Exam help and FAQs

Which syllabus should I be using?

If you will be taking your digital or face-to-face exam before 31 August 2023 please use the 2020 drama specifications. If you will be taking your exam after this time please use the 2023 specifications.

Which Drama exam is right for me?

Trinity offers a wide range of graded, certificate and diploma exams across a variety of genres. We have exams for solos, pairs and groups, as well as in production exams for live productions. Please refer to the Drama section of our website for full details of all our drama exams.

Which drama specification is right for my students?

This depends on your student’s interests and skills, each of our drama specifications has a different focus.

• Acting suits learners who want to focus on vocal, physical and characterisation skills in dramatic performance.
• Drama and Speech is designed for candidates who want to develop their skills by engaging with a variety of forms including poetry, prose and play extracts in a range of styles from different periods.
• Musical Theatre is suited to learners who want the opportunity to integrate acting, singing and movement skills.
• Performance Arts allows learners the freedom to combine a diverse variety of performance arts skills.
• Communication Skills is designed to support candidates in developing a range of 21st Century communication skills that can have a positive impact in both education and the workplace.

How can I prepare/plan a programme for the exam?

Candidates and teachers should refer to the guidance pages of the syllabus when selecting material for their performance programmes. They can also refer to our Drama Support Resources.

How do I prepare for an exam?

Requirements for the exam can be found in the relevant specification, available to download free of charge from the Drama section of our website, or a hard copy can be ordered by emailing ukandireland@trinitycollege.co.uk with the following details

• Which specification you would like
• How many copies you require
• The postal address you want them to be sent to

Trinity publishes a range of supporting publications and other resources; again please refer to the Drama section of our website for full details. Each specification also has a range of FAQs online to answer any key questions you may have about delivery.

The validity period of all of our Drama specifications is included in the publications and documents that relate to them, please refer to the Drama section of our website for further details.

Are there any prerequisites required before entering for an exam?

There are no prerequisites to enter any of our graded or certificate exams.

Trinity’s drama diplomas are open to all candidates. There is no requirement to have passed lower grade(s)/diploma levels, or other qualifications.

However, the graded exams and diplomas represent a system of progressive development and the outcomes for each level assume mastery of the outcomes of previous levels. We therefore recommend that candidates have taken the previous level, particularly at these higher levels.

Are there any age requirements for entering Trinity’s drama exams?

There are no age requirements for graded exams, certificates or diplomas. There are however recommended minimum ages for diplomas as follows

• ATCL - 18 and over
• LTCL – 19 and over

Where can I/my students take a Trinity Drama exam?

If you are an individual or small group exams can be taken at one of Trinity’s public centres or an open centre. Our centre map shows all public centres offering Trinity drama exams in the UK and Ireland as well as private centres accepting external candidates. Public centres are shown in blue and private centres accepting external candidates are shown in purple. Booking details for all UK Drama exams are available here.

For larger groups that meet our minimum fee schools and private teachers with sufficient candidates may apply to become a Registered Exam Centre and enter under the Examiner Visit Scheme.

Who can make an exam entry?

• For public centres - exam entries can be submitted by a teacher, parent or guardian, or by candidates themselves if they are aged 18 or over. All correspondence relating to the examination will be with this person only.
• For private centres – exam entries are made by a member of staff at the centre who has access to Trinity’s centre portal.

How do I ensure I enter for the right exam?

Before you enter for an exam please ensure that the specification you have been preparing for is still valid; more information on validity dates and overlap period can be found on the Drama section of our website. Also, please check the specification carefully and make sure you enter for the exam you have prepared against.

What are the dates of the examinations?

• For public centres - All public centre dates can be found on our map of public centres. Once you make a booking you can be assigned to any of the advertised dates. Confirmation of exact exam dates and times of a booked exam will be sent on an Appointment Slip, normally sent out three weeks before the examination date.
• For private centres – You can book the date and time of your choosing for your exam by making a request online. See the private exam visit FAQ section below for more information.

What is the closing date for applications at drama public centres?

• For public centres - The closing dates for exams can be found on our map of public centres.
• For private centres – There are no closing dates but bookings should be made 8 weeks before the requested date and candidates enrolled 6 weeks beforehand.

Where do I send my application?

