All About Ballet

[Emma0710]

CSTD and RAD


I called Le Grand and they told me that their student go to CSTD exam before grade 2, and go to RAD from grade 2.

According them, the reason is that CSTD is more technical requirement and stronger foundation than RAD before grade 2.

Is it true?

[limws1]

Hi Emma,


I strongly suggest you choose either CSTD or RAD and stay with it throughout your child ballet learning.

This is my experience with my daughter’s ballet school. She started off with CSTD. After passing grade 2, her ballet teacher resigned. The new ballet teacher wants to convert her to RAD but refuse to promote her to take RAD grade 3. Instead, she was required to stay back a year to do RAD grade 2.

If you have intention of going for DSA, the higher the grade your child reaches at P6, the better. We have DSA intention so having to retain 1 year to convert from CSTD to RAD is not an option for us. As a result, I have to pull my daughter out from that ballet school because the school refuses to continue her on CSTD.

[lonerunner]

Hi Emma


My child's ballet teacher has the same approach as Le Grand. Start with CSTD first (Tiny Tots >> pre-ballet >> primary >> Grade 1) then switch to RAD grade 2. By the time in PSLE year, just nice ... should have obtained RAD grade 5 (if nothing goes wrong), which can be used for DSA if desired.


Reasons provided:
- CSTD tests only on 1 area (technique).
- RAD tests on 3 areas (techniques, Music and Performance) hence more areas to focus on
- the last reason is something along the line of minimum age required for RAD exam.



Some links to share

For RAD syllabus and exam grades:
http://www.rad.org.uk/achieve/exams

For CSTD exam grades:
http://www.cstd-comdance.com/services.htm

Cheers,

[sembgal]

Hi, here is the marking system for CSTD Ballet Examination


Pass 65 - 69
Pass Plus 70 - 74
Commended 75 - 79
Highly Commended 80 - 84
Honours 85 - 94
Honours Plus 95 - 100

Most students will get Commended or Highly Commended. Only a rare few who are very good to excellent will get Honours or Honours Plus.

lonerunner:

Hi everyone,

I would like to find out more information about CSTD, such as what are the available grades, how marks are awarded etc. Where would be a good place to obtain these details. Many thanks in advance. Cheers

[phtthp]

How about the marking system, for rad ballet ?

Is it similar to above cstd marking system, ie. pass plus is 70 to 74 ?

[lonerunner]

Many thanks sembgal for the details!

[sembgal]

Hi phtthp, I'm not aware of the RAD ballet marking system. My dd took CSTD.

phtthp:

How about the marking system, for rad ballet ?
Is it similar to above cstd marking system, ie. pass plus is 70 to 74 ?

[Honesty]

RAD marking scheme:


0-39 Standard not attained
40-54 Pass (Bronze)
55-74 Pass with Merit (Silver)
75-100 Pass with Distinction (Gold)

[sembgal]

Wow! It looks like RAD scoring is easier to get distinction because the child has to attain at least 75 marks only to get distinction. My girl got between 85 to 94 for her CSTD, so that means if my girl were to do RAD syllabus, she can get distinction easily. Is it? Should I change her to RAD or continue with CSTD?

[Honesty]

sembgal:

Wow! It looks like RAD scoring is easier to get distinction because the child has to attain at least 75 marks only to get distinction. My girl got between 85 to 94 for her CSTD, so that means if my girl were to do RAD syllabus, she can get distinction easily. Is it? Should I change her to RAD or continue with CSTD?

Go check out the RAD website for the criteria and the marking scheme.... I wouldn't say it's easy especially with the introduction of new syllabus.