Speaking in Public
About the exam
Speaking in Public exams prepare our learners for a task that daunts so many people. Learners write their own speeches, researching the topics, creating visual aids and presenting them from memory (although they can use notecards, if they prefer).
As they progress through the grades they will develop the ability to speak clearly and project their voice for an audience. They’ll discover the techniques they require to engage an audience and to structure their speech effectively.
At the higher graders, learners will be asked to create an impromptu speech with minimal preparation.
LAMDA is recognised to award qualifications on the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF) in England by the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual), in Wales by Qualifications Wales (QiW), and in Northern Ireland by the Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA).
All Speaking in Public exams are available online.
Younger pupils gain so much confidence in developing their presentation skills from taking LAMDA exams, especially as many schools now have less focus on these abilities.
What does the exam involve?
Type of exam: Solo
Time allowance: 10 minutes
- Delivering a prepared speech from memory, on a set subject
- Answering questions about how the speech was prepared
- A conversation with the examiner (the learner will present the examiner with a choice of two topics)
Please see the LAMDA Communication Graded Examinations Syllabus (2024).
Type of exam: Solo
Time allowance: 15 minutes
- Delivering a prepared speech from memory, on a set subject (at Grades 2 and 3 non-PowerPoint visual aids must be used and referred to)
- A conversation with the examiner (the learner will present the examiner with a choice of topics)
- Answering questions on speech preparation
Please see the LAMDA Communication Graded Examinations Syllabus (2024) for full details.
Type of exam: Solo
Time allowance: 20 minutes
- One prepared speech on a set subject
- One prepared speech on an own choice subject
- Visual aids must be used and referred to for at least one of the two speeches
- A conversation with the examiner about a topic (the examiner will present the learner with a choice of three)
- Answering questions on speech preparation
Please see the LAMDA Communication Graded Examinations Syllabus (2024) for full details.
Type of exam: Solo
Time allowance:
Grades 6 & 7: 40 minutes (this includes 15 minutes for the Learner to prepare their impromptu speech)
Grade 8: 45 minutes (this includes 15 minutes for the learners to prepare their impromptu speech)
- One prepared speech on a set subject
- One prepared speech on an own choice subject
- Visual aids must be used and referred to for at least one of the two speeches
- One impromptu speech on a set topic (the examiner will provide the learner with a choice of three topics)
- Answering questions related to the speeches and technical terminology
Please see LAMDA Communication Graded Examinations Syllabus (2024) for full details.
Requirements
Full details of the requirements, assessment criteria and regulations for each grade can be found in the LAMDA Communication Graded Examinations Syllabus.
2024 (in effect for examinations from 1 August 2024)
As part of the 2024 Syllabus update, Learners are able to perform all pieces in the new Acting Anthology Volume 5 and previous Acting Anthology Volume 4, and all pieces in the new Verse and Prose Anthology Volume 20 and Verse and Prose Anthology Volume 19, for first assessment from 1 August 2024.
Resources & Teaching Materials
Explore our FAQs to find out more about our syllabi and qualifications.
All our syllabi are available for download, or you can purchase our full range of publications from our online shop.
You will need:
- Communication Syllabus from August 2024 (for examinations from 1 August 2024)
These might also be useful:
- Teacher support material graded examinations in Communication
- Knowledge Matters Volume 3
- Speaking Matters Volume 3