• For public centres - Completed application forms should be sent with payment to your centre representative. Contact details for centre representatives can be found on our map of public centres. To receive a receipt confirming that your application has been received please include a stamped addressed envelope with your application.
• For private centres – all bookings should be made by making a request online. All candidates should be enrolled using the centre portal.

Can I request a specific date at a public exam session?

You cannot request a specific date; however, if there are any dates within the advertised week that you or your candidate cannot attend please state this in section C on the entry form. These date exemptions cannot be guaranteed but centre representatives will do their best to work around your requests. The more dates you make yourself unavailable for the less likely it is that the centre representative will be able to accommodate you.

When will I receive the specific time and date of my exam?

Appointment forms detail the time and date of your exam, they are sent out 3 weeks prior to the exam date. If you have not received your appointment form within 3 weeks of the exam session beginning, you should contact your centre representative directly as they are in charge of all exam scheduling. Contact details for centre representatives can be found on our map of public centres.

What if I have missed the booking deadline for a public exam session?

If you have missed the deadline for your chosen exam session it may be possible to make a late entry. Anyone wishing to make a late entry must contact their centre representative who will advise on whether it will be possible. Contact details for centre representatives can be found on our map of public centres.

All requests made after the closing date will be liable for a surcharge. Late entry requests will depend on there being enough time in the examiner’s schedule to accommodate additional candidates and/or to arrange the provision of additional exam papers. The following fees apply:

Trinity and its representatives make no guarantee that acceptance of a late entry will result in the exam taking place. If a late entry has been accepted but the exam cannot take place, the fee will be refunded at Trinity’s discretion.

What if I enter the wrong details?

If you entered incorrect details, please contact your centre representative (or operations coordinator for private centres) as soon as possible. Centre/contact details can be found on our map of public centres.

What if my personal details change?

If your personal details change after booking the exam, please contact your centre representative (or operations coordinator for private centres) as soon as possible. Contact details for centre representatives can be found on our map of public centres.

Can I transfer an entry to a different public centre?

Entries at one centre may be transferred to a different centre for a fee; however, they cannot be transferred to a later exam session. Please contact the centre representative of the centre that you would like to transfer your place to, to discuss options. Contact details for centre representatives can be found on our map of public centres.

I can’t make the date/time I have been given, can I change it?

• For public centres - Trinity cannot guarantee that we will be able to change your appointment time. If you are unable to make the exam appointment you have been allocated please contact the centre representative to see if another appointment is possible. Contact details for centre representatives can be found on our map of public centres.
• For private centres – candidates entering via a private exam centre will need to contact the person at the centre arranging the exams as they set the timetable for these exams themselves.

Can I enter for more than one exam in the same session?

Candidates may enter for more than one practical exam at the same session, but no more than one entry will be accepted per candidate, per session in the same syllabus strand.

What provision is available for candidates with special educational needs?

Trinity College London is committed to creating an inclusive environment where candidates with special educational needs are able to demonstrate their skills and feel welcome. We aim to make our exams accessible to all. We treat each learner individually when considering how we can achieve this aim, recognising that requirements vary.

Candidates who wish to make the examiner aware of their condition, or require modifications to the exam format such as extra time or tests provided in a preferred format, must complete a special needs provision form, along with providing the appropriate medical evidence. For further information please see Reasonable Adjustments for Drama & Speech exams.

How do I become a registered exam centre?

You will need to complete an application form to become a Registered Exam Centre for Trinity Drama and include supporting pictures of the proposed performance space(s). For more information on how to become a Registered Exam centre please click here.

How do I arrange and manage a private examiner visit?

If you would like to arrange a private examiner visit, please see our private drama exam visits page. Please also read our Examiner visit guidelines and our Drama – Centre best practice guide for everything you need to know about being a Registered Exam Centre for Drama and arranging a visit.

There can be a lot to think about ahead of your exam session so we have compiled Ten top tips for exam day to help things go smoothly on the day. You can also refer to our Examiner visit guidelines for step by step instruction of what to do at every stage of your booking

What timescale can I make a booking in?

You can book the date and time of your choosing for you exam by making a request. Please make your booking at least 8 weeks prior to your desired exam date. There are peak weeks during each exam session when it may not be possible to give examiner visit requests their first choice of date. Trinity advises centres to avoid these peak periods when booking an exam date. Please refer to our Examiner visit guidelines for dates of these periods. All candidates should be enrolled using the centre portal.

