Two hours are allowed for the completion of the paper at all Grades. There are five questions on each paper and 20 marks are allocated to each question.
To Pass 65, with Merit 80, with Distinction 90
Merit is shown as Honours in Ireland
Grade III
The organs of speech; breathing methods; the formation and classification of vowels(including neutral vowel) and consonants, excluding diphthongs, triphthongs, and compound consonants.
Poise, syllabic stress,inflections. The correction of common spoken grammatical errors.
Figures of speech: simile, metaphor and personification. Alliterationand assonance.
To answer questions on an unseen piece of poetry which may include some of the topics listed above.
Grade IV
The organs of speech; breathing methods; the formation and classification of vowels and consonants, including diphthongs, triphthongs, and compound consonants; phrasing; the means of variety in speech (time, pace, pause, pitch, inflection and modulation); to show a knowledge of modern poets and/or dramatists and important works by each. Conversion of Direct Speech to Indirect Speech and vice versa. Poise for reading and reciting; types of verse and prose; rhythm and metre; blank verse; effective reading, including Bible Reading; to give short answers to general questions on any Shakespeare Comedy
Grade V
As for Grade IV; also on tone quality and resonance, gesture, facial expression, characterisation, and on the method of preparing and presenting pieces. To comment on the metre, rhythm, words and ideas, and any poetic devices in a few lines of poetry. To show a knowledge of works by well-known poets and dramatists; techniques in amateur drama; lyric poetry, narrative verse; the sonnet. To give short answers to general questions on any Shakespeare Tragedy
Grade VI
Theory of Speech as for Grades IV and V; also to answer questions on programme building and repertoire, characterisation and interpretation. Brief comments on programme items. (The works appearing in the College’s lists for Speech Grades VII, VIII, Medals and Diplomas will provide a sufficient basis for this); choral speech; speech and drama festivals; also to transcribe a short passage of prose or verse into phonetic script; alternatively to answer questions on the Theatre since Shakespeare's time; and/or on 19th century English poetry. To give short answers to general questions on any Shakespeare History.
PAST PAPERS
Past papers for all four grades are available for practice. An order form showing prices can be obtained by contacting the College.
|