Well I am in ballet, and I am in one of the 3 park districts in the entire United States that gets to do the Royal Academy of Dance. We learn a set syllabus for the year, then we can take exams on it. An examiner comes from Britain or Italy, this year Italy, watches us dance and takes a grade. Real nerve wrecking experience, but I’ve done it since I was about 8 or so. The grades you can get are:
Does Not Pass
Pass
Pass with Merit
Pass with Commend
Pass with Distinction
Last year I got “Pass with Commend” This year I really wanna try for “Pass with Distinction” so I have to MAKE MYSELF SMILE! I won’t get my result until like July, but I just wanted to tell you guys about it and see if any of you guys have done it. I will tell you about it when I get back, but it won’t be till like 7, because right after it I have auditions for a dance performance group. Wish me luck! Take away my clumsiness, and replace it with gracefullness! MAKE ME SMILE!
I have never taken RAD exams (granted, I’ve never studied the technique either!) but I passed several Levels of Cecchetti exams when I was a teen.
I was always very nervous, and when I get nervous for dance auditions/competitions my arches cramp. There was nothing like trying to stand in fifth position for what seemed like eons, trying to perform pretty port de bras (arm movements) while it felt like someone was grabbing and chewing my feet!
Good Luck 
What are you auditioning for?
Good luck and have fun!
I had RAD classes when I was in the first part of my ballet career (the serious part, before I burned out and went back just for fun). I think we did RAD once or twice a week. But we never had official RAD exams that I remember.
Reading threads like this make me long to be in ballet again. I’ll live vicariously through you; tell us all about it when you get a chance!
And SMILE! and remember that your eyes follow the lines of your arms.
I am back from my exams and auditions. My exam went extremly well I felt, and I remembered to SMILE. The auditions were about half an hour after my exam, and were for the Junior Company. The Company groups dance at shows and nursing homes and such. Anyway, about 10 minutes into the audition, I got a migraine and my concentration was shot. To put it blunty: I danced like shit. I could have danced a ton better, and if I make it I am going to be extremly suprised. The only way I will make it if it looked like I danced well, or since my dance teacher is a judege, she knows I can dance better. So at the moment I don’t have dance until September. If I make the Junior Company, I will be dancing during the summer. If not, shrugs
Marjorie- My teacher might get certified in Cecchetti, so I might do that too.
And when I get nervous or frusterated my large finger knuckles stick out during a port de bras, so I always work hard on port de bras because if I mess a part up, the entire exercise is screwed.