Guidance

GCSE subject-level conditions and requirements for drama (2022)

Published 11 November 2021

This guidance was withdrawn on 9 July 2024

These documents are no longer in use, as they applied only to assessments delivered in 2022.

Applies to England

Introduction

About this document

This document is part of a suite of documents which sets out the regulatory requirements for awarding organisations offering GCSE qualifications (graded from 9 to 1) in 2022.

We have developed these requirements with the intention that GCSE qualifications (graded from 9 to 1) should provide:

• evidence of students’ achievements against demanding and fulfilling content
• a strong foundation for further academic and vocational study and for employment
• a basis for schools and colleges to be held accountable for the performance of all of their students, if required

Requirements set out in this document

This document sets out the GCSE Subject Level Conditions for Drama (2022). These conditions will come into effect at 09:30 on 12 November 2021 for all GCSE qualifications (graded from 9 to 1) in Drama for Learners completing the qualification in 2022, except where the General Qualifications Alternative Awarding Framework applies.

It also sets out our requirements in relation to:

• interpretation of the content document - an awarding organisation must comply with these requirements under Condition GCSE (Drama)1.1(c)
• assessment objectives - awarding organisations must comply with these requirements under Condition GCSE (Drama)1.2
• assessment - awarding organisations must comply with these requirements under Condition GCSE (Drama) 2.3

With respect to all GCSE qualifications (graded from 9 to 1) in Drama in 2022, awarding organisations must also comply with:

• our General Conditions of Recognition, which apply to all awarding organisations and qualifications
• our GCSE Qualification Level Conditions
• all relevant Regulatory Documents

With respect to GCSE qualifications in Drama taken by Learners completing the qualification in 2023 and after, an awarding organisation must continue to comply with the GCSE Subject Level Conditions and Requirements for Drama.

Subject Level Conditions

GCSE Subject Level Conditions for Drama

Condition GCSE (Drama) 1: Compliance with content requirements

GCSE (Drama)1.1

In respect of each GCSE Qualification in Drama which it makes available, or proposes to make available, an awarding organisation must -

1. (a) comply with the requirements relating to that qualification set out in the document published by the Secretary of State entitled ‘Drama GCSE subject content’, document reference DFE-00039-2015,
2. (b) have regard to any recommendations or guidelines relating to that qualification set out in that document, and
3. (c) interpret that document in accordance with any requirements, and having regard to any guidance, which may be published by Ofqual and revised from time to time.

GCSE (Drama) 1.2

In respect of each GCSE Qualification in Drama which it makes available, or proposes to make available, an awarding organisation must comply with any requirements, and have regard to any guidance, relating to the objectives to be met by any assessment for that qualification which may be published by Ofqual and revised from time to time.

Condition GCSE (Drama) 2: Assessment

GCSE (Drama) 2.1

Condition GCSE4.1 does not apply to any GCSE Qualification in Drama which an awarding organisation makes available or proposes to make available.

GCSE (Drama) 2.2

In respect of the total marks available for a GCSE Qualification in Drama which it makes available, an awarding organisation must ensure that -

1. (a) 40 per cent of those marks are made available through Assessments by Examination, and
2. (b) 60 per cent of those marks are made available through assessments set by the awarding organisation that are not Assessments by Examination.

GCSE (Drama) 2.3

An awarding organisation must ensure that in respect of each assessment for a GCSE Qualification in Drama which it makes available it complies with any requirements, and has regard to any guidance, which may be published by Ofqual and revised from time to time.

Condition GCSE (Drama) 3: Live performance statements

GCSE (Drama )3.1

In respect of each assessment cycle for a GCSE Qualification in Drama which it awards after 1 January 2019, an awarding organisation must -

1. (a) require each Centre to provide a live performance statement to the awarding organisation, and
2. (b) treat any failure by a Centre to provide a live performance statement to the awarding organisation in a timely manner as malpractice and/or maladministration (under General Condition A8 (Malpractice and maladministration)).

