2026 RAD Vocational and Discovering Repertoire Examinations: Done and Dusted
The 2026 RAD Vocational Graded and Discovering Repertoire examinations for Jiayin MasterClass students are now complete.
Today, Vivian and Stephanie completed their Advanced 1 examinations and Discovering Repertoire Level 3. Tim completed Advanced Foundation and Discovering Repertoire Level 3.
Last week, Amy, Alyssa, Cece and Isabella completed Intermediate Foundation. Sienna and Tiffany completed the same level today.
Nearly six years of vocational training
For nearly six years, Jiayin MasterClass has had students training for and sitting RAD Vocational Graded examinations. During this time, our students have progressed through the vocational levels, including Advanced 1 and Advanced 2, earned formal RAD qualifications, and achieved consistently strong results.
This experience reflects the depth and continuity of our ballet training. Preparing for a vocational examination takes more than learning a set of exercises. Students need to build secure technique over time, understand how and why movements work, and develop the strength, stamina and discipline to apply that understanding throughout a demanding examination.
What does RAD Advanced 1 assess?
Advanced 1 asks for a considered and mature approach to increasingly complex classical ballet work. The examination assesses candidates across a series of components, including barre, port de bras, centre practice and pirouettes, adage, allegro, pointe work for the female syllabus, and a classical variation.
The examiner assesses much more than whether a step has been remembered or completed. RAD’s criteria include:
- secure posture and correct weight placement
- coordination of the whole body and controlled, accurate movement
- clarity of line, spatial awareness and appropriate dynamics
- the technical quality of turns, jumps and pointe work
- accurate timing and responsiveness to phrasing, accents and musical style
- interpretation, expression, communication and projection in performance
A strong result requires consistency across the examination. For Advanced 1 and Advanced 2, candidates must achieve the minimum mark in every component to pass overall; a high overall mark depends on combining technical security with musical understanding and convincing performance.
These standards call for a dancer who can think, listen and respond while moving: maintaining alignment and control through complex sequences, using space with intention, adapting movement to the music, and communicating the character and quality of a variation to an audience. This combination of physical, musical and artistic skills is central to advanced ballet training.
Discovering Repertoire: technique in the service of performance
Alongside the Vocational Graded examinations, students also completed Discovering Repertoire Level 3. This is a separate RAD programme focused on classical ballet repertoire. It gives dancers the opportunity to explore the style and character of classical works while developing the technique, musicality and interpretation needed to perform them with understanding.
Celebrating this year’s candidates
We are proud of Vivian, Stephanie, Tim, Amy, Alyssa, Cece, Isabella, Sienna and Tiffany for the commitment they have shown throughout their preparation. Completing an examination is an important milestone: it represents months of focused work, perseverance and growth.
Thank you to our teachers for their care and expertise, and to the families who have supported the students throughout the examination period.
Next week, AEC examinations from Primary to Grade 6 will be held at the Jiayin MasterClass studio. We wish all candidates the very best.