What are grade exams?
Grade examinations are a series of practical and knowledge-based tests that dancers have the option to take in addition to, instead of, or after their competitive journey. They are not the same as competitive levels and do not count towards moving up. They are also essentially pass/fail, though you do get letter grades instead of numerical scores. Passing all of them is required in order to take your teaching exam.
There are twelve grades in total, including an optional preliminary grade at the start. Each grade includes one or more dances in softshoe, hardshoe, or both, from beginner steps to advanced ones. Higher grades also include a short theoretical quiz on certain céilí dances. Dancers in Ireland must also answer Irish language questions, similar to the TCRG test.
There are no restrictions on who takes grade exams or why, except that dancers must be of a certain age to sit the highest levels.
Grade exams are often hosted in conjunction with a feis or major, but can also be their own event. They are adjudicated by anyone certified as both a TCRG and an ADCRG who has then passsed another certification to become either a BG (Bun Grad, for grades 1-10 only), or the highest level of certification, the SDCRG (Scrúdaithoir Coimisiún Le Rincí Gaelacha).
Why are grade exams?
To quote CLRG's own syllabus, "The purpose of the Grade Examinations Scheme is to provide a structured framework within which dancers can progress towards an achievable goal. The syllabus has been designed to provide a strong foundation in Irish Dance by developing a candidate’s physical skills, stamina, expression, musicality and an appreciation and knowledge of the traditional dances and culture. It provides a worthwhile sense of achievement for individuals whether they dance solely for health, recreation or competitive reasons or hope to pursue a career in Irish dancing."
Essentially, grade exams exist to reinforce the fundamentals of Irish dancing, such as the old figures and compulsories in figure skating and gymnastics. They were first created many years ago in order to provide some guidelines and goals for Irish dancers in areas with few or no accessible feiseanna. They became globally adopted in 2013.
In 2018, they became required for anyone seeking their TCRG. (And as someone who finished their &over competitive career in the 2000s and had taken only one lesson with a TCRG since 2006, I feel like anyone who competed before 2018 should have been automatically grandfathered in. But the cynic's view says this requirement is purely for financial reasons, and that's why we can't petition out of it. C'est la vie.)
How do they work? (And how do you do the céilí portions?)
The bare bones rundown is this:
You must wear neutral practice clothing (usually black) rather than costumes. If you've done grade exams before, bring all previous certificates and notes.
The organizers of the event will have given out a schedule, and that's when you show up.
Spectators are not allowed.
Each examiner will have their own method for how they want to assess the dancers, whether it's lining everyone up and going down the line like a feis (except you dance one at a time), or assessing dancers one-on-one. You dance your steps, bow, and you're done. Sometimes you're allowed to sit or leave the staging area. Sometimes you stand there until everyone is finished.
The examiner will be writing the entire time, and writing a lot after, which is the point. They have more time to absorb what you're doing than they would at a feis. You get much more specific feedback.
You're allowed to restart any dance you feel you messed up. You're also allowed to do each step with a pause between, rather than as a full. It's not meant to be competitive and high stress, and your examiner should want to be helpful and encouraging. They should recognize that there are dancers from a wide range of backgrounds who show up, from young beginners to retired dancers who want to sit their TCRG.
If you're doing more than one grade (you can do a max of three at a time), you move on to the next once you've passed the first, and you receive your certificates and notes at the end of the exam. The letter grade is achieved by averaging the letter grades of the dances you performed. So, for example, Grade 1 consists of an easy reel and light jig. If you got a B in the reel and an A in the light jig, you'd get a B+ overall. You can pass with a D-.
As for the céilí portions, which begin in Grade 5, you will be asked oral questions about the dance. Usually only one or two questions per dancer, but every examiner is different. Unlike the teaching exam, there is no practical or written portion. As an example, an examiner might ask you what type of dance the Seige of Ennis is. You would answer progressive. They might ask you to explain what progessive means. You would tell them the dance keeps repeating until the music stops. Then you're done.
More on the céilí portion
To calm some nerves as much as I can, I've compiled some examples of the types of questions examiners have asked, as well as study tips.
Make sure your teacher gives you the instructions of the céilí dances as they appear in the official CLRG book. This is the basis for the questions and the answers, and the examiner will want you to be specific and to use the correct names and terms. If you feel like it, you can buy the TCRG study guide from CLRG's website. That's what I did, and now I have a copy of the book and a DVD I use for reference.
What type of/formation is [dance]? Could mean progressive, a 4 hand, an 8 hand, etc.
What does [type of/formation] mean? What is a progressive dance, a 4 hand, etc.
What rhythm/timing is [dance]? Jig, reel, reel and jig, etc.
Is there a set tune for this dance? Yes or no, traditionally but no longer required, a tune of the same name, multiple tunes (name them), etc.