GCSE (Drama) 3.2

For the purposes of this Condition, a ‘live performance statement’ is a true and accurate written statement made by a Centre to an awarding organisation which confirms that it has taken reasonable steps to secure that each Learner to which that Centre has delivered the assessments to be taken in a particular assessment cycle for a GCSE Qualification in Drama which the awarding organisation makes available has met the requirement to experience live performance specified in Paragraph 7 of the document published by the Secretary of State entitled ‘Drama GCSE subject content’, document reference DFE-00039-2015, as interpreted in line with the requirements published under Condition GCSE(Drama)1.1(c).

Subject content requirements

Requirements in relation to subject content for GCSE Qualifications in Drama

The subject content for GCSE Qualifications (graded 9 to 1) in Drama is set out in the Department for Education’s Drama GCSE subject content, document reference DFE- 00039-2015 (the ‘Content Document’).

Condition GCSE(Drama)1.1(c) requires awarding organisations to interpret the Content Document in line with any requirements, and having regard to any guidance, published by Ofqual.

We set out our requirements for the purposes of Condition GCSE(Drama)1.1(c) below.

Study of performance texts

An awarding organisation must interpret paragraph 5 of the Content Document as if a Learner is required to only study a minimum of -

1. (a) one complete and substantial performance text, and
2. (b) one key extract from a second contrasting performance text, where the strict requirements of paragraph 5 cannot be met due to the awarding organisation making changes to its usual non-examination assessments in line with the requirements for 2022 published under Condition GCSE (Drama) 2.3.

Live performance

An awarding organisation must interpret paragraph 7 of the Content Document as if the reference to Learners’ experience of live performance permits Learners to view streamed or recorded performances.

Analysis and evaluation of the work of others

An awarding organisation must ensure that in the Assessments by Examination analysis and evaluation of live theatre work by others can be undertaken in response to streamed or recorded performances.

Assessment objectives

Assessment objectives - GCSE Qualifications in Drama

Condition GCSE (Drama) 1.2 allows us to specify requirements relating to the objectives to be met by any assessment for all GCSE Qualifications in Drama.

The assessment objectives set out below constitute requirements for the purposes of Condition GCSE (Drama) 1.2. Awarding organisations must comply with these requirements in relation to all GCSE Qualifications in Drama they make available or propose to make available.

Assessment objective	Description	Weighting
AO1	Create and develop ideas to communicate meaning for theatrical performance.	20%
AO2	Apply theatrical skills to realise artistic intentions in live performance.	30%
AO3	Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of how drama and theatre is developed and performed.	30%
AO4	Analyse and evaluate their own work and the work of others.	20%

Assessment requirements

Requirements in relation to assessments for GCSE Qualifications in Drama

Condition GCSE (Drama) 2.3 allows us to specify requirements and guidance in relation to assessments for GCSE Qualifications in Drama.

We set out our requirements for the purposes of Condition GCSE(Drama)2.3 below.

Set texts for assessments

In respect of a GCSE Qualification in Drama which it makes available or proposes to make available, an awarding organisation must meet the following requirements -

1. (a) set and publish a list of complete and substantial performance texts and key extracts in respect of which Learners will be assessed in the assessments for the qualification (the ‘Set Texts’),
2. (b) keep its list of Set Texts under review and revise it from time to time,
3. (c) assess each Learner’s knowledge and understanding of the Set Texts, through -
   1. (i) the Assessments by Examination, or
   2. (ii) the Assessments by Examination and the assessments which are not Assessments by Examination,
4. (d) outline in its assessment strategy -
   1. (i) how its approach to the assessment of Learners’ knowledge and understanding of the Set Texts will meet the requirements of the Department for Education’s Drama GCSE subject content, document reference DFE-00039-2015 (the ‘Content Document’), and
   2. (ii) in particular, how it will ensure that each Learner studies in its entirety each Set Text with respect to which he or she is assessed,
5. (e) outline in its assessment strategy the reasonable steps which it will take, in accordance with General Condition G1.2, to ensure that the Level of Demand of each assessment is consistent -
   1. (i) across all options as to tasks in relation to different Set Texts, and
   2. (ii) with the Level of Demand of previous assessments, including those with options as to tasks in relation to different Set Texts,
6. (f) take reasonable steps to ensure that when taking an Assessment by Examination for the qualification, no Learner has access to a Set Text which is not a clean copy of that text,
7. (g) where a Learner uses all or part of a Set Text for the purposes of the Text Based Performance, ensure that Learner is not credited for responding to questions or tasks on the same Set Text in an Assessment by Examination, and
8. (h) ensure that each question or task in an Assessment by Examination which relates to a text or extract relates to either -
   1. (i) an unseen text or extract which has been provided by the awarding organisation as Stimulus Materials, and/or
   2. (ii) a Set Text (which may be provided by the awarding organisation as Stimulus Materials).

