The Syllabus
Apart from the fact that candidates will be dancing in their kitchen, living room, or garden in front of a camera rather than an examiner, the biggest difference in video-based exams is that candidates will be dancing alone. Apart from the group dance, all other requirements are perfectly suitable for solo performers. So, instead of the group dance, we would simply like each candidate to perform a short solo dance.
Step by step video guidelines for teachers
- Submit a Video Exam Booking Form on the Irish Board’s website, proposing a submission date for your centre’s video examination.
- The Irish Board will send you a confirmation email including:
- A confirmed video submission date for your centre
- A link to an online spreadsheet to fill in the candidates’ names and exam details
- An upload link to a shared folder on Dropbox where candidates will upload their exam videos
- A PDF which will include some guidelines and syllabus adaptations
- Share the video upload link and the PDF with each candidate
- Each candidate will then video her exam individually at home (adhering to the Irish Board video guidelines below)
- Once complete, each candidate will upload her video before the closing date via the link shared previously by you
Step by step video guidelines for candidates
- Record your exam using your preferred video device. We suggest using a smartphone as the sound quality is generally good.
- Pick a suitable location to film. Consider the following when you’re choosing:
- Make sure there is enough space for movement during your exam. It may require some ingenuity to create the space necessary for your performance. Do consider using space outside your house as a possibility
- Ensure that you are well lit, not casting any shadows on screen and that there are no bright lights behind you that might affect the exposure of the shot
- If possible, set up your video device in front of a blank wall or plain background
- Set up the device horizontally (i.e. in Landscape mode) in a stationary position and mount/prop it up. It’s important that the examiner can see as much of the candidate as possible at all times during the exam ESPECIALLY THE FEET. It’s also a good idea to mark out your boundaries as a guide, and don’t forget to make sure that you’re visible on screen at all times.
- Ensure that there is enough storage space available on your video device (for fifteen minutes you’ll need about 1GB)
- Test the audio before you film yourself and make sure the music can be heard clearly. (A parent or other person may operate the music if necessary, but should not communicate with you apart from instructions regarding the music.)
- Introduce yourself at the start of the video by name followed by the type and level of the exam that you are doing.
- Save the video on your device when you have finished recording.
- Upload your video via the link sent to you by your teacher. Remember to do this before or on the video exam submission date
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- Upload your video directly from your phone or a laptop.
- Click on the upload link shared by your teacher. The image below will appear on your screen
- Choose your exam file and upload it
- It will ask you to enter your name and email address to identify who the file is from. Please enter YOUR TEACHER’S email address in the email address field. The video may take a few minutes to upload.
- Tell your teacher when you have uploaded your video.
- Congratulations, your exam is complete!
Some Rules and Conditions
It’s important that all candidates are examined under the same conditions, in the interests of fairness. If a video submission does not adhere to the rules outlined below, we won’t be able to accept it. We will inform the teacher of any refusals by email, and the candidate will be allowed to resubmit within three days.
- As it is an exam, candidates are only permitted to video their exam once. We can’t verify this in any way but we trust that this rule will be respected by the candidate/teacher/parent involved in making the video. A candidate may, however, re-record their exam in the unusual case that a technical issue occurs.
- Teachers/parents or any other person(s) involved in making the video are not permitted to give instruction or direction to the candidate during the exam.
- The video device must be set up so that as much of the candidate’s body as possible is visible on screen at all times during the video.
Teacher’s Checklist
- Submit a Video Exam Booking Form on the Irish Board website.
- Once you receive a confirmation email, send the video upload link and the Video Guidelines PDF to all candidates taking the exam
- Fill in the online spreadsheet with your candidates’ details (you will find a link to the spreadsheet in your confirmation email)
- Make sure your candidates are prepared to upload their video exams by the confirmed submission date.
After the exam, we will process your candidates’ results, report sheets, certificates and medal(s) and send them to you within 30 days.
Candidate’s Checklist
- Record your video exam, adhering to the video guidelines and rules above
- Upload your video exam via the link shared with you by your teacher.
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- Click on the upload link, choose your video and upload it.
- It will ask you to enter your name and email address to identify who the file is from. Please enter your teacher’s email address in the email address field.
- The video may take a few minutes to upload.
- Let your teacher know once your video exam file has been uploaded successfully
If you have any questions in relation to any of the above please do not hesitate to contact us and we will help you through the process.