Drama

What will the exam be like? 

Exam board:  

AQA 8261 

Assessment:  

The Drama GCSE is assessed via a combination of exam and practical assessments. Students can be assessed as actors or designers (costume/ lighting/ sound/ set).  

Exam paper: Understanding Drama  

  • 1 hour and 45 minutes 
  • Open book 
  • This paper involves a set text and live theatre review. 
  • 80 marks 
  • 40% of GCSE 

Component 2: Devising drama (practical) 

  • Devising log (60 marks) 
  • Devised performance (20 marks) 
  • 80 marks in total 
  • 40% of GCSE 
  • This component is marked by teachers and moderated by AQA 

Component 3: Texts in practice (practical) 

  • Performance of Extract 1 (20 marks) and Extract 2 (20 marks) 
  • 40 marks in total 
  • 20% of GCSE 
  • This component is marked by AQA. 

 

What specialist equipment will my child need? 

In order to be successful in GCSE Drama lessons students will need: 

  • Drama socks (socks with grips).  
  • To bring in own props/ costumes/ design materials for performances. The Drama department will support with this but we encourage students to source their own items if at all possible.  

 

What revision guides do you recommend? 

These are optional to buy (and other versions are also available), but we would suggest purchasing some of these to use alongside your course. We will write to parents in the first term of year 10 offering the chance to purchase the following: 

  • ‘Noughts and Crosses’ Play Guide for AQA GCSE Drama 
  • 'AQA GCSE Drama Designing Drama Lighting, Sound, Set, Costume & Puppet Design' by Sue Shewring