Exams glossary

A guide to the terminology used in describing RAD exams and procedures.

A

Advanced – previous name for what is now Advanced 2.
Advanced 2 – current name for what used to be the Advanced exam.
AEC – Approved Examination Centre. A venue provided by the applicant where all exams except Solo Seal can take place.

C

CCEA – Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (the examinations regulator in Northern Ireland).
CBTS – Certificate in Ballet Teaching Studies.
Closing date – date by which all exam entries should be received for a published session.

D

Diary – former publication replaced by Focus on Members.

E

Elementary – previous name for what is now Intermediate.
Examinations attendant – works in an RAV to ensure the smooth running of exams.

I

Intermediate – previous name for what is now Advanced 1; current name for what used to be Elementary.

N

NCN – NCN is short for ‘National Centre Number’. These are allocated in the UK by the Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ) to an institution such as a school or college. Where a school or college has made a significant contribution towards a candidate’s exam preparation, the NCN can be appended to a candidate’s details. The exam data can then be captured for the Schools and Colleges Achievement and Attainment Table (‘league table’) of that institution.

O

Ofqual – Office of the Qualifications and Examinations Regulator (Ofqual) – the examinations regulator in England.

P

Pre-Elementary – previous name for what is now Intermediate Foundation.
Pre-Intermediate – previous name for what is now Advanced Foundation.

Q

QCF – Qualifications and Credit Framework (withdrawn in 2015).
Qualifications Wales – the examinations regulator in Wales.

R

RAV – RAD Approved Venue, a venue provided by the RAD where all levels of exam can take place, except for Solo Seal.
RAD Registered Teacher – a teacher who has been awarded RAD Registered Teacher Status (RAD RTS).
RQF – Regulated Qualifications Framework.

S

Session – a date range during which exams take place in a particular area, region or country.

T

Technical Supplement – Publication replaced by Focus on Exams.

U

ULN – short for ‘Unique Learner Number’. This must be provided if the candidate wishes their exam results to be uploaded to the Personal Learning Record (PLR). An application for a ULN must be made on behalf of the candidate by a learning provider (usually the candidate’s school or college) to the Learning Records Service (LRS).