What happens at an ISTD ballet exam
8 June 2026
Every student studying ballet, tap or modern with us follows the ISTD syllabus, using the Cecchetti method for ballet. Once a student turns five, and Miss Jenny feels they're ready, they're invited to sit an exam — usually held in July, here at the academy rather than somewhere unfamiliar.
An examiner watches a small group work through the set exercises for their grade: things like posture, placement, musicality and the specific steps for that level. It's assessed rather than competitive — there's no other candidate to compare against, just the standard for the grade.
These are Ofqual-accredited qualifications, not an internal award, and JC Dance Academy has a 100% pass rate, with a high proportion of merits and distinctions. At the higher grades of ISTD modern, a pass can even carry UCAS points.
None of that means every student has to take one. Plenty of students dance happily for years without ever sitting an exam, and nobody is entered before they're ready. More about ISTD exams at JC Dance Academy.