful.
- To obtain a Pass mark, learners must show that they know their selections and have prepared them satisfactorily. In grades where theory is set, they must show that they understand the basic syllabus requirements.
- To achieve the marks necessary for Merit, learners must show that their preparation has been thorough and be able to demonstrate their work clearly, expressively and enthusiastically, with good attention to detail.
- A Distinction mark is given if the learner’s work is of a really high standard. Every requirement of the syllabus must be fulfilled and the work presented must be artistic, well communicated, technically correct and altogether excellent.
- A learner fails to obtain the marks necessary to pass an examination if their work is not sufficiently well prepared and contains inadequacies which cannot be overlooked. Examiners will give constructive criticism which, it is hoped, will encourage the unsuccessful learner to re-enter the examination at a later date.
