Gradings

Gradings are an important part of the learning process - both for the student and the instructor. It is the best way to evaluate a student's progress, their ability to perform under pressure and for the instructor to clearly identify strengths and weaknesses for futher development.

Next grading sessions...

Friday
23rd October

Sunday
25th October

Friday
11th December

Sunday
13th December

What are gradings?

Gradings are a formal assessment of a student's abilities, including their knowledge of techniques and their ability to perform under pressure. Whilst they can be stressful, they are intended to capture a snapshot of how a student can perform on any given day, rather than the best performance they can produce.

Conducting gradings

Gradings are conducted within dedicated sessions throughout the year (usually 4-6 sessions). Two or more instructors (including the student's regular instructor) will conduct the assessment.

Marking

Each technique performed is marked individually. The base score of zero indicates the student performed the technique at the level required for the grade they are attempting. Marks are awarded or taken away if the technique is performed better or worse than the grade standard.

+2 marks = Very good, well above the standard expected.

+1 mark = Good, above the standard expected.

0 marks = Satisfactory, at the standard expected for the grade.

-1 mark = Poor, below the standard expected.

-2 marks = Very poor, well below the standard expected or containing critical errors.

The scores for all techniques are tallied, with a weighting being applied based on the type of technique being marked. An overall score of zero being a pass.

Feedback

Students will receive verbal feedback and will have the opportunity to review their marks immediately after the grading has concluded. In most cases they will already have a very good idea of how they did and what went well!

FAQ's

Can I come and watch?

Yes - parents, relatives and friends of those being graded are welcome to come and watch.

We also encourage students to watch those attempting 1-2 grades higher than themselves if there are any in the same session, as it's a valuable insight into what is expected for the next grade.

How long do I need to wait between gradings?

There is no set time period between gradings - you grade when you are ready.

When am I/my child ready to grade?

In the first few grades, your instructor will provide guidance around when you are ready to grade. As you become more experienced, you are expected to rely less on this and more on your own assessment of your abilities. Some good indications you are ready to grade include:

You know all the techniques in your grade when looking at the syllabus and can demonstrate how to perform them.
You have practised the techniques with the people who are attacking the grading, and they are comfortable and familiar with what is expected of them.