Ballet Grades and Ages: RAD, ISTD, IDTA, bbodance and IBDP

Whether you are a parent looking to understand your child’s ballet report card, a student aiming for vocational training, or a teacher choosing the right syllabus for your studio, understanding the different ballet examining bodies is crucial.

In Ireland and the UK, several internationally recognized organizations regulate dance training. While all aim to promote high standards of classical ballet, they differ in their history, teaching methods, and examination styles.

Here is a comprehensive breakdown of the major ballet examination boards to help you understand which path is right for your dancer's journey.

Quick Comparison Table: Ballet Exam Boards at a Glance

This table is designed to give parents, students, and teachers a quick overview of what each board specialises in.

Ballet grades and ages, board by board

The main UK boards share a broad shape: introductory levels, a numbered graded ladder, then vocational levels for dancers heading towards serious training. The detail differs more than most comparisons admit. The graded ladder runs from five grades to eight, the minimum ages vary, and pointe work starts at a different point on each board. Ireland's own board, the IBDP, works differently again, with named Junior and Senior levels and a performance-based approach.

The ages below are each board's own published minimum entry age, taken from its current exam specification. They are the earliest a dancer can sit the exam, not the age they should be. A dancer moves up when their teacher judges them ready, and none of these boards sets a maximum age.

RAD (Royal Academy of Dance)

RAD's graded and vocational ladders overlap. Grades 6 to 8 and Intermediate Foundation all open at age 11, so an older RAD student often works a graded exam and a vocational exam in the same year.

ISTD (Imperial Classical Ballet)

ISTD's graded ballet stops at Grade 6, and this is where it differs most from RAD. Pointe work first appears in Grade 6, for candidates on the Option A pathway; Option B takes virtuosity work such as tours en l'air instead. ISTD places Grade 6 at the same regulated level as its Intermediate exam, one level above Intermediate Foundation. Intermediate Foundation is optional, and each vocational exam after it must be passed before the next.

Alongside the grades, ISTD runs ten Class Examinations (Pre-Primary to Class Examination 8). They are not regulated qualifications, and they are designed to work in tandem with the grades, so a teacher can enter students for either strand. ISTD also runs a separate Cecchetti Classical Ballet syllabus with its own exams, shown next.

ISTD (Cecchetti Classical Ballet)

Cecchetti runs two ladders side by side. The Standards are its Class Examinations, a separate strand from Grades 1 to 6, so a Cecchetti Standard is not a grade, although the ages line up (Standard 6 and Grade 6 both open at 11). The Cecchetti grades sit at the same RQF levels as the Imperial grades, with Grade 6 at Level 3. Unlike Imperial, Cecchetti brings in pointe work at Intermediate Foundation rather than in Grade 6.

IDTA (International Dance Teachers' Association)

IDTA graded ballet runs to Grade 5: its Grade 6 Ballet qualification was withdrawn in 2014, and IDTA's Grade 6 now exists only in Latin. Its vocational ballet levels start at Intermediate, with no Intermediate Foundation. IDTA's specification sets no minimum ages and no prerequisites for these exams, so placement is left to the teacher.

NATD (National Association of Teachers of Dancing)

NATD's ballet syllabus runs from Class and Preliminary levels through Grades 1 to 8, and its exams can be taken from age four. Its graded ballet exams can be referred to in a UCAS application, with tariff points only at Level 3 (Grades 6 to 8 and Intermediate). NATD also examines Classic (Russian) Ballet as a separate genre.

bbodance (British Ballet Organization)

bbodance matches RAD's length, running to Grade 8 before the vocational levels, but its ages come later: Grade 6 at 14 and Grade 8 at 16. They are recommendations rather than rules, as bbodance exams are open to candidates of any age. Pointe work starts at Intermediate Foundation, for candidates on the Option A syllabus.

How the levels line up across boards

No board publishes a table matching its grades to another board's. The closest official comparison is the UK's Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF), which each UK board uses to set the level of every exam. Read across, it shows why two grades with the same number on different boards are not always the same step.

On this measure, ISTD Grade 6 sits at the same level as RAD Intermediate, and RAD Advanced Foundation at the same level as ISTD Intermediate. Advanced 1 and Advanced 2 sit at Level 4 on every board. A dancer who already holds an Intermediate or Advanced 1 ballet certificate from another Ofqual-approved board can apply to ISTD for exemption from that exam and enter the next level. Below that, a teacher places a dancer who changes boards by assessing them in class.

UCAS points follow the same framework. RAD and ISTD award tariff points for their Level 3 exams only, and bbodance lists its Level 3 exams (Grades 6 to 8 and Intermediate) as carrying them. Advanced 1 and Advanced 2 are Level 4 qualifications and do not appear on the RAD or ISTD tariff tables.

IBDP (Irish Board of Dance Performance)

The IBDP is the only Irish-based board here, and the odd one out by design. Rather than numbered grades and vocational exams, it uses named Junior and Senior levels and a performance-based approach, marking each exam Pass, Merit, Highly Commended or Distinction. Its syllabus has no pointe work or vocational levels, so it suits dancers who love to perform more than those set on a UK vocational pathway.