What if I would like to have exams take place at a venue I have not used before?

You need to register any new venues with us ahead of the time you wish the exams to take please. Please complete the venue registration form and send it to ukandirelandcentres@trinitycollege.co.uk.

How much does a Trinity Drama exam cost?

Details of current exam fees in the UK and Republic of Ireland are available here.

How do I pay?

• For public centres - A cheque should be sent together with the entry form, made payable to ‘Trinity College London’.
• For digital exams - these are booked and paid for online with the exception of candidates in the Republic of Ireland and those entering for pair or groups exams who should enter and pay as above for public centres.
• For private centres – Once your enrolments (for digital or face-to-face exams) are submitted your coordinator will raise an invoice for the total payable. This can be downloaded from the Attachments tab of your order on Trinity Online.  Payment can be made by BACs transfer or cheque to the details give on the invoice. 

How long does an exam take?

Please check the relevant Drama specification on the Drama section of our website

What if I need to postpone or cancel my exam, including if I am unwell?

If you can't attend the exam, please contact your centre representative (or operations coordinator for private centres) immediately. Contact details for centre representatives can be found on our map of public centres. For private exam centres please contact the person in your organisation who has arranged the exams.

If candidates wish to postpone or cancel their exam, the original fee will not be refunded. There are special arrangements in case of genuine compassionate circumstances.

If you can’t attend the exam due to illness, the person who submitted the entry may apply to Trinity for a re-entry permit by providing a medical certificate current for the date of the exam and the appointment form originally issued. Full details can be found in the Drama exam regulations. Alternatively, if you can’t attend the exam due to illness we will be happy to provide a free transfer to a Digital Grades & Diplomas exam.

If you are a candidate at one of our Public Centres please read our additional Candidate Guidance regarding sickness prior to attending your exam.

What if I'm delayed or late for the exam?

If you are delayed or going to be late, please inform your centre representative (or operations coordinator for private centres) straight away. The steward at the exam centre will decide if you can take the exam or not. Contact details for centre representatives can be found on our map of public centres. For private exam centres please contact the person in your organisation who has arranged the exams.

What should I bring to my exam?

Remember to bring along your filled in appointment slip ready to hand to the examiner. Failing to bring the appointment slip may result in you not being allowed to enter the exam room. Please bring along copies of the pieces that you will be performing in your exam (please note for grades 6-8 you need to bring the full text in the original published format, this cannot be a photocopy).

If you wish to use any equipment in your exams (eg a projector for a communications skills exam or a CD to play an accompaniment in a musical theatre exam) you are responsible for bringing these to the exam. Please refer to the appropriate specification on the Drama section of our website for further details.

When should I arrive for my exam?

You must arrive 15 minutes before your allotted exam time at a public centre

Will I be able to warm up/practice before my exam?

Trinity do not promise to provide a warm up room in our public centres, but almost all do. Please contact your centre representative before booking if you’re concerned about this. Contact details for centre representatives can be found on our map of public centres.

When are the results of exams shared?

• Report forms for graded and certificate exams are normally issued within 2 weeks of completion of a centre’s exam session. For private centres they will often be issued at the end of the day of a private examiner visit.
• Diploma report forms are normally issued six to eight weeks after the exam date.

How soon will certificates arrive?

Certificates are issued 6-8 weeks after the exam session.

For public centres these are sent to the centre representative who will forward them to the named applicant on the entry form. If you have not received your report form or certificate within the given timeframes then please contact the centre representative directly. Contact details for centre representatives can be found on our map of public centres.

What if I need to order a replacement certificate?

Please complete and return the Certificate Replacement and Amendment Form – available here. Please note there is a fee applicable for this.

What if exam results are referred?

A candidate’s report form and mark may be referred to Trinity’s London office in the event of an irregularity taking place in the examination. Please note that, in the event of a specification infringement on the part of the candidate, depending on the severity of the infringement, marks may be deducted or, in extreme cases, the exam may be invalidated.

The outcome of referred exams will be communicated to your centre representative for disclosure to the candidate as soon as possible after the matter has been considered by Trinity; the final results and report form will be provided at this time. The referral process may take up to 6 weeks from the point at which we receive the exam report to complete, depending on the complexity of the issue.

For more information on referral and for examples of specification infringements please see the Drama Syllabus Infringements section of our website.

