Lamda grades - what age?

[latineater]

At what age did everyone's DC take the Grade 4 exam?

Just want to understand if we are in a good place or not!

Which type of Lamda Musical Theatre, Acting, public speaking?

Oh yes if acting monologue or duologue?

DD is due to take her grade 3 musical theatre exam in summer, she is 13.

I think they used to say that you shouldn't take Grade 4 until you were 11 or 12. Now it's a bit more flexible but Grade 4 at 11 is still about the right minimum age I'd say. That said, it does depend on the subject. Verse and Prose requires a narrower range of skills IMHO and a bright child with a good speaking voice could take it earlier. My DD is due to take her Grade 4 Musical Theatre just after her 10th birthday and I think it might be a bit soon for her TBH.

LAMDA used to have minimum ages to take the exam. This was partly based on maturity and age appropriate material. It’s a shame they abolished the minimum ages.

Grade 4 used to be minimum age 12. It’s a Level 2 qualification equivalent in standard to GCSE.

DD (10) is due to take her grade 4 LAMDA acting monologue shortly and they are already talking about grade 5 next spring?

Thanks all, I forgot to mention it was Acting (Monologue). DC will be 11 when doing the grade 4, looks like it's reasonably okay (not too difficult, not too behind).

@yodaforpresident Did your DD ever struggle with the context/comprehension for the grade 4 or grade 5 pieces?

@latineater you also don't have to go through all the grades you can take a break and jump up. DD took grade 4 only then had a break and then 6 followed by 7 very quickly. There was a Trinity Grade 8 in production between 6 and 7.

@Lonecatwithkitten Interesting. Do you think it’s a good idea to then skip Grade 4 and go straight to Grade 5 at 11? Would it be too hard for that age?

The issue would be that she would then come to a point where she would be doing Grade 6 and having to perform/talk about subject matter that is often too mature for that age.

@latineater as @Comefromaway has said at Grade 6 you really need to have read the whole play of each monologue to show the knowledge and understanding of the piece. At grade 7 there are then further requirements showing wide knowledge that require independent research.
My point was that she doesn't need to rack through the grades, she can take a break explore wider material that helps further develop skills and then come back at a later date maybe having skipped a couple.
Grades 6- 8 all attract UCAS points if applying to relevant courses so are tough.

At Grade 5 you can do a monologue from an age inappropriate play and it seem Ok because that particular extract has no mature content. But as Lonecat said at Grade 6 and above it is a requirement to have read the entire play.

Got it, thanks. I'll see how it goes.

Yes, maturity can sometime be an issue. My daughter had a real problem with the little match girl as she just couldn’t empathise with being cold and hungry. So piece selection is important and we also tend to talk a lot about the piece and what the characters are thinking/ feeling etc.