Dancing Proficiency Assessment Guidelines for Organisers and Candidates

Preparation

• Applications for assessment, accompanied by the relevant fee, should be made by the organisers (or the candidates, in the case of Summer School) at least six weeks before the desired date of assessment.  N.B. there is a requirement for candidates to attend a course of a minimum of five hours, in preparation for each assessment.  This course is not intended to teach the dances and the technique required, merely to polish the presentation of the dances prior to assessment.
• The Examination & Training Committee will appoint two assessors, one a Society examiner and the other an experienced teacher.
• Before the start of the assessment, the RSCDS Examinations Officer will fill in names and  Branch on the result forms and send them to the assessors. Extra blank result forms will also be sent to the assessors.
• The organisers are required to prepare two copies of the list of candidates which shows the order of dancing during the assessment. These lists are to be given to the assessors on    the day if the assessment.
• In planning the timetable for the assessments, organizers should allow 10-12 minutes per candidate for assessment plus 6-7 minutes for completion of paperwork for each candidate.
• The organisers are required to arrange a teacher and music for the course and assessment, a suitable hall for the course and assessment and local accommodation/hospitality for the assessors.  The organisers are also required to arrange for a steward or stewards to manage the entry and exit of candidates to the assessment hall.
• Assessors’ travel expenses, accommodation and hospitality will be covered by the assessment centre. Assessors’ fees for assessing each candidate will be paid by the RSCDS.

Cancellation

• A candidate who is unable to take the examination due to illness or other emergency after he/she has paid the examination fee may apply for a refund within 2 weeks of the event.

The Assessment

• The assessors will ask the candidates if they wish to recap the dances.
• As well as dancing the required number of set dances, dancers will be asked to dance two sets of 16 bar phrases (or two sets of two 8 bar phrases) one in strathspey time and one in quick time to demonstrate formations or steps,  specified by the assessor.  The formations will be selected from the list of required formations for the appropriate level. 

Results

• The results will be sent out by the RSCDS Examinations Officer, ordinarily within 14 working days of the date of the assessment.  To avoid any breach of confidentiality, results will not be given out over the telephone.