What if I think the exam result is wrong?

If you wish to make a formal enquiry about the result of an exam please refer to Enquiries about results for full details of our results review and appeals process.

How can I make a complaint or give feedback?

Many points of dissatisfaction are best dealt with by contacting the centre representative where the examination took place (or operations coordinator for private centres). If you are still dissatisfied with the service you have received you can register a formal complaint by writing to us at complaints@trinitycollege.com or via our online form.

In all correspondence, please state the relevant candidate number (where applicable) and provide us with copies of any relevant correspondence or documentation. Please note that a complaint will never result in any change of marking – this requires an enquiry about your result.

Can I use my exam to support University entry?

Trinity College London's Level 3 qualifications (Grades 6-8) in some selected Drama graded exams are included in the UK Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) tariff and attract UCAS points for university and higher education entry. For more information please visit the Drama Recognition section of our website.

Where can I enter for a Diploma exam?

All drama public and private centres are able to host diploma exams.

Written papers for Drama diplomas can be taken at the music public centres on the map on our Theory and written papers page and at all drama public centres. You will find exam dates and closing dates on these maps as well as contact details of the centre representative.

How do I enter for a diploma exam at a drama public centre?

To enter for an exam, fill in an entry form and send with the appropriate fee to the centre representative before the exam closing date stated.

Upcoming dates for written papers exams can be found on the Theory and written papers page.

How do I host Drama diploma written papers exams

These exams take place on set dates throughout the year which you can find on our Theory and written papers page. You can hold theory exams / written paper exams at your own organisation, there is no need to pre-book this, please enter your candidates via Trinity Online by the closing date listed.

How much does a Diploma/Written paper cost?

All exam fees for the United Kingdom and Ireland are outlined on our fees page.

How do I book a digital assessment? 

Digital assessments for candidates’ exams in the UK can be booked via our online booking site here. This link is used for all digital exams in our Speech and Drama suites (including Group and Pairs), as well as performance Diplomas at ATCL level.

For candidates in the Republic of Ireland and Private centres please see our website for more information. Our Digital Assessment option is available all year, without specific application deadlines.

Before booking an exam, please ensure you are aware of our timescale requirements: After booking a digital exam, you will receive a link to upload your exam within 24-48 hours, you will then have four weeks to upload your submission for assessment.

What do I do if I applied more than 48 hours ago and have not received my login information?

Please check that no emails were directed to your mail server’s spam or junk folders. Our notifications are sent from submittable@trinitycollege.com – we recommend adding this address to your safe sender list to avoid this. You can find guidance on this process here. Note that notifications are sent to the submitter email provided, rather than the applicant. Please contact dgd.uki@trinitycollege.co.uk if your email has not arrived after a week.

Account setup is automated, so if the email address has been incorrectly entered in our application form we may not be able to identify this – we’ll assist you with correcting if this is the case.

How do I access my digital account?

If the submitter is using the Trinity submission platform for the first time, they will receive an email  containing their username and password. The submitter can then use the same account details for any future Digital Grade or Diploma exam submissions with Trinity College London.

Once you have booked an exam and we have provided your upload link, you can access your account on our submission platform, this is used to submit your video performance and supporting materials to us.

How do I recover/reset my password?

You can request this information again via the link here, the information will be sent to the email address associated with the account.

How long do I have to submit my exam?

Once you received the link to upload your exam you will have four weeks to upload and submit your exam for marking (Note: this is an increase  from two weeks with effect from 4 July 2023). You will receive reminder emails of your submission deadline and your exam form will be closed after the deadline passes, if you miss your deadline you will need to make and pay for a new entry. Please contact us if you are not receiving emails from us or will struggle to make your submission deadline.

Can I have more than four weeks to upload my submission?

We are not able to extend the four week deadline so please contact us asap after booking to cancel your booking withing the allowed two week cooling off period if you will not be able to meet this deadline. In order to initiate a cancellation please send us your original booking confirmation by email to dgd.uki@trinitycollege.co.uk.

I have uploaded my files and submitted for assessment, how long should my results take?

You can expect the marking to take an average of two weeks for grades. Marking of diplomas usually takes four weeks, and if there are further checks to be made, can take up to eight weeks. The exam report will be sent by email to the exam submitter and the candidate (if their email address was provided) and your certificate will follow within 2-4 weeks

My exam is showing as completed how do I find my result?

