BSEH Secondary Dance exam-day guide
BSEH Secondary Dance · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Photo ID matching your registration
Bring the same government-issued photo ID you registered with. Name spelling must match your registration record; if your ID uses a different name form (for example a maiden name or a shortened first name), confirm with the provider in advance what documentation they accept.
Admission or registration confirmation
Print or download your admission ticket or confirmation email showing your candidate number, test site, and reporting time. Some sites require the printed copy, so check the provider's instructions on whether a digital copy is acceptable.
Dance attire and change of clothes
Wear or bring form-fitting dance clothing that lets assessors see alignment and line, plus layers for a cold studio. Bring a second top or shirt in case you sweat through the first before your solo or teaching demonstration.
Dance shoes appropriate to your declared styles
Bring the footwear your technique and performance sections require (for example jazz shoes, ballet slippers, or character shoes). If the exam covers multiple genres, pack each pair and label them. Confirm with the provider whether barefoot or sock work is permitted in any section.
Music and cue sheet for solo or composition work
If your exam includes a self-choreographed solo, bring the audio file on a backup device and a printed cue sheet with track title, length, and start point. Confirm with the provider which file formats and devices the site supports before the day.
Lesson plan or portfolio copies if required
Some practical dance exams ask for a written lesson plan, unit outline, or portfolio to accompany a teaching demonstration. Bring the required number of copies, stapled or bound as specified. Whether this applies to your route is set by the provider, so verify the current candidate handbook.
Water, snack, and light meal
Practical exams run long and involve physical exertion. Bring water and a quick carbohydrate-and-protein snack. Check site rules on food and drink in the studio and where bags may be stored.
Warm-up and cool-down plan written down
Prepare a short personal warm-up you can complete in a hallway or holding area, and know your cool-down. Writing it down keeps you from improvising under stress and helps you manage energy across sections.
Injury or medical documentation
If you have a current injury, pregnancy, or medical condition that affects physical performance, bring any documentation the provider requires and speak to the site coordinator at check-in. Do not assume accommodations carry over automatically; confirm with the provider how to request them.
Backup audio device and batteries
Bring a second device or a USB copy of any music, plus charged batteries or a charger. Technical failure is usually handled at the site's discretion, but arriving with a backup protects your performance time.
Review of the current candidate handbook
Re-read the provider's handbook for reporting time, permitted items, section order, and scoring weights. Details such as timing, number of assessors, and whether you may observe other candidates vary by provider and cycle, so treat the handbook as authoritative.
Arrival plan with buffer time
Plan to arrive well before your reporting time, allowing for transport delays and a warm-up. Confirm the site's policy on late arrival with the provider; do not assume you will be admitted after the scheduled start.
Plan the day
Confirm logistics: reporting time, site entrance, parking or transit, and what the provider permits in the studio. Re-read the candidate handbook sections on section order, time limits, and scoring. Check that your ID name matches your registration and resolve any discrepancy now, not on the day.
Run a full dress rehearsal of every practical component at performance tempo: technique combinations, your solo or composition, and any teaching demonstration with a spoken introduction and cueing. Time each section and note where you run over. Record yourself if possible and review alignment, musicality, and clarity of instruction.
Prepare and pack music files on two devices, print cue sheets, and assemble any written lesson plan or portfolio copies. Test that the audio files play on a device without an internet connection.
Reduce intense training volume. Shift to moderate technique review, marking through combinations, and mobility work. Avoid new choreography or unfamiliar styles that could cause soreness or injury. Prioritize sleep.
Lay out attire, shoes, ID, admission confirmation, music, and documents in one bag. Check the weather and transport plan. Eat familiar meals, hydrate, and avoid alcohol and late screen time. Do a short, gentle warm-up and mentally rehearse the opening minute of each section.
Eat a normal meal with familiar foods, arrive early, and complete your personal warm-up before check-in if the site allows. Keep warm clothing on until you are called. Use the holding time for calm mental rehearsal rather than last-minute cramming of new material.
Listen carefully to instructions and confirm the order of sections and time limits. Introduce yourself and your piece clearly if asked. Perform to the stated counts and time limits, and if you make a mistake, recover and continue rather than restarting unless instructed. For teaching demonstrations, project your voice, give clear cues, and manage the space safely.
Manage energy across sections: sip water between components, stay warm in layers, and use any breaks the provider allows to reset. If equipment fails or you are injured, stop and notify the assessor or site coordinator immediately rather than improvising around it.
Cool down, note which sections felt strong and which were weak while memory is fresh, and confirm with the provider how and when results are released and whether any appeal or re-sit process applies.
Rules to check
Bring the photo ID required by the provider and present it at check-in. If your ID does not match your registration exactly, raise it with the provider before test day; site staff generally cannot waive identity requirements on the spot.
Follow the assessors' instructions on studio entry, section order, and time limits. Do not begin a performance or demonstration before you are directed to start, and stop when time is called.
Keep communication with assessors professional and limited to procedural questions. Do not ask assessors to evaluate your work, reveal scores, or discuss other candidates during the exam.
Use only the music, props, and equipment the provider permits. Confirm in advance whether props, recorded music, or a partner are allowed in your sections; unapproved items may be removed or disregarded.
Respect physical safety and the space: control spacing in group or teaching segments, warm up before demanding movement, and report injury or equipment hazards immediately.
Breaks and observation of other candidates are governed by provider policy and may differ by site. Ask at check-in rather than assuming you may leave the room, use a phone, or watch other candidates.
Scoring is completed by the provider's assessors against published criteria. Do not record audio or video, and do not attempt to influence or dispute scoring during the test; use the provider's formal results or appeal process afterward.
Confirm with the provider in advance how accommodations, late arrival, illness, or technical failure are handled, and follow their notification procedure if any of these occur on the day.