For the purposes of paragraph (a) above, the terms ‘complete and substantial performance text’ and ‘key extract’ must be interpreted consistently with the Content Document, and our associated guidance.

For the purposes of paragraph (f) above, a clean copy of a Set Text is a copy of that text as published and which contains no additional marks, notes, annotations, or any other alteration or inclusion.

Forms of non-examination assessment

Condition GCSE (Drama) 2.2(b) states that an awarding organisation must ensure that of the total marks available for a GCSE Qualification in Drama, 60 per cent of those marks shall be made available through assessments set by the awarding organisation which are not Assessments by Examination.

In respect of the assessments which are not Assessments by Examination, an awarding organisation must ensure that -

1. (a) at least 20 per cent of the total marks available for the qualification are made available through one or more tasks set by the awarding organisation which assess a Learner’s ability to participate in the performance of a devised piece (the ‘Devised Performance’),
2. (b) at least 20 per cent of the total marks available for the qualification are made available through one or more tasks which assess a Learner’s ability to participate in the performance of an extract (the ‘Text Based Performance’),
3. (c) at least one of the Devised Performance or the Text Based Performance assesses both assessment objective AO1 and assessment objective AO2,
4. (d) where either the Devised Performance or the Text Based Performance does not assess assessment objective AO1, an Assessor has regard to evidence of each Learner’s artistic intentions for that performance for the purpose of assessing that performance against assessment objective AO2, and
5. (e) the 60 per cent of the total marks available for the qualification which are made available through the Devised Performance and the Text Based Performance, taken together, are comprised as follows -
   1. (i) 20 per cent through marks available in respect of assessment objective AO1 (taken together, the Devised Performance and Text Based Performance will therefore assess AO1 in its entirety),
   2. (ii) 30 per cent through marks available in respect of assessment objective AO2 (taken together, the Devised Performance and Text Based Performance will therefore assess AO2 in its entirety), and
   3. (iii) 10 per cent through marks available in respect of assessment objective AO4.

For clarity, in relation to paragraph (d) above, where a Devised Performance or a Text Based Performance is assessing only assessment objective AO2, we do not expect evidence of a Learner’s artistic intentions to be marked.

In relation to paragraph (e)(iii) above, a Learner’s analysis and evaluation of his or her own work must only be assessed through the Devised Performance and/or the Text Based Performance.

Roles within non-examination assessment

The Content Document allows Learners to be assessed in either the role of performer, or in a number of different designer roles. This variety of roles creates a number of optional routes through the qualification.

An awarding organisation must ensure that it -

1. (a) sets out in the specification for the qualification all of the different roles in which a Learner may be assessed in the Devised Performance and the Text Based Performance, and
2. (b) demonstrates to Ofqual’s satisfaction in its assessment strategy that it has taken all reasonable steps to ensure that it will have maximum control over comparability of standards between different routes through the qualification at all points within the cycle of setting and marking of assessments and awarding the qualification.

The Devised Performance

An awarding organisation must ensure that each Devised Performance is designed and set to -

1. (a) require each learner to -
   1. (i) participate, in the role of a performer or a designer, in the performance of -
      1. (A) a devised monologue of at least one minute and 30 seconds, and/or
      2. (B) a devised duologue of at least two minutes, and/or
      3. (C) a devised group performance of at least two minutes, and
   2. (ii) produce evidence which demonstrates, as appropriate to the task, the Learner’s contribution to the creation and development of ideas, the application of theatrical skills to realise artistic intentions and their analysis and evaluation of their own work, and
2. (b) be taken under conditions specified by the awarding organisation, including, in particular, conditions which ensure that the evidence generated by each Learner can be Authenticated.