Detailed Breakdown of the Examining Bodies

1. Royal Academy of Dance (RAD)

Founded in 1920, the RAD is one of the largest and most influential dance education organizations in the world.

• For Parents: If your child takes RAD exams, their qualifications are recognized globally. The syllabus incorporates classical ballet, free movement, and character dance, making it engaging for children.

• For Students: The RAD offers a clear "Vocational Graded" path (Intermediate Foundation up to Advanced 2 and Solo Seal) for those wanting to dance professionally. Higher grades carry UCAS tariff points.

• For Teachers: Becoming an RAD Registered Teacher offers immense prestige, access to excellent CPD (Continuing Professional Development), and a vast global network.

2. Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (ISTD)

The ISTD is renowned for its technical rigor and covers a massive variety of dance styles. In ballet, they offer two distinct methods: Imperial Classical Ballet (an English style) and the Cecchetti Method (an Italian style known for intricate footwork and pure lines).

• For Parents: ISTD exams demand a very high standard of technique. It is a fantastic board for building strong, disciplined dancers.

• For Students: Vocational exams are highly respected by professional ballet companies and full-time dance colleges.

• For Teachers: The ISTD provides some of the most rigorous teacher training in the industry, ensuring instructors have a deep biomechanical understanding of dance.

3. International Dance Teachers' Association (IDTA)

The IDTA is one of the world's largest dance teaching organizations. It is known for being highly inclusive and adaptable.

• For Parents: The IDTA focuses heavily on the joy of dance alongside technique. They offer "Medal Tests" alongside traditional grading, which is great for keeping younger students motivated.

• For Students: A great pathway for versatile dancers who want to train in ballet alongside tap, modern, and street dance under the same organization.

• For Teachers: Offers flexible syllabi that allow teachers to adapt to the physical capabilities of their students.

4. bbodance (formerly British Ballet Organisation - BBO)

Founded in 1930 by Edouard Espinosa, the British Ballet Organization now trades as bbodance. Its current Classical Ballet syllabus was created in the mid-1980s by Anne Heaton and John Field.

• For Parents: bbodance focuses strongly on musicality and safe dance practice. It has a beautiful, traditional feel to its syllabus.

• For Students: They offer an excellent Scholars Scheme for talented students, providing extra pre-vocational training alongside their regular studio classes.

• For Teachers: Known for being an incredibly supportive "family-like" organization with highly respected, regulated teaching qualifications.

5. Associated Board of Dance (A.B.D.)

A.B.D. examines in several branches, including ballroom and theatre dance. Ballet sits in its Theatre Branch alongside three other styles, and that branch is accredited by GQAL and Ofqual.

• For Parents & Students: A.B.D. offers graded exams from Grade 1 to Grade 8, vocational exams and medal tests.

• For Teachers: A school that teaches ballet alongside other theatre styles can enter all of them with one board.

6. British Theatre Dance Association (BTDA)

The BTDA offers regulated qualifications and is heavily focused on theatre arts.

• For Parents: Excellent for children who love the stage and theatricality, not just the strict classical elements.

• For Students: Offers regulated qualifications (including UCAS points) and provides performance awards that help build a rounded theatrical resume.

• For Teachers: Great for schools that run annual productions and want an exam board that complements a performance-heavy studio culture.

7. Association of Russian Ballet and Theatre Arts (A.R.B.T.A)

Founded in 1996, A.R.B.T.A promotes Russian classical ballet in the system, style and traditions of Legat and Vaganova. Its graded, major and professional exams are accredited through GQAL, an Ofqual-regulated awarding organisation.

• For Parents: If your school uses this board, your child is learning the Russian school of classical ballet rather than an English or Italian method.

• For Students: A.R.B.T.A describes its training as running from student to professional level.

• For Teachers: Requires specialized knowledge of the Russian method to teach effectively.

8. Irish Board of Dance Performance (IBDP)

A fantastic domestic organization, the IBDP takes a slightly different approach by focusing heavily on performance rather than strict, syllabus-driven technical exams.

• For Parents: A wonderful option for building a child's confidence. Instead of feeling the pressure of a strict classical exam, students are graded on their stage presence, musicality, and joy of movement.

• For Students: A great way to gain performance experience and feedback from professional adjudicators in a supportive environment.

• For Teachers: Perfect for Irish studios looking for an inclusive, stress-free examination experience that rewards creativity and choreographic freedom.

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Which Exam Board is the "Best"?

There is no single "best" exam board. For parents, the most important factor is finding a teacher who is passionate, qualified, and creates a safe environment. For vocational students, full-time schools audition the dancer, and the regulated vocational levels from RAD, ISTD, bbodance and IDTA are a structured way to prepare. For teachers, the choice often comes down to which syllabus best fits their personal training background and the specific culture of their dance school.

Ready to learn more about the methods behind the exams?