GCSE Drama Written Exam Section A Mark Scheme

Genre, Period, Style First Ideas

Candidates will display a thorough knowledge and understanding of ideas and practical details in the chosen area. Explanations of the development and progress of performance, design or technical contributions will be very clear and there will be a very clear understanding of the interaction of different elements. Information is exceptionally wellorganised, presented very clearly and fluently in a form that suits its purpose. The text is clearly legible. Candidates spell, punctuate and use the rules of grammar accurately, enabling their meaning to be clearly understood. Candidates will display a good knowledge and understanding of ideas and practical details in the chosen area. Explanations of the development and progress of performance, design or technical contributions will be clear and there will be clear understanding of the interaction of different elements. Information is well-organised and presented clearly with some fluency in a form that suits its purpose. The text is legible. Candidates spell, punctuate and use the rules of grammar accurately enabling their meaning to be understood. Candidates will display a reasonable knowledge and understanding of ideas and practical details in the chosen area. Explanations of the development and progress of performance, design or technical contributions will be competent and there will be some recognition of the interaction of different elements. Information is clearly presented in a

Improvements during Process

Candidates will give a well-reasoned explanation of the improvements made during the rehearsals and will offer full and detailed justification. Information is exceptionally wellorganised, presented very clearly and fluently in a form that suits its purpose. The text is clearly legible. Candidates spell, punctuate and use the rules of grammar accurately, enabling their meaning to be clearly understood.

Strengths and Weaknesses

Candidates will very clearly explain their strengths and weaknesses and will give well-reasoned opinions as to how these affected the final performance, and will offer full and detailed justification. Information is exceptionally wellorganised, presented very clearly and fluently in a form that suits its purpose. The text is clearly legible. Candidates spell, punctuate and use the rules of grammar accurately, enabling their meaning to be clearly understood.

Band 1 (9-10 marks)

Candidates will demonstrate a thorough knowledge and understanding of the nature of the practical work undertaken and will be able to state very clearly the style, genre, period, target audience and performance space chosen and the use of technical and design elements. Information is exceptionally wellorganised, presented very clearly and fluently in a form that suits its purpose. The text is clearly legible. Candidates spell, punctuate and use the rules of grammar accurately, enabling their meaning to be clearly understood. Candidates will demonstrate a good knowledge and understanding of the nature of the practical work undertaken and will be able to state clearly the style, genre, period, target audience and performance space chosen and the use of technical and design elements. Information is well-organised and presented clearly with some fluency in a form that suits its purpose. The text is legible. Candidates spell, punctuate and use the rules of grammar accurately enabling their meaning to be understood. Candidates will demonstrate a reasonable knowledge and understanding of the nature of the practical work undertaken and will be able to state some of the following: style, genre, period, target audience and performance space chosen and the use of technical and design elements. Information is clearly presented in a

Band 2 (7-8 marks)

Candidates will give a clear explanation of improvements made during the rehearsals, offering good justification. Information is well-organised and presented clearly with some fluency in a form that suits its purpose. The text is legible. Candidates spell, punctuate and use the rules of grammar accurately enabling their meaning to be understood.

Candidates will clearly explain their strengths and weaknesses and will give clear opinions on the effectiveness of their contribution in performance or design or technical aspects, offering good justification. Information is well-organised and presented clearly with some fluency in a form that suits its purpose. The text is legible. Candidates spell, punctuate and use the rules of grammar accurately enabling their meaning to be understood.

Band 3 (5-6 marks)

Candidates will give a reasonably argued explanation of improvements made during the rehearsals, offering reasonable justification. Information is clearly presented in a form that suits its purpose. The text is legible. Candidates generally spell, punctuate and use the rules of grammar accurately. Although there

Candidates will competently explain their strengths and weaknesses and will give opinions as to how these affected the final performance, offering reasonable justification. Information is clearly presented in a form that suits its purpose. The text is legible. Candidates generally spell, punctuate and use the rules of grammar accurately. Although there

Band 4 (3-4 marks)

form that suits its purpose. The text is legible. Candidates generally spell, punctuate and use the rules of grammar accurately. Although there may be some errors, the meaning is clear. Candidates will demonstrate a limited knowledge and understanding of the nature of the practical work undertaken and will be able to state in a limited way the style, genre, period, target audience and performance space chosen and the use of technical and design elements. Most of the information is presented in a form that suits its purpose. Generally, the text is legible. Although there are errors in spelling, punctuation and grammar, the meaning can be understood.

Band 5 (0-2 marks)

Candidates will demonstrate a basic knowledge and understanding of the nature of the practical work undertaken and will attempt a response on the style, genre, period, target audience and performance space chosen and the use of technical and design elements. Some of the information is presented in a form that suits its purpose. Some of the text is legible. Although there are many errors in spelling, punctuation and grammar, the meaning can be understood.

form that suits its purpose. The text is legible. Candidates generally spell, punctuate and use the rules of grammar accurately. Although there may be some errors, the meaning is clear. Candidates will display a limited knowledge and understanding of ideas and practical details in the chosen area. Some explanations of the development and progress of performance, design or technical contributions will be suggested, but these will demonstrate limited awareness of requirements for the realisation of the project for presentation to an audience. Most of the information is presented in a form that suits its purpose. Generally, the text is legible. Although there are errors in spelling, punctuation and grammar, the meaning can be understood. Candidates will attempt a basic response to the question and will occasionally display some basic knowledge and understanding of ideas and practical details in the chosen area and a few details of the development and progress of performance, design or technical contributions will be explained. Some of the information is presented in a form that suits its purpose. Some of the text is legible. Although there are many errors in spelling, punctuation and grammar, the meaning can be understood.

may be some errors, the meaning is clear.

may be some errors, the meaning is clear.

