QCAA Dance exam-day guide
QCAA Dance · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Printed or digital exam timetable and venue confirmation
Confirm the exact session time, venue, and reporting time for your practical dance assessment with your school or the assessment provider before the final week. Timings can vary by school and by scheduled session, so confirm with the provider rather than relying on memory.
Photo identification as required
Bring the identification your school or provider requires for verification. The specific acceptable forms of ID are set by the provider, so confirm with the provider which documents are accepted and whether they must be originals.
Performance costume and footwear for each work
Pack every costume, shoe, and accessory needed for each solo or group work you will present. Label items and lay them out the night before so nothing is left behind. Check any costume rules with your teacher, since requirements differ between works.
Music files and backups
Carry your accompaniment audio on the required format plus at least one backup copy on a separate device or drive. Confirm the accepted file format, naming convention, and submission method with the provider, as these details vary between schools and sessions.
Warm-up clothing and layers
Bring warm-up gear so you can stay warm between works and during any waiting periods. Venues are often cool, and cold muscles raise injury risk. Include a towel and a change of clothes if your works require different costumes.
Water, snacks, and any personal medication
Bring water and light food for energy across the session. Carry any prescribed medication you may need, such as inhalers or adrenaline auto-injectors, and tell your supervising teacher where it is. Confirm any venue rules about food and drink with the provider.
Written notes or choreographic documentation if your course requires it
Some practical courses require a choreographic statement, programme notes, or intention statement to accompany the performance. Check the specific requirements and permitted formats with your teacher, and confirm with the provider what may be brought into the assessment space.
Hair, makeup, and first-aid supplies
Pack hair ties, pins, and any stage makeup your works call for, plus basic tape or bandages for minor issues. Practise your performance hair and makeup beforehand so it is quick and reliable on the day.
Know your performance order and cue points
Write down the order of your works, your entrance and exit points, and your music cues. Rehearse these logistics so you can move confidently between works without relying on others to prompt you.
Arrive early and check in
Plan to arrive with time to spare for check-in, changing, and a thorough warm-up. Confirm the reporting time with the provider, as late arrival procedures are set by the school or assessment authority.
Review injury and illness procedures
If you are injured or unwell, tell your teacher before the day. The process for illness or misadventure applications is set by the assessment authority, so confirm with the provider what evidence and timelines apply.
Leave valuables at home
Bring only what you need. Changing areas may not be secure, so leave jewellery and valuables at home and follow any venue rules about phones and recording devices.
Plan the day
Run full rehearsals in costume and footwear, including entrances, exits, and music cues. Record yourself and review against the assessment criteria so you know exactly which performance qualities you are emphasising. Check that costumes are clean and complete, and that music files play correctly on the equipment you will use.
Confirm logistics: venue, reporting time, transport, and what you are permitted to bring into the assessment space. Ask your teacher any outstanding questions and confirm with the provider anything unclear about equipment, music formats, or documentation. Begin tapering high-intensity work to reduce injury risk.
Pack your bag with costumes, shoes, backups of music, water, snacks, medication, and identification. Lay out warm-up clothing. Do a light technical rehearsal or marking session rather than full-out runs. Eat familiar food, hydrate, and prioritise sleep. Avoid trying new skills or new footwear the night before.
Eat a normal breakfast you are used to and hydrate. Arrive at the venue with time for check-in and changing. Complete a thorough warm-up covering mobility, cardio, and specific preparation for each work, then stay warm in layers while you wait.
Perform in the order set by the assessor or session schedule. Introduce yourself if asked, set your starting position clearly, and commit fully to each work. Breathe, recover between works, and refocus rather than dwelling on a mistake. Follow all instructions from assessors and supervisors.
Cool down and change. Check with your teacher about returning any borrowed items and about any paperwork still outstanding. Note anything you want to remember for future performance work, and avoid discussing or comparing performances in a way that distracts others still waiting to present.
Rules to check
Follow all directions from assessors, supervisors, and venue staff. The practical assessment is conducted under the school's and assessment authority's conditions, so confirm with the provider any conduct requirements you are unsure about.
Bring and present the identification required for verification. Acceptable ID and verification procedures are set by the provider, so confirm with the provider in advance rather than assuming.
Do not record, film, or photograph the assessment or other candidates unless explicitly permitted. Rules on devices and recording vary, so confirm with the provider what is allowed in the venue.
Perform only the works you have prepared and entered. Substituting or adding works without approval is not permitted; confirm with the provider how any changes must be requested and by when.
Breaks and rest periods between works are managed by the assessor or session supervisor. Ask before leaving the assessment area, and confirm with the provider any rules about rest, re-warm-up, or time limits between works.
Scoring is based on the assessor's judgement against the syllabus criteria for the practical work, not on comparison with other candidates. The specific criteria, weightings, and marking processes are set by the assessment authority, so confirm with the provider how your performance will be judged.
Declare injuries, illness, or misadventure promptly to your teacher or supervisor. Application processes and evidence requirements are set by the assessment authority, so confirm with the provider what to do and by when.
Treat other candidates, assessors, and venue staff with respect. Keep the changing and waiting areas tidy, stay quiet while others perform, and raise any concerns through your teacher rather than directly with assessors during the session.