Higher Drama Unit Assessment and Course Assessment

Higher Drama Unit Assessment Drama Skills In this Unit, learners will apply complex drama skills and develop ways of communicating thoughts and ideas to an audience. They will learn how to respond to stimuli, including text. They will also learn how to portray character in a range of ways and explore form, structure, genre and style when creating and presenting drama. Learners will develop knowledge and understanding of the social and cultural influences on drama. They will also learn how to evaluate their own progress and that of other learners.

Drama Skills – Assessment Standards Outcome 1 1 Apply complex drama skills by: 1.1 Responding to stimuli, including text, to develop ideas for drama 1.2 Exploring form, genre, structure and style 1.3 Developing and communicating ideas Outcome 2 2 Contribute creatively to the drama by: 2.1 Planning, devising and directing a drama 2.1 Using complex acting skills to portray character to an audience 2.3 Evaluating their own work and that of others

Drama: Production Skills In this Unit, learners will explore and apply complex production skills. Learners will learn how to respond to stimuli, including text, to communicate ideas for a production. They will develop ideas and production skills within their chosen production roles.

Drama: Production Skills – Outcome 1 and Assessment Standards 1 Explore complex production skills in drama by: 1.1 Responding to stimuli, including text, to explore ideas for production 1.2 Selecting ideas for their chosen production roles

Drama: Production Skills – Outcome 2 and Assessment Standards 2 Apply complex production skills in drama by: 2.1 Developing appropriate ideas and production skills within their chosen production roles 2.2 Demonstrating complex production skills within selected production roles 2.3 Evaluating their own work and that of others

Higher Drama Course Assessment To gain the award of the Course, the learner must pass the two mandatory Units as well as the Course Assessment. The Course Assessment is graded A–D. A learner’s overall grade will be determined by their performance across the Course Assessment. The Course Assessment will consist of two Components Question Paper Performance

Higher Drama Question Paper This question paper has two Sections. Section 1 will have 20 marks. This section will deal with the analysis of a selected text. The question paper will pose questions that allow learners to provide an extended response from the perspective of either an actor or director or designer in preparation for an intended production. Section 2 will have 20 marks. This section will take the form of a written analysis of a performance that the learner has seen. This may be a live or, if necessary, a recorded theatrical performance and must have been presented in the last two years.

Performance The performance has two sections: a Preparation for Performance and a Performance. Section 1: Preparation for Performance will have 10 marks (recommended 500 words) Learners will have selected a text to explore in depth from the perspective of either an actor or director or designer. The Preparation for Performance will include research on the chosen text (texts for actors) and the processes used to reach their acting or directing or design concept for the performance (Section 2).

Section 2: Performance will have 50 marks and the learner selects either Acting or Directing or Design. Actors — Actors should prepare two contrasting roles from two different texts. 25 marks will be available for each role. Performances must involve interaction with at least one other actor (each approximately 7–10 minutes). Directors —Directors will conduct a rehearsal with actors from a textual extract of approximately two pages. Directors should prepare a section of their chosen text, around 8 consecutive pages from which the VA will choose two. The rehearsal should last approximately 30 minutes. Designers — Designers will design a set for their chosen text and choose one other relevant production area (lighting, sound, props, costume and hair and make-up). They will demonstrate their design concept for the play by designing a set and giving a presentation. Presentations should last approximately 20 minutes.