NZ Scholarship Dance exam-day guide
NZ Scholarship Dance · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Printed or digital exam admission slip / entry confirmation
NZ Scholarship Dance is assessed through a performance/portfolio submission and, where relevant, an external assessment session. Carry whatever entry confirmation your school's dance teacher or NZQA liaison gave you. Confirm with the provider exactly what documentation is required on the day and in what format.
Photo identification
Bring government-issued photo ID (passport or driver licence) in case identity verification is requested at the venue. Whether ID is checked at Scholarship Dance assessment sessions is not something to assume - confirm with the provider in advance.
Performance costume and footwear, labelled
Pack every costume, shoe, and accessory needed for your submitted/assessed choreography. Label each item with your name and candidate number. Bring a spare pair of tights or socks and any tape or grips you rely on.
Music files in more than one format
Bring your accompaniment on a USB drive and a backup copy (second USB or a device your teacher controls), clearly labelled with your name, candidate number, track title, and exact start/stop points. Confirm the accepted file format and playback setup with the provider beforehand.
Warm-up and cool-down kit
Bring layers, a foam roller or ball if you use one, resistance band, water bottle, and a small towel. A full warm-up protects against injury and lets you perform at full range from the first count.
Choreographic notes and cue sheet
A one-page cue sheet listing your work's title, intention, choreographic devices, and the structural landmarks you want to speak to. This supports any verbal discussion of your work; check with the provider whether notes may be consulted during the session.
Written programme notes / intention statement
Prepare a concise statement of your choreographic intention, the influences and processes behind the work, and how it reflects the dance ideas you studied. Keep a copy for yourself and one for the assessor if the provider permits.
Know your candidate number and session time
Write your candidate number and reporting time on your hand or phone lock screen. Arrive earlier than the reporting time to allow for changing, warm-up, and sound checks.
Read the current NZQA Scholarship Dance assessment specification
The specification sets the assessment format, submission requirements, and the standard against which work is judged. Read the version current for your year on the NZQA website and note anything you are unsure about to ask your teacher.
Confirm venue, access, and equipment with the provider
Ask in advance about floor type, available sound equipment, changing rooms, and whether you may run your work in the space before assessment. Do not assume a sprung floor or a particular playback system will be available.
Plan recovery and nutrition
Bring water and a light snack you have tested before. Avoid trying new foods, supplements, or intense training loads on exam day.
Backup plan for injury or illness
Know your school's and NZQA's processes for derived grades or impaired performance should injury or illness affect you. Confirm the exact process and deadlines with the provider rather than relying on memory.
Plan the day
Run your work in full, in costume, with the actual music and the exact timing you will use. Record it and watch the recording once for structure and once for performance quality. Fix only what is clearly broken; do not rebuild choreography at this stage.
Re-read the current Scholarship Dance assessment specification and cross-check every requirement against what you have prepared: music format, written statement, costume, and any submitted documentation. List anything unresolved and email your teacher the same day.
Prepare and label your music backups and cue sheet, and pack your costume bag. Doing this early means the final 24 hours are for rehearsal and rest, not admin.
Rehearse your verbal commentary on the work: intention, choreographic process, use of devices, and the dance ideas and influences you drew on. Practise saying it in 2–3 minutes, then in 30 seconds.
Do one full run-through with a trusted peer or teacher watching, and ask for feedback on clarity of intention and performance presence rather than on steps. Note two or three adjustments only.
Do a light technical rehearsal - mark through rather than full-out - focusing on spatial pathways, transitions, and the opening and closing moments. Finish with a thorough cool-down and stretching.
Lay out costume, shoes, ID, admission documentation, music backups, water, snack, and warm-up kit by the door. Charge any devices and set two alarms.
Eat a normal meal, hydrate, and prioritise sleep over last-minute practice. Fatigue is the biggest avoidable risk to a performance assessment.
Eat a familiar breakfast, arrive early, and complete a full warm-up before your scheduled slot - not just before you are called. Include mobilising, cardio to raise body temperature, and dynamic stretching specific to your work's demands.
Walk your spatial pathways in the space if access is allowed, check the music playback and volume, and confirm your cue points with whoever operates the sound.
Before you begin, take one breath and settle your focus on your intention for the work. Perform the opening with full commitment; assessors form a strong first impression in the first 15 seconds.
If something goes wrong - a slip, a missed cue, a music glitch - keep performing and recover within the choreography. Do not stop, apologise, or restart unless the assessor directs you to.
In any discussion or interview, answer specifically: name the choreographic devices, the movement vocabulary, the influences, and the choices you made and why. Use dance terminology accurately and connect your work to the ideas you studied.
After performing, cool down and change into dry clothes. Stay available until you are formally released in case the assessor has follow-up questions.
Rules to check
Bring and be ready to present government-issued photo ID if asked; whether it is required at Scholarship Dance assessment sessions should be confirmed with the provider in advance.
Follow the provider's instructions on arrival, sign-in, changing, and access to the performance space. Do not enter or use the space before you are authorised to.
Use only the music, costume, and equipment you have declared and prepared. If you need to change anything on the day, ask the assessor or session supervisor first.
Perform only your own original choreography. Clearly acknowledge any movement material developed collaboratively or drawn from another artist, and follow your school's and NZQA's guidance on authenticity and referencing.
Do not record or photograph other candidates' performances, and do not discuss or share your choreography with candidates who have not yet been assessed.
If you need a break, water, or to adjust costume or footwear, ask the assessor or supervisor rather than leaving the session unannounced. Confirm the provider's break policy beforehand.
Understand how your work will be judged: Scholarship Dance rewards sustained, integrated performance and choreographic understanding at a level beyond Level 3, not just technical execution. Read the current assessment specification for the exact standard.
If injury, illness, or another impairment affects your performance, tell your teacher and follow the official derived grade or impaired performance process. Confirm the process and deadlines with the provider - do not assume they match other examinations.