When your exam is shown as complete on the Submittable platform it has been marked and is now going through our validation process which can take up to three days, an email with the result and feedback report will be sent out once this is complete.

How do I check my results?

The result and exam report will be sent by email to the exam submitter and the candidate (if their email address was provided).

If your exam has shown as complete for more than a week on the Submittable platform then please do contact us at dgd.uki@trinitycollege.co.uk to get your report resent to you.

My result status is shown as ‘referred’ what does this mean? 

This normally means that there is an aspect of the exam we’ll need to take a closer look at and through a referral process, it may also simply mean that one or more pieces of the required supporting information has not been included. You will get an email notifying you of the referral and of any actions you need to take to ensure the exam is able to be marked. Find out more about what a referral means on our syllabus infringement page.

I have my result, when can I expect to receive my certificate? 

Your certificate will follow in the post within 2-4 weeks. Please note that only certificates are issued in physical form, all examiner scoring, feedback and overall result information is provided via email as a PDF.

Can I do a Pair/Group/In Production/Young Performers Certificate digital exam?

Yes. Our syllabus specifications contain additional information on Pair, Group and In Production exams. Young Performers Certificates also have a seperate specification.

What is required for my digital assessment, and does this differ to the standard syllabus for face to face exams? 

Requirements for digital assessments are revised from those used in a face to face exam in most cases, please refer to the detailed information available via the links below: 
Digital Drama Grades and Certificates
Digital Drama Diplomas 

If you will be taking your digital or face-to-face exam before 31 August 2023 please use the 2020 drama specifications. If you will be taking your exam after this time please use the 2023 specifications.

How do I know if I need to prepare for a Key Skills Task?

The syllabus specifications detail the requirements for each exam and make it clear if a Key Skills Task is part of an exam or not. The syllabus specifications can be found on our Digital Grades and Certificates page.

How do I access the stimulus for the Key Skills Task?

You can find the stimulus for the Key Skills Tasks for grades and ATCL Performing Speech and Drama Diploma on the relevant webpages. Please note that new stimulus for Key Skills tasks is published fortnightly, on a Thursday. This material is posted at 10:00 UK time.

When does the Key Skills Task need to be submitted?

During the two-week validity period of the stimulus material the candidate must do the following: access the stimulus material for grades or diploma, use that stimulus material for the task, film their performance and then upload the video of their whole exam for assessment. Please make sure that you have followed the instructions for these tasks in the syllabus.

How should I film the exam?

Watch the How to film your Performance video, and download and read the associated filming guidance.

Does my whole body need to be in shot?

Yes, make sure that the candidate’s whole body is in view and they stay in shot for the entire performance. Watch the How to film your Performance video, and download and read the associated filming guidance

Can I submit more than one video?

Unfortunately not. The video of your exam must be filmed in one continuous take.

What size should the video be?

We recommend that your video file size does not exceed 1GB. If your video is larger than that, please consider reducing it by using a video compressor app. Your performance must be captured as one continuous take, ensure your device has enough storage and battery before you begin filming.

Are digital exams regulated in the same way?

Our Digital Grades & Diplomas carry all the same UCAS points at higher grades as our face to face exams – and are regulated and recognised in exactly the same way.

Are online communication skills exams available?

We have a digital version of our Communication Skills solo graded exams for individual candidates. The digital version takes place online via Zoom video conference, it is curently only available in registered private exam centres. 

What are the requirements for the exam?

The content and skills assessed for Communication Skills exams taken online in centres mirrors face-to-face exams with visiting examiners, with some aspects of the process modified for delivery by video-conference. Find our more on our Communication Skills by online delivery pages.

How do I book a communication skills exam online?

This exam is only available to registered private centres in the UK and Ireland. Examination bookings can be made in the usual way. There is a minimum fee of £300/€350 for Communication Skills by online delivery bookings. For assistance with enrolling candidates, please use the help guides found at the top right of the screen once logged into the portal.

Bookings for online Communication Skills examinations can be made for a 3.5-hour period only. This equates to three hours of examining time (incorporating breaks). Timetabling is automatic and breaks will be built in; a 10-minute break will be timetabled every 50 minutes. If a subsequent examination session is booked on the same day, a second examiner will be provided for the later session.