Candidates will give a limited explanation of the improvements made during the rehearsals and at times there will be limited justification. Most of the information is presented in a form that suits its purpose. Generally, the text is legible. Although there are errors in spelling, punctuation and grammar, the meaning can be understood.

Candidates will explain their strengths and weaknesses and will give some opinions as to how these affected the final performance. There will be limited justification. Most of the information is presented in a form that suits its purpose. Generally, the text is legible. Although there are errors in spelling, punctuation and grammar, the meaning can be understood.

Candidates will attempt a simple explanation of improvements made during the rehearsals, although there may be no attempt at justification. Some of the information is presented in a form that suits its purpose. Some of the text is legible. Although there are many errors in spelling, punctuation and grammar, the meaning can be understood.

Candidates will make a simple identification of their strengths and weaknesses, though there may be no attempt at justification. Some of the information is presented in a form that suits its purpose. Some of the text is legible. Although there are many errors in spelling, punctuation and grammar, the meaning can be understood.

Section C Live Production

(The precise mark scheme will depend on the question set in the exam but this table will give you a clear idea of what is expected) Band 1 (17-20 marks)
Candidates will give a thorough and very clear explanation of the use of acting or design or technical elements and will refer to a wide range of the indicators stated. Reasons for the ways in which they were used will display a high degree of sensitivity, understanding, knowledge and insight into the performance, design or technical skills employed. Supporting examples will be very clear, detailed and most relevant. Candidates will give well-reasoned explanations of the effectiveness of the use of performance, design or technical elements they have described, referring to a wide range of indicators. There will be full and detailed justification. Information is exceptionally well-organised, presented very clearly and fluently in a form that suits its purpose. The text is clearly legible. Candidates spell, punctuate and use the rules of grammar accurately, enabling their meaning to be clearly understood. Candidates will give a confident and clear explanation of the use of performance, design or technical elements and will refer to a good range of the indicators stated. Reasons for the ways in which they were used will display good knowledge, understanding and insight into the performance, design or technical skills employed. Supporting examples will be clear, detailed and relevant. Candidates will give clear explanations of the effectiveness of the use of performance, design or technical elements they have described, referring to a good range of indicators. There will be good and detailed justification. Information is well-organised and presented clearly with some fluency in a form that suits its purpose. The text is legible. Candidates spell, punctuate and use the rules of grammar accurately enabling their meaning to be understood. Candidates will give an appropriate and clear explanation of the use of performance, design or technical elements and will refer to a reasonable range of the indicators stated. Reasons for the ways in which they were used will display a grasp of knowledge, understanding and reasonable awareness of the performance, design or technical skills employed. Supporting examples will be appropriate, detailed and relevant. Candidates will give reasonably argued explanations of the effectiveness of the use of performance, design or technical elements they have described, referring to a reasonable range of indicators. There will be reasonable justification with detail. Information is clearly presented in a form that suits its purpose. The text is legible. Candidates generally spell, punctuate and use the rules of grammar accurately. Although there may be some errors, the meaning is clear.

Band 2 (13-16 marks)

Band 3 (8-12 marks)

Band 4 (4-7 marks)

Candidates will give some explanation of the use of performance, design or technical elements and will refer to a limited range of the indicators stated. Reasons for the ways in which they were used will display some evidence of knowledge and understanding of the performance, design or technical skills employed. Supporting examples will be offered with some detail. Candidates will give some explanation of the effectiveness of the use of performance, design or technical elements they have described, referring to a limited range of indicators. There will be some justification and detail. Most of the information is presented in a form that suits its purpose. Generally, the text is legible. Although there are errors in spelling, punctuation and grammar, the meaning can be understood. Candidates will attempt an explanation of the use of performance, design or technical elements and will refer to some of the indicators stated. Reasons for the ways in which they were used will display a basic knowledge and understanding of performance, design or technical skills employed, at a simplistic level. Supporting examples, if offered, may lack detail. Candidates will attempt a simple explanation of the use of performance, design or technical elements they have described, mentioning few indicators. There may be a simple attempt at justification and detail. Some of the information is presented in a form that suits its purpose. Some of the text is legible. Although there are many errors in spelling, punctuation and grammar, the meaning can be understood.

Band 5 (0-3 marks)

On the next page is a list of the indicators the examiner will be looking for. This is a list of the things you should try to mention in your essay. You dont have to discuss all of them but the more you can talk about, the better.

Indicators
(These are the things you should try to discuss in your essay)
Performance style genre period voice accent, pitch, tone, emphasis movement, gesture, posture, physical theatre skills facial expression interaction with other characters on stage health and safety. Design elements: style genre period costumes fabrics, textures, colours details and justification needed set use of space and levels set representation of location by flats, projection, materials, colours, textures make-up, masks or puppets in terms of style, proportion, colour, appropriateness awareness of health and safety factors fire-proofing some integration of design elements into overall design concepts, eg choosing colours or images appropriate to the needs of the scene and ensuring consistency between costume and set. Technical elements: style genre period lighting colours, intensity, plot, special effects, eg gobos, projection of digital images sound live, recorded, balance, equipment properties and their use and management awareness of health and safety factors taping cables, use of fire extinguishers some integration of design elements into overall design concepts, eg choice of sound effects, levels appropriate to the needs of the scene and consistent with the visual effects of set and costume. Effective and well-labelled sketches or diagrams should be credited on the strength of the levels of understanding and knowledge communicated.