For the purposes of paragraph (a)(ii) above, evidence may include photographs and/or recordings and/or artefacts such as a drawing of a costume or set, or a similar representation.

In respect of each Devised Performance, an awarding organisation must ensure that the Centre which delivered the assessment provides the awarding organisation with either -

1. (a) a complete and unedited audiovisual recording of the performance, made from the perspective of the audience, or
2. (b) alternative evidence to illustrate the intended final piece, the Learner’s contribution to the creation and development of ideas, and their analysis and evaluation of their own work, as appropriate to the task. Such evidence may include -
   1. (i) 1.1. audio-visual recordings of complete performance,
   2. (ii) audio-visual recordings of physical demonstration(s) of key aspects with explanation of how they inform the final piece,
   3. (iii) original and non-original photographs, images, drawings or sketches with annotations to illustrate intentions for performance or design,
   4. (iv) scripts,
   5. (v) written accounts, or
   6. (vi) a video diary.

The Text Based Performance

An awarding organisation must ensure that each Text Based Performance is designed and set to -

1. (a) require each learner to -
   1. (i) participate, in the role of a performer or a designer, in the performance of -
      1. (A) a text-based monologue of at least one minute and 30 seconds, and/or
      2. (B) a text-based duologue of at least two minutes, and/or
      3. (C) a text-based group performance of at least two minutes, and
   2. (ii) produce evidence which demonstrates, as appropriate to the task, the Learner’s contribution to the creation and development of ideas, the application of theatrical skills to realise artistic intentions and their analysis and evaluation of their own work, and
2. (b) be taken under conditions specified by the awarding organisation, including, in particular, conditions which ensure that the evidence generated by each Learner can be Authenticated.

For the purposes of paragraph (a) (i) above, the term ‘text-based’ means taken from any dramatic work which has been professionally commissioned and/or professionally produced. This includes, but is not limited to, dramatic works included in the list of Set Texts published by the awarding organisation. Where an awarding organisation allows the use of a dramatic work which is not included in its list of Set Texts it must put in place appropriate controls around the selection of the dramatic work, and any excerpt from it, which ensure that the requirements of the Content Document and General Condition G1.2 are met.

For the purposes of paragraph (a)(ii) above, evidence may include photographs and/or recordings and/or artefacts such as a drawing of a costume or set, or a similar representation.

In respect of each Text Based Performance, an awarding organisation must ensure that the Centre which delivered the assessment provides the awarding organisation with either -

1. (a) a complete and unedited audiovisual recording of the performance, made from the perspective of the audience, or
2. (b) alternative evidence of the Learner’s application of theatrical skills to realise artistic intentions, contribution to the creation and development of ideas, and analysis and evaluation of his or her own work, as appropriate to the task. Such evidence may include -
   1. (i) for performers, audio-visual recording of acting performance alone without need for fully designed set/lighting/costumes.
   2. (ii) for designers -
      1. (A) a prototype of the relevant product(s),
      2. (B) original photographs, drawings or annotated sketches of designs,
      3. (C) annotated scripts,
      4. (D) videos or written accounts,
      5. (E) physical demonstrations.

Marking of assessments

Evidence generated by a Learner in in an assessment for a GCSE Qualification in Drama which is not an Assessment by Examination may be marked -

1. (a) by the awarding organisation or a person connected to the awarding organisation,
2. (b) by a Centre, or
3. (c) through a combination of (a) and (b).

In any event, the awarding organisation must demonstrate to Ofqual’s satisfaction in its assessment strategy that -

1. (a) it has taken all reasonable steps to identify the risk of any Adverse Effect which may result from its approach to marking the assessments which are not Assessments by Examination (and to Moderation where appropriate), and
2. (b) where such a risk is identified, it has taken all reasonable steps to prevent that Adverse Effect or, where it cannot be prevented, to mitigate that Adverse Effect.