How many couples are in [dance]? How are they positioned at the start? Is it any number of two couples, or four couples, or eight couples? How are they facing the top of the room (the examiner will tell you what they consider the top of the room)?
How many parts does [dance] have? Name them in order. For example, Walls of Limerick has four parts: Advance and Retire, Half Right and Left, Dance with Opposite, and Swing Around.
How many figures does [dance] have? Name them. For example, the 4 Hand Reel has two figures: Figure of Eight and Ring of Three, and the Ladies' Chain.
How many bars total is [dance]? Or, how many bars is [this part of the dance]? Each of the four parts of Walls of Limerick, for example, is 8 bars. Therefore, the total number of bars is 32. For more complex dances, you may be asked how many bars is the lead around, body, a movement in the body, or a figure.
How is [X part of dance] performed? This may include explaining how a set of sides finishes with two threes or the rising step, or a lead around consists of sixteen bars of the promenade step, reversing direction after the first eight bars, or that the ladies cross to the left, facing each other. Be specific. Use the official text as your guide.
The céilí questions do not count towards your overall grade, but they are meant to approximate the expectations of sitting the teaching exam. As I've mentioned repeatedly, specificity is important. You should use terminology that matches the book, even if it's not what you use in class. Keep your answer brief. Don't feel like you need to provide even more information than what was asked.
The key things to memorize are the following: name of the dance, type of the dance (its formation), number of couples, the timing (reel, jig, or otherwise), the tune name (if it has one), the movements and their exact names, and the bars.
Other things to remember: skips are called the promenade step, back23s are two threes, the jig step (hop hop back hop back234) has specific names: if the jig step is performed on the right and left, it's called rise and grind. If the jig step is performed at the end of a sidestep or just once, it's the rising step. If performed on the same foot twice, it's sink and grind.
Questions that I have heard or had:
How many grades can you do at one exam, and how often can you take an exam? You can sit a maximum of three grades at a time every three months. However, dancers usually sit higher grades two at a time, and 11 and 12 must be examined by different people.
Can you retake a grade if you want a chance to improve your score? Yes, but it will automatically replace your previous score.
How often to people fail? It's difficult to fail. You can pass with a 50%, so unless you quit or improv an entire St. Patrick's Day, you'll be fine.
Is it okay if my buckles are on, or I have my feis tan, or I'm wearing a blackout costume, or a school shirt, or bright colors, etc.? You'll probably only be asked to change if you come in your solo or school costume, or maybe street clothes (jeans). I've seen school shirts and blackout dress, I've worn buckles, girls still have their tans from the previous day's feis. None of that is factored into the score and therefore, barring a really really really strict examiner, you'll be fine as you are. Just seriously don't wear your costume and wig.
What if I can't answer the céilí questions? The céilí portion is theoretical knowledge and doesn't factor into your score, so you won't fail. You'll just get notes about brushing up your knowledge or something. But make your teachers proud and study! Céilí is essential to Irish dance. Plus, you'll have to stand there looking clueless in front of a bunch of people, and an examiner who might judge you at a feis someday.
How will I know what the top of the room is when answering céilí questions? The examiner will tell you. If they don't, ask them, or designate it yourself when explaining. Usually, where the examiner sits is the top of the room.
Can I repeat a step in different dances? Sure. It can be a lot of steps to know, especially if you're taking beginner grades as an experienced dancer who doesn't remember their beginner steps. You can have a slip jig of three lead arounds. You can do your beginner slip jig step in the primary/novice slip jig grade. Contemporary sets have different rules, however, and you cannot repeat them from one grade to another. But you can take one dance and shift it a little to fit into another tune.
If you're doing more than one grade at a time, can you run through all the softshoe or hardshoe dances at once to avoid so many shoe changes? Nope. You must complete and pass each grade in order to do the next. Don't tape up your shoes except if you need to keep them on. Invest in elastics like the olden days to make it easier.
Why should I/my kid take them? If you want to be a certified teacher, you have to take them. Otherwise, you don't have to take them at all. If you like goals for learning and improvement outside of traditional competition, grade exams provide a great sense of official accomplishment. You get certificates and then a diploma! If you like learning about Irish dancing, this gives you a lot to chew on. As far as your kid is concerned, it's encouraged for dancers to start early so that they're taking grades when they're also learning the steps in those grades, rather than growing up and having to cram everything they forgot. The average time it takes for most adults to complete the grades is five years, but kids will have way more time and don't have to feel any pressure. You have to be sixteen or seventeen to complete 11 and 12, anyway. Maybe your kid is unsure about competing but wants benchmarks or a chance to see what it might be like. They can take one exam at a time and see if the experience of being judged is something they can handle. The usual bit of advice is to just do them and get it over with. You never know if you'll want to get your TCRG someday.